Checco Bruni, to bring the America’s Cup to Italy

At the helm of Luna Rossa: Francesco Bruni's eclectic approach

When answering young sailors who ask for advice on how to become a helmsman as good as him, he always replies: «Diversify your experience and sail different boats, because each one will teach you something and the sum of this knowledge will make you a complete sailor. Follow your dreams, as I am following mine». “He” is Francesco "Checco" Bruni, one of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli helmsmen, and his dream is to «no longer helm an America's Cup boat, which I have achieved, but to win the America’s Cup with an Italian boat ».

Checco’s sailing career exemplifies the approach that he recommends to young sailors. Born in Palermo - a city to which he is very attached – he is one of the most complete, eclectic and winning Italian sailors: in 30 years of activity, he has won 7 World titles, 5 Europeans and 15 Nationals in various classes, from Laser to offshore, from Star to 49er, with a first place in the ISAF Match Race world ranking in 2011.

With a CONI Gold Collar honor to his name, Checco has also competed in three Olympic games (in Laser, 49er and Star Classes), was runner up world champion in the Moth Class, and has raced in the SailGP, TP52, RC44 and other circuits. «I've been sailing for as long as I can remember, because sailing is a passion that unites my whole family (his brother Gabriele is coach of the Nacra17 Class Olympic team) and that I have learned to love since I was a child», he says. «I consider myself an eclectic person because in my career I have held so many roles in different situations and have had 360-degree experiences in the sailing world».

His inspirational figures are many, starting from his father, with whom he first sailed on Lasers as a child, up to Jimmy Spithill (also a Luna Rossa helmsman): «Jimmy taught me so much and continues to do so constantly. One of my dreams is to be able to teach something myself someday, to be an inspiration for someone, like these people have been for me», he says.

This is his sixth America's Cup, the fifth with Luna Rossa (in 2017 he was with team Artemis): «The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is like a family, especially for me as I have been part of it for several campaigns now; my goal, today, is to fulfill my dream of winning the America's Cup for Italy, with the tricolor on my shoulders. When things get tough, what is important is to not give up and to continue to believe in that dream».