With Ambrogio Beccaria, ocean sailing is on the TV that matters (as it was in Fogar’s day)

The Milanese sailor, fresh from an extraordinary victory at the Transat Jacques Vabre was a guest on Sunday, December 3, on the TV talk show “Che tempo che fa” hosted by Fabio Fazio.

Today’s TV is making water all over the place. In terms of content and especially in terms of share, unless there is the occasional sports phenomenon, a la Sinner, or the popular national events that shine their own light, such as Sanremo. The web, social, blogs, the algorithm, as well as satellite platforms and on-demand programs have long been undermining the foundations of the great television “Moloch.” That so imposing and frightening lately is no longer the case.

Primetime sailing doesn’t happen every day

Yet the old cathode ray tube, or rather its million-pixel plasma replacements, still exudes a kind of sacredness and authority. And they are able to offer a bright and very widespread limelight, even to sailing. This was the case these days with sailor Ambrogio Beccaria, fresh from a crazy victory at the Transat Jacques Vabre, who was a guest on Sunday, December 3, on the talk show “Che tempo che fa” hosted by Fabio Fazio on Channel Nine.

Beccaria’s victory, moreover, is grafted onto a trail of Italian successes in ocean sailing over the past 4-5 years that is resounding. In short, TV has finally realized that there is a new generation of sailors from the Belpaese who are as determined and successful as ever that is worth telling, even in prime time.

Lots of gags and jokes, but Ambrose made a great impression

And so our Ambrose took a seat in one of TV’s most prestigious living rooms. It was not easy, both because the time was short (just 5 minutes out of the 2-hour episode) and because it was not a classic “one to one” interview. For those unfamiliar with the show’s format, Beccaria was seated at the large Maurizio Costanzo-style “table – catwalk,” which brings together in each episode a series of characters, some of them regulars, who take turns being asked, but who also interact with each other. In short, a den of wolves ready to tear each other apart in order to appear.

Alongside him were Simona Ventura, Lello Arena, Marcella Bella, Stefano de Martino, among others. But the fiercest and most dangerous were definitely the comedians, from Nino Frassica to Francesco Paolantoni to “Mrs. Confetti,” aka Maurizio Ferrini, as well as Ubaldo Pantani in the guise of “Lapo Elkann.” Everyone put Beccaria on the spot during his speech by making jokes about the most trite stereotypes of sailing: the abstruse jargon, the romance of the voyage, the seasickness, the allure of the skipper, and so on. The best joke by the way was Lapo’s: “At the Grande – Pirelli? Sounds like a nice invention to me: the ‘boat on rubber!'”

The values of sailing more fundamental than ever

But Beccaria with his clean face, bright eyes and great sense of humor, held his own, indeed did not miss a beat. He told his story in a genuine way, explained what it means to win an international regatta, grind out miles in the ocean, talked about safety at sea. He also dwelt on tales of color, such as the flying fish that haunt the deck at night and as soon as they die make a terrible stench that stinks up the whole boat.

Above all, Ambrogio Beccaria has been a good testimonial of sailing that beyond the clichés means competence, professionalism, courage, pure joy, love of nature, and challenging oneself. Values that are more fundamental than ever.

From Fogar to Soldini: adventure in the ocean pleases TV

It is good to see this all told on TV, because it is a rare event. The first to bring the adventure of sailing to the ocean was in the early 1980s Ambrogio Fogar, a passionate and extreme sailor, but even better as a popularizer. He has been the author and host of “cult” programs, such as “Jonathan Dimension Adventure” and “Base Camp.” A myth never forgotten his.

After him little else except Giovanni Soldini, a sacred monster and character in his own right, even beyond sailing. Not surprisingly, he has been featured in broadcasts on environmental issues, around-the-world travel and alternative energy. Soldini himself in a video aired during the episode of “Che tempo che fa” greeted Ambrogio Beccaria, congratulated him and highlighted this particularly happy moment for Italian sailing. We fans who follow it every day know this well. But now finally, as the old adage goes, “even TV said it!”