Louis Vuitton Trophy – Azzurra practice sessions in Valencia
by YCCS on 18 Oct 2009
Azzura Team – Louis Vuitton Trophy Series Stefano Gattini
In preparation for the Louis Vuitton Trophy, due to take place in Nice from 7th to 22nd November, the members of team Azzurra are completing practice sessions in the waters off Valencia.
The Italian team born of the partnership between Giovanni Maspero and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda arrived in Valencia on 12 October and will spend one week honing their skills in round-the-marks racing. Led by skipper and helmsman Francesco Bruni and with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics, the team is racing aboard SWE63, the boat used by Victory Challenge in the 32nd America’s Cup.
Over the past few days the team has been getting to know the boat, a version 5 ACC vessel analogous to those which will be provided by the organization for racing in the Nice event. Thermal breezes of around 10 to 14 knots have prevailed, accompanied by sunshine and blue skies. In the second half of the week Azzurra took part in match-race regattas with the French team K-Challenge with Sebastien Col and Jochen Schuemann aboard.
Azzurra takes its name from the first Italian challenger for the America’s Cup which was launched by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in 1983 and captured the attention of the nation. Azzurra finished third in the challenger series of regattas in Newport, USA and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was asked to act as Challenger of Record for the 1987 America’s Cup held in Fremantle, Australia. The legacy of Azzurra is one which brings with it a great responsibility but which the new team, composed of a mixture of highly experienced sailors and dedicated young Italian sailing talents, is proud to face.
‘It is a pleasure to see the name Azzurra on the water again after a quarter of a century.’ commented veteran America’s Cup sailor Chieffi. ‘Representing such an important name in international regattas is both an honour and an undertaking. From the sporting point of view the basis is there. Giovanni Maspero has put together a group young sailors who are capable and motivated.’
‘We are enthusiastic about this new adventure and happy to have the chance to train intensely before the regattas in Nice. Being the skipper of a team that bears the name Azzurra is brings me great joy and responsibility. I grew up with the legend of Azzurra and so this is a real honour for me.’ confirmed Bruni. ‘Training is going really well with the crew, being able to speak Italian on an America’s Cup boat is a great novelty!’
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Team manager Alessandra Sensini, ISAF World sailor of the year in 2008 and the only woman to have won 4 olympic medals in sailing, is with the crew in Valencia: ‘Training is going well, the breeze has allowed us to get the most out of the time on the water. The group is close and we are calm, yet concentrated and determined. A lot of the crew competed in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland in February and thanks to this experience they have been coordinated since day one here in Valencia.’
Riccardo Bonadeo, Commodore of the YCCS and President of the current Azzurra consortium was also at the head of the Azzurra challenge in 1983. ‘Seeing this young team carry forward the name Azzurra with such enthusiasm and determination is thrilling. We have great faith in the group and are looking forward to seeing them compete in Nice.’
Eight teams representing seven nations have confirmed their participation in the Louis Vuitton Trophy: Azzurra (ITA) BMW Oracle Racing (USA), Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), K-Challenge (FRA), Swedish Challenge Artemis (SWE), Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), Team Origin (GBR) and Team French Spirit (FRA). Match races will take place aboard equalized version 5 America’s Cup boats provided by the organizers and two Round Robins are scheduled before teams go forward to the semi-finals.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, based in Porto Cervo, Italy, is renowned for organizing international sailing events such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the Sardinia Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup and this year completed one of its busiest seasons. The Club hosted twelve regattas in 2009 including two ISAF world championships, the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship and the Audi Melges 32 World Championship and three events for superyachts – the Dubois Cup, the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta and the Perini Navi Cup in addition to the 20th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. In the past the Club has also promoted international challenges such as Azzurra, the first Italian Challenger for the America’s Cup (1983) and the motor yacht Destriero, which to this day holds the transatlantic crossing record set in 1992. The Club’s members currently number more than 500 and bring the YCCS colours to the most important sailing events across the globe.
Azzurra Crew
Francesco Bruni- Skipper/Helmsman
Tommaso Chieffi – Tactician
Tom Burnham – Strategist
Bruno Zirilli- Navigator
Daniele De Luca – Mainsail
Stefano Rizzi – Jib Trimmer
Pierluigi De Felice – Spi trimmer
Gabriele Bruni – Trimmer
Piero Romeo – Runner grinder
Nicola Pilastro – Mainsail grinder
Massimo Galli – Left grinder
Francesco Scalici – Right grinder
Cristian Griggio – Pitman
Luca Albarelli – Mast
Pietro Mantovani – Asst Bowman
Matteo Auguadro – Bowman
Michele Cannoni – Pit assistant
Gabrio Zandonà – Coach
Michele Gnutti – Reserve
Giuseppe Leonardi – Reserve
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