History

For those who sailed high-level races in 1982/1983, Brava was probably a nightmare. For everyone else, however, Brava is a condensation of history, personality and excellence. The winner of everything that could have been won in that two-year period, including the Sardinia Cup, a Fastnet Race and the associated Admiral's Cup. In short, a podium car and designer Vallicelli's first masterpiece. 

In the late 1970s Pasquale Landolfi (a giant from the Italian offshore and nautical world) the happy owner of a standard sailing yacht. But the 80s are already palpable and the goals are high: there is the Admiral's Cup (the World Sailing Yacht Championship) and the Sardinia Cup to win and a special hull required. Vallicelli is the most logical answer. He and his studio will develop the project. In 1980 and arrives our Brava of Minneford, the builder from America, a 13.5-metre vessel with medium displacement, a hull that is Vallicelli himself will describe as special, "almost a guess". The waterlines are graceful but aggressive at the same time, the maximum beam is placed just aft, very wide for this category, and the bowlines have very narrow half-attack angles. The "colour scheme" is already destined for legend: cobalt blue hull and gold BRAVA, crowning the transom. The budget for Brava is unlimited. Landolfi wants the best of the best available in the world at the time. The best builder (Minneford USA), where the most successful America's Cuppers come from. The best fittings, the best sails and the world's most famous pro sailors on board. The debut in the water is Alassio, Liguria, or the opening of the 1980 competitive season. At the helm is a sailing topper, the America's Cup sailor John Marshall. The wind is strong and very gusty and Brava rolls before the wind, tilts sharply to windward and gets into the so-called "Chinese jibe" and then lies completely on the water. Landolfi as a young brand-new owner, is immersed in the cockpit. His gaze is fixed on the stern, on the lens of the person immortalising everything. A very young photographer Carlo Borlenghi who makes a career on this day and owes his future to one world-famous photograph 

Here are his comments: "It was my first regatta at sea with the IOR boats, there was a lot of wind and crazy waves. I was terribly scared, I didn't want to go out, but I took courage. Then came the windfall, when we followed the Brava, which by then was boat number one. It went flat and I started shooting, while Pasquale Landolfi was actually in the water looking into the lens. Too crazy! I shifted my entire roll. I didn't have a penny to spare yet and was trying to make ends meet from photography. Needless to say, I was very happy, but I only realised what I had done when I came ashore. What had happened? I was standing on the quay, literally under siege. They all wanted those photos, including magazines and newspapers. I understood that my world had changed and that I was in the right place at the right time. I owe a lot to that series, but I think it also brought Pasquale himself a lot of happiness."

Apart from this prelude, the 1980 results were only a fourth-place finish in the Sardinia's Cup. Not enough. For the following season, the keel is replaced and a few more modifications are made. No dice, the Italian team suffers during the 1981 Fastnet, 600 very heavy miles, which is a necessary lesson. However, a lot of experience is gained, further tuning the boat to perfection. 1982 and 1983 come along and Brava wins everything there is to win, including two Italian championships, the 1982 Sardinia's Cup and finally the 1983 Fastnet on sailed (Brava rounded the Fastnet Rock 4 hours earlier than the fastest 50-footer Blå Carat!) and, of course, on calculated time! Brava finished third as an individual boat and second with her team at the 1983 Admiral's Cup. On board of Brava sailed those years Olympic champions and America's Cup sailors such as Tom Blackaller, Vittorio Mariani, Gary Weisman and Mauro Pelaschier.

It is the birth of a myth, a myth that Pasquale Landolfi will never let down and, together with Brava, become the most famous shipowner in the Italian offshore, a sailing icon. Landolfi concludes his sailing career after seven Bravas, including four One Tonners, an ILC 40 and an IMS 50. Therefore, this Brava is not just another boat over 44 years old. She is the protagonist of an epic season, an IOR icon and champion, and the witness of an endless passion, that of Landolfi, which will continue the Italian offshore passion along with growing generations of sailors. On the many Bravas of Landolfi the greatest designers did their best and the greatest helmsmen grew up. Thanks to him, the prestigious One Ton Cups were won, the various Admiral's Cups, and as if that wasn't enough, we got to see Azzurra compete towards the America's Cup, thanks to his support for the project of Avvocato Agnelli and the Aga Kahn. Everything started with this first Brava...

Brava was sold in 1984 to the Swede Sven Hjelte. That one won the IOR overall annual prize a few times in Sweden including well-known races such as the Gotland Rund (2x), the Oland Rund and also the Skaw Race twice. Brava also came first overall in the 1987 Tjörn Round Race with 1,200 entrants! Sven unfortunately missed out on a spot on the 1985 Swedish Admiral's Cup team due to "nepotism" and therefore leased his boat "Hero Brava" to the Irish Admiral's Cup Team in 1985. Brava thus sailed the Admiral's Cup three times, which is quite exceptional. Most designs are not competitive enough to participate in multiple Admiral's Cups.... 

Sven was absolutely crazy and in love with his Hero Brava and has always taken tip-top care of the boat and lovingly maintained it. In the period up to 2019, he sold the boat up to three times but also bought it back each time after regrets. After his death, the family of Sven a new owner, who would cherish this special boat like Sven has always done. The wish was also, that the boat would survive in her original racing condition and preferably be used educationally. This is because usually old racing yachts end up on the scrap heap or are converted with luxury into touring yachts. 

Katrin and Edwin Visser tracked down the boat and bought Brava in spring 2023 from Sven's son Peter in Sweden, where she was stored in a hall 60 km from the coast for many years. The boat was prepared as best it could for the sailing trip to the Netherlands. In the summer of 2023, the entire boat was refitted and thoroughly refurbished. She is now in original condition inside and out for 99% as she was in the 1980s. In Italy, they are absolutely thrilled with the relaunch of their national legend. The press in Italy has paid quite a bit of attention to it. The boat has real character and an elegant look and is still well known among racing sailors worldwide. The magic is still on board and it is a great honour to sail this Brava!

Link To a Special Edition on Ladolfi and the Bravas