FRANCESCO BRUNI SPEAKS TO THE WORLD’S MEDIA

Asked how the deal to transfer from Luna Rossa to Tudor Team came about, Francesco set the scene saying: “A few weeks ago, after PR2, I received a call from Giulio Bertelli (Team Principal of Luna Rossa) asking if I would be interested in this operation. Ernesto Bertarelli sparked the whole thing and got in touch with management of Luna Rossa. I thought about it a few days, then I said I would be interested, and they checked the feasibility. Now I’ve been here in Naples for a couple of weeks. Everything very exciting and thrilling!”

“It’s been a very interesting week since I arrived here on Monday morning. Ernesto was here for the first three days too; there were lots of meetings, long days – it was all very stimulating. I’m very pleased with how things are progressing, but it’s been very intense. On the same day, at around 5 o’clock in the morning, the boat arrived from Genoa; I arrived a little later. It’s not finished yet, but it’s well on the way. There’s a lot of work to be done, both technically and on a personal level; you have to liaise with lots of people. There’s certainly plenty to do...it wasn’t just a question of deciding whether to stay on as coach or return to the front line. There are so many factors to consider. I enjoyed being a coach, but when compared with the opportunity that Tudor Team Alinghi is offering me, the decision was an easy one because I prefer this role. Being a coach was great – very rewarding, especially with the young sailors. In any case, it wasn’t an easy decision because there are so many things to take into account, and Luna Rossa has meant so much to me.”

Asked about the personal involvement of Ernesto Bertarelli, the Team Principal and Owner of Tudor Team Alinghi, Checco stated: “Yes, we spoke at length over the past few weeks about this transition, which, as you can imagine, was a very delicate matter. A great deal of work went into it with the teams, the lawyers and so on. Ernesto sees me as an expert in this field, given my specialisation and the fact that I helmed the last two editions of the Cup with excellent results." 

The key question on the media’s lips was around who will co-helm alongside Francesco, with the team having the services of both Paul Goodison and Phil Robertson. Checco cleared it up saying: “I will for sure be skipper, Paul is a very important team member anyway, lots of work will be shared, I have been named for the leadership, but he is a very important person in the team and we are friends.”

And later he added, following a question about which side of the boat he would take considering that Checco is a left-hander and has always sailed for Luna Rossa from the port pod: “The decision is still open. There are three of us. We want to be a strong team so that anyone can fill any role. We don’t yet know who will fill which position, but it will become clear who performs better or worse in one position or another. I’ve played on the left twice in the past, but Goody has also played on the left. So we still have to decide.”

The tricky question about intellectual property and transfer of knowledge from Luna Rossa was framed in whether Checco had signed a non-disclosure agreement, and he responded: “For sure I have a big amount of information and knowledge, but yes, there is a lot of info that I cannot bring to another team. However, the Protocol is very, very, clear, so I will not share info that I am not allowed to share.”

Reflecting on the performance by Tudor Team Alinghi at the two Preliminary Regattas, Checco was clear: “Things certainly went better in Naples than in Cagliari, apart from the last day. The sailing team is very good; perhaps they devoted less time to the AC40 as they started a bit later – in any case, the Preliminary Regattas are very important for identifying problems. We’ll review them again and make improvements. We can do better.”

An interesting question was posed at 52-year-old Francesco about reflexes and reaction time, to which he responded: “Younger people have quicker reaction times, which is important, but it’s crucial to press the right buttons, and at my age I’m more likely to press the right buttons! Young Italians are doing brilliantly; they’re all very talented, but I hope experience still counts for a lot. I still feel young at heart – numbers don’t make the difference.”

Asked about a Cup in Italy, Francesco beamed: “It’s wonderful to have this Cup in Italy for me too, even though I’m with Tudor Team Alinghi. The Italians will be rooting for Luna Rossa, no doubt about it, but I’m pleased that so many fans and friends have backed this decision, so I reckon Tudor Team Alinghi will have more Italian supporters! The racecourse will be brilliant, and better than the Preliminary Regattas because spring is the best time of year in the Mediterranean, and especially in Naples, in terms of wind and sea conditions...Every hour on the water will be crucial; I hope Naples will give us excellent conditions from December onwards (not before, otherwise the other teams will capitalise on the good conditions). It’s important to have time on the water, but quality time... Being on the front line in Naples takes on a different meaning. I’m the first to be caught up in it. I feel that the support of the Neapolitans is absolutely vital.”

Finally, Checco was asked about how much Italian influence is inside Tudor Team Alinghi: “There’s a bit. Pietro Sibello was one of the reasons I accepted the role; he’s someone I hold in very high regard, who’s worth a great deal and contributes immensely to the team. There are other people, not necessarily in the sailing team – some of them Neapolitans, too – who are helping us a great deal to settle into the city. We’ve been made to feel very welcome here and we want to keep it that way.”

Magnus Wheatley