“How I took Africa to the America’s Cup.”

The 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia in 2007 was a historic event.
Not so much for the victory of the Swiss defender Alinghi, but for the debut of an African nation in the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing competition.
How could we forget Shosholoza, the colorful, multi-ethnic team from the Republic of South Africa?
The boat with so many African boys (and our own Tommaso Chieffi and Paolo Cian) on board, for whom it was impossible not to cheer.
Shosholoza’s presence in the Cup was due to one man, a South African citizen but 100 percent Italian.
Salvatore Sarno, born far from the sea (in 1946) in Nocera Inferiore, the first captain of the MSC ships (a company whose development he contributed to together with the founder Gianluigi Aponte): he was the captain, founder, guide as well as president of the team.

Believing in dreams

Sarno, who has always described himself as a dreamer, tells in the beautiful book “Shosholoza. A Commander in the America’s Cup” how he managed to get Shosholoza-in his own words-“into the America’s Cup not to conquer it and bring it to Africa, but to bring a part of the new Africa to the America’s Cup and to the world.”
The book, published by Mursia (354 pages, 18 euros), is an intense autobiography, full of anecdotes, “behind the scenes,” memories and photographs (famous is the one of South African President Nelson Mandela wearing the team uniform together with Sarno).
“Shosholoza,” Sarno reveals, “is the realization of a dream, the dream of so many young people seeking a better future. Mandela’s dream of defeating racism and seeing his country united with black, white, colored and Indian people working in harmony. Shosholoza is also a song, later to become an anthem that calls for teamwork. The word ‘Shosholoza’ means ‘let us move forward, let us go forward,’ and the refrain repeats: let us pull and push together, in sunshine and in rain, let us pull and push as one.”

In addition to Shosholoza

But beware. In the book you will not only find Africa’s great adventure in the America’s Cup, of a country eager to leave behind the dark period of apartheid.
In this autobiography, Salvatore Sarno reveals the storyline of his life.
Through his dream of becoming a Navy Commander, Sarno emotionally traces an adventurous life of great hardship and equally great satisfaction, always with his wife Sandra by his side, ready to support him in every endeavor.
A highly recommended read and a story to be inspired by.

• You can purchase the book Shosholoza.