Sailors Davide Cannata and Pierluigi de Felice from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and Mac Agnese and Matt Cassidy from American Magic on stage. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
Sailors Davide Cannata and Pierluigi de Felice from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and Mac Agnese and Matt Cassidy from American Magic on stage. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
When the Prada Cup final gets underway on Saturday, Pierluigi de Felice will be the only New Zealander on board either of the two boats.
While his name underscores his Italian heritage – he was born and raised in Naples – de Felice also has a strong connection to thiscountry.
He has spent a good chunk of the last two decades calling Auckland home and both his daughters attend school in West Auckland.
He owns a house in Titirangi and gained citizenship a few years ago.
The final giveaway is a distinctive Kiwi lilt to his Italian accent and an impressive command of local slang.
"I'm a full Kiwi, got a passport," laughed de Felice, who is a grinder and trimmer aboard Luna Rossa. "I think I am the only Kiwi in this Prada Cup final."
It's somewhat fitting, because Auckland is where he first decided to become a professional sailor, at the tender age of 17.
In January 1999 de Felice and his older brother came here to compete at the Junior 470 World Championships, then spent time with the Prada Challenge, who were building towards the 2000 America's Cup.
"That is where all the dream started," said de Felice. "There were a couple of guys from Naples in Prada, so, being here, we got in touch."
The teenagers spent time with the team, joining them for meals and watching the boat come in each day.
"Being 17, on the other side of the world, I looked at this team and I thought, that is what I want to be, that is what I want to do," said de Felice. "I want to win this Cup and do it with that team."
A fork in the road came a few months later, when the brothers couldn't secure funding for an Olympics campaign ahead of the Sydney Games.
NAPLES, ITALY - APRIL 19: (L-R) Massimiliano Sirena, Mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, Pierluigi De Felice and Mario Hubler attend the AmCup World Series Naples in 2013. Photo / Getty Images.
"My brother became a lawyer," said de Felice. "While I started my professional career."
He returned to Auckland for the 2003 Cup, one of the youngest members of the Mascalzone Latino syndicate, the other Italian team.
"It was a big deal," said de Felice. "I was 21, seeing this part of the world, definitely a different lifestyle. My English wasn't perfect but I liked the environment and the culture."
Another Cup campaign with Mascalzone Latino followed in 2007 in Valencia, followed by stints on the World Match Racing Tour (with Luna Rossa co-helmsman Francesco Bruni) and in the Louis Vuitton World Series.
De Felice joined Luna Rossa for the 2013 campaign in San Francisco and again for Bermuda, before the Italians pulled the pin in protest at Oracle's last-minute change to the design class.
The 39-year-old is confident this time.
"This is the strongest team I have been part of, by far," said de Felice. "This is the [best position] I have been in in all my campaigns."
"I like where we are. I wouldn't change [anyone] on my team with any other team. We have done all the right things and we knew development would come online at specific times."
Even allowing for a wounded American Magic, Luna Rossa's superior performance in the Prada Cup semi-final, in terms of speed gains and improved crew work, was eye catching.
"It's been a big jump," admitted de Felice. "We keep improving, keep learning, keep making changes."
But is it enough to topple the INEOS Team UK, who were undefeated in the round robin series?
De Felice has no doubt. Those contests are imprinted on his mind and they know what went wrong.
"What we missed in those races was a bit of help from the tactical side and a bit more strategy," said de Felice. "We have got that now, so it will be very interesting."
De Felice credits the extensive work from the sailing team coaches, in analysing the issues and finding solutions.
"We have given more responsibility to our mainsheet trimmer (Pietro Sibello), to look around and give more input," said de Felice. "We are way stronger than before, plus our boat got faster, [though] I'm sure the Brits got faster."
"[But] we are here to win the Cup. It's everything; we need to get out there, perform and win this thing. It's our final. Either win it or go home."
Heading into the Cup racing?
• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus to watch the Cup.
• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride.
• Don't forget to scan QR codes with the NZ COVID Tracer app when on public transport and entering the America's Cup Village.
