Yacht Club Italiano
Genoa, Italy
YCI has sailed in three previous editions of Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup (2009, 2013 and 2015). The club's best finish was 14th in 2013 and 2015.
Founded in Genoa in 1879, YCI is the longest standing sailing club in Italy and one of the oldest in the Mediterranean. The Club currently is proud to have approximately 1,100 members. Since its inaugural regatta in August of 1880, YCI's aims have always been to promote the sport of yachting, organize national and international regattas, and instruct young people in the art of sailing.
In 1930, from his yacht Elettra, anchored in the Duca degli Abruzzi Marina in Genoa, Club member Guglielmo Marconi famously lit the Sydney Town Hall using a switch operated by radio. In 1936, the 8 Metre Italia won gold at the Games of the XI Olympiad in Kiel. More recently, YCI competed in the 1987 America’s Cup with the 12 Metre Italia. Many club members are key figures in the history of international yachting; a special mention goes out to Luigi Durand de La Penne and Beppe Croce, President of the Club for 28 years and the first President of World Sailing from a non-English speaking country. In more recent times, notable Club members Luca Devoti and Alessandra Sensini added Olympic and other medals to the Club’s already impressive trophy cabinet.
Team Profile
Most of the YCI team started sailing within the club's sailing academy and sailed for the YCI. In preparation for the 2019 Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup, the team has been training on similar boats in order to create a good team relationship and encourage good cooperation during the regatta.
YCI's team skipper for the 2019 IC will be Ilaria Paternoster (left) from Genoa, 420-European Champion Female in 2013 and International 420 Youth Sailing World Champion Female in 2012. Paternoster has raced for 13 years, and in the past few years she has proven her sailing skills on the international stage, scoring eighth at the 470 World Championship Juniors in 2016, winning the bronze medal at the 470 World Championship Juniors in 2017, and winning the silver medal at the 470 Italian Championship in 2018, all at the helm.
Alongside Paternoster will be Paolo Brescia (right) from Milan, Italy, the tactician for the YCI team in this year's IC. Brescia boasts a racing history of 35 years, and during this time he has led his crew to victory as a skipper at many prestigious regattas. A highlight reel of his accomplishments on the water include winning first place at the Fireball Italian Championship in 2016 and 2018, and scoring fourth at the Fireball European Championship in 2004.
