One of the minds behind the modern America’s Cup, as well as especially behind the successes of the defender Team New Zealand, is undoubtedly Matteo de Nora. That Matteo de Nora who, after launching a number of his hyper-tech companies to success in the Americas, had chosen to cultivate full-time a passion that does not pay off, such as sailing. And who had then decided to sell some assets to support the New Zealand team, reduced to a faded photocopy of that team that in the days of Peter Blake and the ‘lucky red socks’ had conquered and dominated the Cup.
And it was Matteo de Nora who pulled out among many candidates the right person to put at the helm of America’s Cup Partnership. That is, Marzio Perrelli, a super manager who since his youth has moved between the States and England, acquiring skills, and then returning to Italy to work in the media. Not with a background as a journalist, but with a much broader and more articulate know-how. In short, De Nora remains a key man in this America’s Cup, less prominent than Grant Dalton perhaps, but still decisive in the decision-making processes. Our Ida Castiglioni interviewed him after the Preliminary Regattas in Cagliari.
Dr. de Nora in 20 years you have managed to involve yourself (or get involved) more and more in the structure of Team New Zealand, and I think the title of Team Principal is now reductive. How can we define your role, first in the conception of the America’s Cup Partnership structure and then in its management?
The structure of the ACP is not my idea, but the result of several elements. The goal is to increase the base of participants and consequent sponsors and the need to give more continuity to the Cup. The success of this structure will depend on how the participants play their roles. If everyone makes a constructive contribution, it can still be improved; if everyone uses their presence in the partnership to gain advantage, they will fail.
It has been 20 years, that is, since Valencia 2007, since we have seen such a high number of challengers in an America’s Cup edition, six against one: Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, France, the United States and Australia, all against New Zealand. With this fine return of Australia, which we had last seen in the Cup in 2000, when at the helm of Young Australia was emerging champion Jimmy Spithill.
Australia could be the surprise of this America’s Cup. The schedule is tight, but they are very good. The difference with Valencia is that in this edition the teams are all top level.
Team New Zealand has handed over NZ 2021 to the Australian team to allow them to come in. I’m delighted about that, it’s going to be a strong team, with some sailing legends directing it, and with very good helmsmen. Was it more complicated to convince the Americans or the Australians?
We are not trying to convince anyone! They have to convince themselves…
We are all very happy that you have chosen Naples, which is quite different from Barcelona. Here the spectacle of the Cup will be able to attract thousands of people to the waterfront, and the problem will be managing it. Last year you told me about ships that will allow people to watch the races from the sea. Will that be possible?
It is now common for cruise lines to coincide their stops with major events. What’s more, in Naples they could be an important logistical support, not only to attend the regattas, but also to welcome the visitors who will arrive to follow the Cup. Of course, we hope that Explora, MSC’s most prestigious, will be able to stop in its Naples.
The passion for the America’s Cup is really rooted in Italy, and decades have passed since the Italian team’s first participation in Newport. Of course, New Zealand and Australia have a far more established popular sailing tradition, but the cheer that will accompany the next edition of the America’s Cup in Naples will also be a surprise for the New Zealand team. What led you to the choice of Naples?
In New Zealand, sailing is not an elite sport. It would be nice if it finally became that way in Italy as well. We understand that the majority will be rooting for Luna Rossa, but we are also convinced that many will remember that it was Team New Zealand that chose to bet on Naples and the Neapolitans despite the objective difficulties.
Other cities have presented equally valid projects, but the attention and respect shown by Sport and Health and the local authorities toward the event made the difference. For me, having Italian origins, the idea of being the first to bring the Cup to Italy was the final piece.
Between Bagnoli and Naples, logistics are certainly complicated, both for boats but especially for people. The city is small, with limited accommodation capacity. Will the crews and their families live outside, away from the chaos?
I believe so. Most of the teams are looking for and finding accommodations outside the city center.
The modified New Zealand boat is already in the water. What is your impression of it? The grinders have been replaced by batteries, certainly not smart but leaving room for men or women. For me, who had repeatedly complained to Grant Dalton about the use of man-grinders, this is an achievement. Is the current blanket situation more rational? Do batteries weigh down the hull?
Four grinders weigh about 400 kg; proportionally, the batteries will weigh less than half that. However, the grinders had their own logic: the concept was for the boat to be carried without the input of external energy. With that in mind, I am not sure it is a right and final choice, certainly antithetical to the concept of sustainability.
I will be impressed to see Peter Burling at the helm of Luna Rossa, and I am also a great admirer of Nathan Outteridge, skipper and the helmsman of Team New Zealand. I have known him since he had sailed in Naples in 2012-he is a strong and smart sailor. When will your team move to Italy?
In Team New Zealand’s culture, there is no star system. Right or wrong, we believe that it is the team that makes the difference and that a sailor cannot express himself or herself at his or her best without the structure of a team working in harmony.
We will move gradually, starting in early 2027
I am a big supporter of the AC40s and in Barcelona I had so much fun watching them race in the fleet. Also because it is very difficult to have match racing with equivalent boats and so many times the show is not there. What do you think about that?
The AC40s are a more modern version of the SailGP F50s, boats that are technologically obsolete today. They are therefore a bit like Formula 2 in motor racing: a good school for young men and women.
Ida Castiglioni
