The 24m Luna Rossa - getting ready to take on the world’s best to bring home the America’s cup
Terry Hutson
CAPTAIN SALVATORE Sarno, chairman of MSC in South Africa, has set his sights firmly on South Africa bringing home the next America’s Cup when the regatta is held off Valencia in Spain in 2007.
The Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy and carries with it some of the most intense media hype, providing huge exposure for the nations participating but even greater reward for the one which wins.
Since New Zealand achieved the impossible by daring to challenge and then ending the United States’ long reign as cupholder, the small Pacific country has become the leading nation in sailing design and construction.
To achieve something similar is the prize at the end of the rainbow should the Rainbow Nation be successful.
In the lead-up to reaching this goal a crack Italian racing yacht, Luna Rossa, has been obtained - the 24m yacht was discharged in Cape Town from the container ship MSC Suez earlier this month.
Luna Rossa will be used for intensive training off Cape Town, operating out of the V&A Waterfront where a quay at the Waterfront has been made available for a nominal sum. As this is in full view of visitors to the V&A it will provide valuable exposure to the South African Challenge.
At the same time two new racing yachts are being designed by a South African naval architect. Both will be built in Cape Town and named Shosholoza. The first boat is to undergo intensive testing and fine-tuning in sea conditions before the laying down of the final yacht. Some of the design work will be tested at Stellenbosch University using the large tanks that have been used to help design the port of Coega and the new Durban port entrance.
Each time Shosholoza’s crew go out on the water it will be to the music and their own singing of Shosholoza, providing further identification and exposure for this exciting venture.
“This challenge is not just about prestige and developing an industry,” says Sarno. “It’s about involving the youth of this country - there’s never been a challenge from Africa. Some of the boat crew will be drawn from those who’ve come through our Sailing Development Programme and will have been members of the MSC Youth Foundation.
“But we also need to show we are able to conceive, design and build completely in-house one of the most sophisticated racing machines for one of the most esteemed sporting events of modern history. The launch of the boat will be a symbol of the New South Africa, of what it can do and what we can do.”
Sarno pointed out that with the 2007 race taking part in Europe for the first time in generations, in a similar time zone as South Africa, it would provide for even greater coverage and exposure for the sponsors.
