Francesco de Angelis (sailor)
# Francesco de Angelis (sailor)

Francesco de Angelis ONZM (born 11 September 1960) is an Italian yachtsman. He was the first and so far only non-angloamerican skipper to win the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland in 2000 with Luna Rossa (ITA45).

## Biography

Francesco was born in Naples on September 11, 1960. Over the course of his career, he has won several prestigious regattas, including six world championships with different classes, one Admiral's Cup (1995), three Sardinia Cups, two Swan Cups, three Middle Sea Race Trophy (2005, 2013 and 2015),the Giraglia Trophy in 2018, the Aegean 600 (2021). He has won two European championships and nine Italian championships with different classes.

In 2000, as the skipper and helmsman of Luna Rossa, he won the Louis Vuitton Cup and challenged Team New Zealand’s Black Magic (NZL60) in the XXX America’s Cup. In the XXXI America’s Cup in 2003, still as Luna Rossa’s skipper and helmsman, he reached the semi-finals but lost to One World. In the XXXII America’s Cup in 2007, he served as team director and skipper for Luna Rossa and reached, again, the Louis Vuitton final after beating BMW Oracle Racing 5–1. During the XXXIII America’s Cup, he was a commentator for Italian broadcaster La7,worked as a guest expert for Sky during the 2012 London Olympics and Rai for the XXXVI America's Cup, Auckland 2021. For his distinction in sports, Francesco has been awarded four gold medals from the Italian National Olympic Committee. He was also named as an honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to yachting and New Zealand–Italy relations, in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours.

## Achievements

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Class (Yacht) | Role |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1987 | World Championships | Capri | 1st | J/24 | Helmsman |
| 1995 | Admiral's Cup | Cowes | 1st | Yacht racing (Brava Q8) | Helmsman |
| 2000 | Louis Vuitton Cup | Auckland | 1st | Yacht racing (Luna Rossa) | Skipper and helmsman |
| 2000 | America's Cup | Auckland | 2nd | Yacht racing (Luna Rossa) | Skipper and helmsman |
| 2008 | World Championships | Athens | 1st | ORCi (Libertine) | Tactician |

### Other results

* One Ton Cup Gold (1989, 1992)

### Italian Championships

* J/24 Gold (1984, 1985, 1987)
* Star Gold (1985)

## Honours and awards

* Medaglie d'Oro al valore sportivo dal CONI (4 times)
* Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
