Our second stop of “Sasga Around The World” is in Italy, on the island of Ischia.
Have you always sailed?
I think I've always had a passion for boats and, in general, for the sea. Undoubtedly, the fact that I lived in Sicily until I was thirty made things easier. I would like to share two anecdotes related to this.
The first: as a child, I forced my younger siblings to endure grueling evening cruises using my bed as a boat. I, self-proclaimed captain, would stay on the top deck, which was the mattress, surrounded by pillows and potato chips, enjoying looking out the window with binoculars. My brothers, in the role of cabin boys, reluctantly occupied the lower deck, which was the floor. They were not allowed on the bridge for any reason. Of course, after a few months they mutinied, and the adventure of the “stationary cruisers” ended abruptly.
The second anecdote is this: for my 14th birthday, my father offered to buy me a scooter. To his great surprise, I refused and asked instead for an inflatable boat, of which I still remember the make and model: Map 100. Engine: Johnson 4 hp short shaft. From then on, and before discovering Sasga, I had several boats, all equally dear to me.
Where in Italy are you located?
I live in Rome, but I keep my Sasga 42 in Ischia, still one of the most beautiful Italian islands. The shallow draft of my Sasga 42 allows me to swim in all the bays in the area, some of which are truly extraordinary.
What are your favorite months for sailing?
If I could, I would live on a boat, so I have no preference for months or seasons. I tend to use it from May to October, often anchoring offshore during the busiest months. Unfortunately, last-minute boat owners have turned marinas into campgrounds, bringing everything they need to ruin the poetry of the sea.
When and where did you first meet Sasga Yachts?
I got to know Sasga about twenty years ago (when it was still called Menorquin) through some friends, hardened sailors who sailed in any kind of sea. They said they were the only motor boats they could find when the weather was rough. This had a deep impact on me, and I began to investigate and admire them whenever I could at boat shows. For a long time I longed to own the “MY100”, but this love was destined to remain “platonic”: at that time, I did not have the opportunity to acquire such a boat.
Did you have the opportunity to visit the shipyard in Menorca?
Yes, several times, on the occasion of the purchase of my two Sasga: the 34 in 2016 and the 42 in 2019. The shipyard has a real seafaring atmosphere. The seriousness, rigor and precision are palpable. Watching the craftsmen at work, even on the smallest tasks, is an unforgettable experience. By the way, I intend to “go crazy” again and add another Sasga to my collection: after all, as the saying goes, good things come in threes!
What sets your Sasga apart from other boats?
I wanted a boat that could sail in any sea conditions and that was also elegant and far removed (in every sense) from the so-called “irons” that populate our waters.
I chose the Sasga after researching and thoroughly testing the little 34 in Genoa after the boat show. An exceptional boat in many ways. For comfort, seaworthiness, spaciousness, perfect assembly and quality of materials, these boats have few competitors. What I liked the most is the feeling of security they provide while sailing. When I took the 34 from Menorca to Alghero, I faced 190 miles of cross seas with waves of between 1.5 and 2.2 meters. A very demanding test, but I felt no fear on board. I found the same qualities, amplified, on the Sasga 42, with which I have been cruising the Mediterranean for 5 years. On this boat, I had the luxury of a stabilizer, a very useful accessory both at anchor and under sail. To conclude: to the question of what differentiates my Sasga from other boats, I would also include “the feeling of welcome”. From the very beginning, you feel a connection and it feels as if you have known it all your life. And this is also one of the reasons why I will never be tempted to change shipyard.