Giovanni Soldini

The boat has always been his dimension, a choice of life ever since he revealed to his parents that he would not have continued his studies or the classic professional career as by their expectations, but would have gone across the seas chasing only his passion, sailing.

Solo and in a team, taking part to the most important offshore regattas in the world, Giovanni has been the protagonist of Italian sailing for more than 25 years.

He became famous for his solo crossings (two world tours and over 30 transoceanic voyages), but it was the third place at the La Baule-Dakar in 1991 that made him known to the general public.

In 1999 he became not only solo world champion but also champion of courage for saving his colleague Isabelle Autissier whose boat had capsized due to difficult weather conditions.

Over the years there have been many victories such as the Transat Jacques Vabre, or The The Artemis Transato the Quebec-Saint Malo, on the Telecom Italia boat.

In recent years, he and his team have sailed around the world twice, competed in various regattas on board of the Maserati Multi 70 trimaran and have achieved several victories and world records. On 31 December 2012 Giovanni Soldini left New York aboard the monohull Maserati VOR 70 with a crew from different countries to set a new record on the historic New York- San Francisco route, via Cape Horn. On February 2013 Soldini and his team crossed the finish line under the Golden Gate winning the Golden Route record.

Giovanni was able to closely observe the effects of water pollution on sea live and is commetted to rise people’s awareness of this great problem that affects us all.

Giovanni affirms that sailing, whather solo or in team for regattas, is a great school of life. From sailing solo he has learned to forgive and understand himself, to face the difficulties of the challenges of nature, to face his fears. As a team member he has learned to pursue a common goal together, to overcome, cooperating, the seemingly insurmountable difficulties, to manage stress and pressures.