From left, Luca Pedrini, performance manager, Michele Marchesini, technical director, Francesco Ettorre, president of the Federazione Italiana Vela, Anna Manunza, ambassador for cultural affairs at Lilaa, and Guglielmo Vatteroni, team and logistics manager (Photo courtesy of Mario Amalfitano, president of Lilaa)
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For the first time, Italy was one of the twelve teams participating in the Sail Grand Prix, the regatta held at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. The helm of Red Bull Italy was entrusted to Ruggero Tita, a two-time Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and part of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team in the America’s Cup, who secured a respectable seventh place. On this occasion, the entire Italian Olympic sailing team traveled to California for an initial scouting visit in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. It was a crucial opportunity not only to familiarize themselves with the Californian waters but also to strengthen an international presence that is becoming increasingly significant.

“As President of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, it was an honor to meet the Italian national sailing team during SailGP,” commented Mario Amalfitano, president of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, who welcomed the Olympic team to San Pedro. “This city has a proud and deeply rooted Italian community, with generations of families who built their legacy through the local fishing industry. A passion for the sea runs in our blood, making this partnership particularly meaningful.”

“Seeing an Italian team compete for the first time in SailGP at San Pedro is a moment of great pride,” stated Anna Manunza, Ambassador for Cultural Affairs, who played a key role in facilitating this important connection. “I am thrilled to see my beloved homeland represented on this global stage, showing Italy’s talent and passion for sailing.”

Leading the delegation to Los Angeles was Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation, accompanied by a strategic team composed of technical director Michele Marchesini, performance manager Luca De Pedrini, and team and logistics manager Guglielmo Vatteroni. “These past four years have been fantastic for the Italian Sailing Federation: we won 81 medals at the continental and world levels in 2022, increasing to 108 in 2024. Our focus is already on the future with investments and promotion. Maintaining success is always challenging, but the level we have reached is high, and we will aim at least to sustain it, strengthened by the quality of our athletes and the clubs that support them,” Ettorre told L’Italo-Americano.

For over 80 years, the Italian Sailing Federation has placed at the center of its mission the promotion of a love for the sea, education, and the dissemination of sailing and nautical culture. This constant commitment has led to the development of a strong movement capable of achieving excellent results and building a network of athletes and clubs that work in synergy to bring the Italian flag to international podiums. The visit to Los Angeles represents a key moment for the logistical and technical planning ahead of the 2028 Games. “Our sport has very specific logistical needs,” explained Michele Marchesini. “With large equipment like boats and support vessels, this is a ‘day zero’ for managing our team on-site in Los Angeles. From here, we will begin to organize increasingly frequent and structured training trips to familiarize ourselves with the race area and local conditions.”

The main unknown remains the selection of the regatta venue, which is still under evaluation, between Long Beach and San Pedro. “We are waiting for the decision of the organizing committee,” added Marchesini, “and only then will we be able to start a specific study of the wind and currents to optimize our preparation.”

The Red Bull Sail GP Team (Photo courtesy of Mario Amalfitano, president of Lilaa)

The Italian team arrived in Los Angeles with a recent past full of successes. At the Paris-Marseille 2024 Olympics, Italy won two gold medals in sailing, thanks to extraordinary performances such as that of Marta Maggetti in the Olympiade Women’s and Men’s event. “Out of ten gold medals won by Italy, two were brought home by sailing — an incredible result that fills us with pride,” said Marchesini. In addition to the gold medals, the Italian team achieved high rankings, with a fourth place, two fifth places, and a sixth place, confirming an extremely high competitive level. “Despite the challenges of traveling outside Europe, as we have already experienced in Tokyo and Brazil, we feel ready to face the challenges of Los Angeles with the right determination,” commented Ettorre.

“One of the most surprising aspects of recent years has been the boom in sailing among young people, especially after the pandemic. All outdoor sports have seen a major rebound, and sailing was no exception. The number of registered sailors continues to grow, and the passion for this sport has solidified even after the end of restrictions,” explained Luca De Pedrini. The Federation has promoted educational projects such as Vela a Scuola (Sailing at School), which has involved over 55,000 students in free sailing activities, demonstrating that sailing can be both accessible and educational, far from the élite image often associated with maxi-yachts. “The message for young people is to try it because sailing is not just competition but also personal growth and respect for the environment,” added De Pedrini.

The evolution of sailors’ athletic preparation in recent years has led to meticulous attention to every aspect of performance. “Modern sailors don’t just train on the water,” emphasized De Pedrini. “They also undergo intensive physical training on land, with specific programs for each discipline and continuous monitoring of their nutrition, recovery, and psychological well-being.” The balance between physical strength and technical control is crucial, especially in disciplines such as windsurfing and kiteboarding, where physique can vary significantly. But beyond athletic performance, the real challenge is to maintain a consistent level of excellence and focus throughout the journey to the 2028 Olympics.

One of the keys to the success of the Italian Sailing Federation is its ability to invest in continuity. “Our athletes are young and have already demonstrated great potential. The hope is that the same champions from Paris will qualify for Los Angeles, continuing the work done so far,” said Marchesini. The final selections for the Games will take place only in the months leading up to the event, but the commitment to building a winning team has already begun. “Each sailing class has specific qualification criteria, and the selection of athletes will result from a rigorous and meticulous process,” Ettorre concluded. “The goal is clear: not just to confirm our place, but to surpass it, demonstrating once again that Italian sailing is ready to dominate the waves of the Pacific just as it has in the Mediterranean.”

