Who is Marco Gradoni, the sailor who can make Luna Rossa win the first America’s Cup

The day after tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m., Marco Gradoni can make Luna Rossa win his first America’s Cup against the Yankees of American Magic Youth Team. Born Roman, 20 years old, a die-hard fan of the “Magic,” he was the youngest sailor ever to win the Rolex World Sailor of the Year.

The talent of Marco Gradoni

He was the only helmsman to have triumphed in no fewer than three world championships in the Optimist youth class.
They say that on the AC75 simulator set up at Luna Rossa’s base, he is the strongest of all.

Now he will try to give us the Youth America’s Cup, the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup, after literally dominating the semifinals (2-2-1-2) and the qualifiers (1-2-1-1-6-3) at the helm of the AC 40 Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Youth Team along with the crew formed by co-driver Gigi Ugolini and trimmers Federico Colaninno and Rocco Falcone.
It was his goal from the beginning.
So much so that he abandoned his Olympic campaign on the 470 to devote himself full-time to the America’s Cup.
When we asked him about his dream, last year, he was adamant: “To win the Youth America’s Cup and help the team win the 37th America’s Cup.”
He is succeeding.

Gradoni-thinking and his winning sailor mindset we had gathered in this interview.

Interview with Marco Gradoni

– Tell us, how did the opportunity to join Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli come about?

It was a “birthday present.” I’m joking, but not entirely: on the day I turned 18, in fact, Max (Sirena, Skipper and Team Director of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, ed.) summoned me to Cagliari for a simulator test; I enjoyed it very much and he was also pleased, so he confirmed. The idea of joining Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was a dream I had for a long time, and I am overjoyed to be part of the team.

– Which sailing teammates are you learning the most from?

Working in a team is a very different experience for me, both from a technical point of view and from a human and formative point of view: each of the people I work with, every day, teaches me something: of Jimmy Spithill, for example, I am struck by his ability to keep cool and calm in any situation; Checco Bruni has crazy experience and is an excellent leader; Umberto Molineris is of extraordinary skill and Andrea Tesei is a super technician, very precise…

– Olympic sailing chapter: has the run-up to Paris 2024 with the 470 been put on hold? Does the Olympic dream always remain alive or are you totally absorbed in the America’s Cup campaign?

At the moment I have put the 470 on standby to concentrate on Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and the America’s Cup: The Olympic dream is not as alive as it once was, but I don’t rule out that it could be rekindled again…

– Foil sailing or classic sailing, what does Marco Gradoni prefer?

I don’t have a preference; certainly sailing on foils is an extraordinary experience, perhaps the best I have ever had: we are talking about super technological, very fast, complex boats that give great excitement and satisfaction. In the end, though, I am a fan of both disciplines.

– Your sports dream today?

Winning the Youth America’s Cup and helping the team win the 37th America’s Cup.

– Are you more tense when you are at the helm of Luna Rossa or when playing “Magical” Rome?

I am certainly more tense when Roma is playing. When I am at the helm of Luna Rossa I am relaxed: I feel the responsibility of my role, but it is my job, something I have knowledge and mastery of. Of course there is a lot of adrenaline, I feel the pressure, but I don’t experience these moments with anxiety, because this is something that I feel is mine and that I have control over. When Roma plays, however, there is nothing I can do but watch and hope….

How a champion is born: the little big Gradoni

If you want to see what Marco Gradoni was like in the early days of his very brilliant career, check out this interview we did with him after he won our Young Sailor of the Year award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-q18EsNwTQ

And this, on the other hand, is Marco Gradoni at age 15, fresh from winning his third Optimist World Championship.
He wanted to win the Olympics!