‘Then definitely Naples. We need to focus on big cities that also have a rich history and can accommodate all the team members.’ This is what Matteo de Nora, Team Principal of Emirates Team New Zealand, told us in an interview (the first and only one given after successfully defending the America’s Cup against Sir Ben Ainslie’s British team in the Barcelona 2024 regattas) published in issue 40 of Top Yacht Design.
In the interview, talking about possible venues for the next America’s Cup, de Nora, who was about to begin a reconnaissance tour of Europe, also mentioned other cities, including Athens, Istanbul and Trieste in Italy (‘Because it’s a bit like Venice’), but that ‘definitely’, in light of the announcement that the 38th America’s Cup will be held in Naples, seems to suggest that by the end of last year, at least for Matteo de Nora (Italian father, Swiss mother, Canadian passport, resident in Monte Carlo and educated at Bocconi University in Milan), a preference was already clear.
‘There is an emotional side to it, which I don’t deny,’ said Matteo de Nora, commenting on the news of the award. An award that was perhaps hinted at months ago.
So let’s re-read what the Team Principal of Emirates Team New Zealand told us, as Grant Dalton said: ‘Enter the lion’s den, Luna Rossa’.
“The Barcelona one. I was more aware, more tranquil”, says Matteo de Nora, team principal of Emirates Team New Zealand, when asked which of the three America’s Cup he has won he considers the most enjoyable. Matteo de Nora, Italian father and Swiss mother, studied at the Bocconi university in Italy and in USA. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist (he holds the New Zealand Order of Merit) and is owner of a 44-metre yacht. He has supported the Kiwis since 2003 and their defeat in the 31st America’s Cup at the hands of Ernesto Bertarelli and his Alinghi with the ‘traitor’ Russell Coutts. De Nora organised a group of backers and came to the aid of Grant Dalton, marking the start of his adventure with Team New Zealand and the revenge of Kiwis, who, after the setbacks of Valencia 2007 and San Francisco 2013, won three times in a row at Bermuda 2017, Auckland 2021 and Barcelona 2024.
“After two defeats the first win came a great relief. I said to yourself, OK, I’ve done what I was asked to. In the second I realised that starting from nothing, I’d built something up. For the third I was more relaxed – you know you can’t always win and it becomes more important to leave your mark. That led to the use of hydrogen and the events for youngsters and women, which are my most pleasurable memories for that Cup because they’re the future. You can’t improvise any more”.
Speaking of women, when will they taking part in the Cup?
“Depends on the role they’re playing. But first we’re nurturing women’s teams. I’m against immediate entry. However, it’ll happen in years to come”.
Doesn’t the nationality rule risk limiting new teams?
“Some say it would be great to see ten teams. But they forget that even if you find sponsors and have a good project, you’ll still lack people. Nowadays we need professionals with years of experience. That’s what inspired the idea of the Cup for women and young people. As for the nationality rule, which in reality is similar to the Olympics rule, Switzerland has managed to build a team of Swiss sailors. There are advantages and disadvantages, but there’s one really significant advantage – it attracts a large audience. “This is my country’s boat”. Those seeking to enter should develop their own champions. And then, everyone talks about reducing costs but 50% of a team’s budget is for people, and a free-for-all would lead to a race for salaries that would blow up any spending preview”.
Will there be any cyclors in the next event?
“Well, obviously, the defender and challenger of record will decide that together. But the cyclors are slightly unnatural and I don’t like seeing them. But the principle behind the Cup has always been ‘only human energy, no stored energy’, and if you get rid of the cyclors you’d have to replace them with eight grinders to generate the same amount of energy”.
So?
“So either you change the basic concept of the Cup or you have to take other measures. Having eight grinders on board makes no sense, and you can’t go backwards. I like foils because the idea of lifting boat out of the water and using less energy is crossing over motor yachts and even ships. Credit is due to Grant Dalton for making known a system that’s gaining in popularity on the sea”.
Let’s return to Barcelona 2024. Did the location work?