For the first time, Italy was one of the twelve teams participating in the Sail Grand Prix, the regatta held at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. The helm of Red Bull Italy was entrusted to Ruggero Tita, a two-time Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and part of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team in the America’s Cup, who secured a respectable seventh place. On this occasion, the entire Italian Olympic sailing team traveled to California for an initial scouting visit in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. It was a crucial opportunity not only to familiarize themselves with the Californian waters but also to strengthen an international presence that is becoming increasingly significant.

“As President of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, it was an honor to meet the Italian national sailing team during SailGP,” commented Mario Amalfitano, president of the Little Italy Association of Los Angeles, who welcomed the Olympic team to San Pedro. “This city has a proud and deeply rooted Italian community, with generations of families who built their legacy through the local fishing industry. A passion for the sea runs in our blood, making this partnership particularly meaningful.”

“Seeing an Italian team compete for the first time in SailGP at San Pedro is a moment of great pride,” stated Anna Manunza, Ambassador for Cultural Affairs, who played a key role in facilitating this important connection. “I am thrilled to see my beloved homeland represented on this global stage, showing Italy’s talent and passion for sailing.”

Leading the delegation to Los Angeles was Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation, accompanied by a strategic team composed of technical director Michele Marchesini, performance manager Luca De Pedrini, and team and logistics manager Guglielmo Vatteroni. “These past four years have been fantastic for the Italian Sailing Federation: we won 81 medals at the continental and world levels in 2022, increasing to 108 in 2024. Our focus is already on the future with investments and promotion. Maintaining success is always challenging, but the level we have reached is high, and we will aim at least to sustain it, strengthened by the quality of our athletes and the clubs that support them,” Ettorre told L’Italo-Americano.

For over 80 years, the Italian Sailing Federation has placed at the center of its mission the promotion of a love for the sea, education, and the dissemination of sailing and nautical culture. This constant commitment has led to the development of a strong movement capable of achieving excellent results and building a network of athletes and clubs that work in synergy to bring the Italian flag to international podiums. The visit to Los Angeles represents a key moment for the logistical and technical planning ahead of the 2028 Games. “Our sport has very specific logistical needs,” explained Michele Marchesini. “With large equipment like boats and support vessels, this is a ‘day zero’ for managing our team on-site in Los Angeles. From here, we will begin to organize increasingly frequent and structured training trips to familiarize ourselves with the race area and local conditions.”

The main unknown remains the selection of the regatta venue, which is still under evaluation, between Long Beach and San Pedro. “We are waiting for the decision of the organizing committee,” added Marchesini, “and only then will we be able to start a specific study of the wind and currents to optimize our preparation.”

The Italian team arrived in Los Angeles with a recent past full of successes. At the Paris-Marseille 2024 Olympics, Italy won two gold medals in sailing, thanks to extraordinary performances such as that of Marta Maggetti in the Olympiade Women’s and Men’s event. “Out of ten gold medals won by Italy, two were brought home by sailing — an incredible result that fills us with pride,” said Marchesini. In addition to the gold medals, the Italian team achieved high rankings, with a fourth place, two fifth places, and a sixth place, confirming an extremely high competitive level. “Despite the challenges of traveling outside Europe, as we have already experienced in Tokyo and Brazil, we feel ready to face the challenges of Los Angeles with the right determination,” commented Ettorre.

“One of the most surprising aspects of recent years has been the boom in sailing among young people, especially after the pandemic. All outdoor sports have seen a major rebound, and sailing was no exception. The number of registered sailors continues to grow, and the passion for this sport has solidified even after the end of restrictions,” explained Luca De Pedrini. The Federation has promoted educational projects such as Vela a Scuola (Sailing at School), which has involved over 55,000 students in free sailing activities, demonstrating that sailing can be both accessible and educational, far from the élite image often associated with maxi-yachts. “The message for young people is to try it because sailing is not just competition but also personal growth and respect for the environment,” added De Pedrini.

The evolution of sailors’ athletic preparation in recent years has led to meticulous attention to every aspect of performance. “Modern sailors don’t just train on the water,” emphasized De Pedrini. “They also undergo intensive physical training on land, with specific programs for each discipline and continuous monitoring of their nutrition, recovery, and psychological well-being.” The balance between physical strength and technical control is crucial, especially in disciplines such as windsurfing and kiteboarding, where physique can vary significantly. But beyond athletic performance, the real challenge is to maintain a consistent level of excellence and focus throughout the journey to the 2028 Olympics.

One of the keys to the success of the Italian Sailing Federation is its ability to invest in continuity. “Our athletes are young and have already demonstrated great potential. The hope is that the same champions from Paris will qualify for Los Angeles, continuing the work done so far,” said Marchesini. The final selections for the Games will take place only in the months leading up to the event, but the commitment to building a winning team has already begun. “Each sailing class has specific qualification criteria, and the selection of athletes will result from a rigorous and meticulous process,” Ettorre concluded. “The goal is clear: not just to confirm our place, but to surpass it, demonstrating once again that Italian sailing is ready to dominate the waves of the Pacific just as it has in the Mediterranean.”

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