Who is Gianluigi Ugolini, the foil genius at the helm of Luna Rossa “by a hair’s breadth”

Rossa Prada Pirelli is in the finals of the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup, which will be held on September 26 just before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
We have told you about one of the two helmsmen of the Italian AC 40, Marco Gradoni, who was the first of the “youths” to be fully included in the “senior” crew as well, also helmed the AC 75, and was chosen as the centerpiece of the Youth crew.
Alongside him, however, is one of the strongest profiles that Italian sailing has produced in recent years, Gianluigi Ugolini, as left helmsman, in addition to trimmers Federico Colaninno and Rocco Aiden Falcone. Let’s find out who the Roman sailor is, and why he is considered one of the strongest foil specialists of the moment.

Gianluigi Ugolini and the “Tita-Bissaro” cure.

Gianluigi Ugolini, from Rome, born in 1998, is competing in the Youth America’s Cup by “a hair’s breadth”: he recently turned 26, and managed to fall just a few days under the 25 limit imposed by Youth rules because he was on the crew list before the event was moved forward, after he turned 26. Science diploma, a degree in Design, and a career in Olympic sailing with the flying Nacra 17 started quite early.
On the mixed catamaran he races with his partner, he is also in life, Maria Giubilei (involved in Luna Rossa’s Women project).

When they enter the national team roster they are faced with two no small crews, Tita – Banti who would soon go on to win their first Olympic gold, and Bissaro – Frascari at their most competitive.
It might seem a limitation on the path to an Olympic qualification to have two such strong coxswains as Tita and Bissaro in front of him, but in reality it becomes a great opportunity for Ugolini.
Training with the two champions Gianluigi grows, goes fast, and begins to seriously engage the two “rival-companions.” The first titles start coming, initially in the U24 category where with Maria Giubilei they become world champions 2018, 2019 and 2021. Results among the “big boys” were not long in coming either, such as world silver medals in 2021 and 2022, as well as a silver and two European bronze medals.
In 2024 the definitive consecration by going on to win the Paris test event, and the call to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli where he joins Marco Gradoni for the Youth project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeNGmLpTtqQ&t=121s Perhaps between the two helmsmen Ugolini is the one with the higher international profile and more experience, but the understanding between the two in on-board communication seems total, even in difficult situations.
Together they make a mix of talent, unscrupulousness, vision of the course and skill on foils, making them the perfect pair to try to win the Unicredit Youth America’s Cup. Mauro Giuffrè