“Yes, up to 90%, just some small problems. However, 3.2 million people arrived for the event. Good, I’d say. It was also good for the TV, which we invested heavily in. Then I’d say the races were wonderful, and as usual you couldn’t make a mistake – even more because the technical bar has been raised significantly. And it’s getting higher”.
So the critics who said that holding the Cup in a large tourist destination couldn’t work have been proved wrong?
“With an event like the Cup you have to go to a big city. High season in Barcelona runs from June to 15th August. Together with the city we chose an off-peak period from 21st August. For the city authorities the main income comes from taxes linked to tourism – there’s no point trying to fill hotels that are already full. To give an idea of what the Cup means, the team rented between 800 and 1,000 apartments”.
There’s also talk about returning to Valencia for Cup 38…
“Also, but with the flood disaster it’s not the right time for talks. However, in the right conditions, hosting the Cup is an investment for a city. The Cup isn’t a showcase, it’s an investment, and the result depends on how you follow it. It’s not a Formula 1 or MotoGP stage that’s over in a week. The Cup lasts a year and a half”.
You’ve done two round-the-world voyages with Imagine, so you must have seen some beautiful places. Where should the next Cup be held?
“There are lots of places that appealed to me, but I haven’t checked if they have the necessary infrastructure. For example, Athens, Istanbul. I have always liked Trieste in Italy also because it means a bit of Venice. Then there’s Naples, of course. You have to choose big cities that have a cultural and historical heritage and can accommodate all the team members”.
Let’s talk about the Match. When Ineos Britannia took the score to 2-4 some people talked about tactics to maintain the spectacle.
No! We made two mistakes. The first was when they forced us to turn tight and we fell. Was it a penalty? Maybe, but the Brits were excellent. The second was that had to use the wrong sails. But Ben Ainslie was brilliant. When he takes control of a yacht he manages to push it to the maximum. But we weren’t worried – we had to win three, he needed five. And our boat was superb”.
On the eve American Magic and Luna Rossa were your favourites. Then the Brits arrived…
“And they improved constantly with Ben Ainslie. The Americans suddenly lost Paul Goodison. As if we had lost Peter Burling and Ineos Ben Ainslie. And Luna Rossa, which risked losing against the Americans in certain conditions, performed below its potential in many areas”.
Where did you watch the races in Barcelona?
“On the large screen in the base canteen along with all the team members who weren’t at sea. Therefore with all those who knew the strengths and weaknesses of our boat. That’s why I was calm”.
Have you ever been on board the AC75?
“Sure, twice. Behind a trimmer. There’s no problem under sail, even when you think of what could happen if there’s an accident at that speed… Is when you turn you really feel the G-forces, the acceleration. But when running straight the only thing you feel is a sort of trembling. Then there’s the noise, more than the physical effects”.
As a former offshore powerboat driver what experiences provided the greatest adrenaline rush?
“These boats move faster than we did in the 1980s. Without GPS you’d have said 130 kilometres an hour but it was actually a lot less. Here you really push it. But you don’t get those violent shocks on the waves and there isn’t that incredible noise. And the boats were very fragile. It was all extremely dangerous. I arrived when offshore racing as a gentleman’s sport was being transformed into an activity for professionals. If you weren’t professional you risked hurting yourself”.
Will you be team principal for the next Cup, too?
“We’ll see. Meanwhile the supreme boss, and rightly so, is Grant Dalton. I’m the assistant. It’s a heavy responsibility now and there are many decisions to take. Grant will do it but he is someone who listens to others”.
But you’ll still be with Team New Zealand?
“There’s no way I’m leaving now, when there’s so much to play for. And I’d like to break the world sail speed record. That will involve a team, so that means New Zealand. After our Glenn Ashby took the land speed record in 2022 (222.4 km/h – ed) we’re aiming for the one on the water with a real boat. We are already working on it”.
Final question. Why is New Zealand so special to you?
“Apart from the nature, its people. You make relationships without filters, without hierarchies. A very special approach. I don’t know if it’s the best, but we can learn from it. A medicine to take for a few months every year. It helps you get your feet back on the ground”.
Emilio Martinelli
