Thirty years and it’s only just begun


After 30 years’ racing across the oceans and around the world for Giovanni Soldini, the adventure really has only just started… as he enthusiastically explains to Giuliano Luzzatto


‘I am thrilled to start this new adventure with Ferrari! We are working on an important project with amazing techno- logical potential that brings together dif- ferent worlds and skills of the highest level. Working with an exceptional team in the research and development of innovative solutions that are respectful of our envi- ronment is a truly unique experience.’ This announcement from the renowned


Italian skipper concluded a succinct press release sent out by the Prancing Horse in late January. The release followed a Ferrari teaser video circulating online precisely two days after Soldini declared the ending of his sponsorship by another prominent Italian automotive brand, Maserati. Like others with their ear to the ground,


I sensed the first rumblings of a new mono- hull foiler for setting new ocean records


54 SEAHORSE


late last year. But some of the rumours seemed fanciful, especially as the Prancing Horse Grand Prix team was still recover- ing after another season that promised much but delivered yet more disappoint- ments. What follows is an interview delving into Soldini’s extensive sailing career, and the approach that has served him well in the pursuit of sponsors and partners… In the instance of Ferrari, well-known


for abstaining from advertising outside its racing pursuits, it is crucial to underscore that the project is officially wholly owned by Ferrari with Giovanni as team principal. Historically Giovanni owned all of his projects, with an ability to deliver sporting achievements and visibility for sponsors usually from relatively modest budgets. But now Ferrari will take a direct role


across the entire process of conception, engineering and testing. The pursuit of peak performance at sea will be coupled with tangible sustainability solutions, aiming to foster innovations that can also accelerate the evolution of Maranello’s sports cars. Even so, Ferrari’s official state- ments have been typically understated. Rather than rely on harsh contracts, Giovanni has always cultivated relationships


based on trust and empathy with sponsors. His ethos is rooted in the ancient Latin sense of the term, signifying a person who serves as a guarantor for the value of an initiative or an individual’s capabilities. This doesn’t imply that the commercial


return is of lesser importance; quite the opposite. But the primary emphasis is on establishing a human connection. The foundation of the past 11 years with


Maserati and the new marriage with Ferrari are rooted in Soldini’s relationship with John Elkann, the grandson of Gianni Agnelli, for many years the head of the Fiat automotive group and an avid enthusiast of both sailing and motor yachts. He, along- side His Highness the Aga Khan, played a key role in promoting the first Italian chal- lenge for the America’s Cup in Newport in 1983 with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Turning our attention now to the new


craft itself, the dramatic stories we hear probably boil down to a 100ft ocean- going foiling monohull, designed by Guillaume Verdier with tooling underway at Persico. Certainly Soldini’s good rela- tionship with the brilliant French designer will be crucial… given the unconventional ideas coming from the yacht’s skipper!


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