Eight Bells: Paolo Cardoni

Last night, we said goodbye to Paolo Cardoni, known in Italy and abroad for his connection to the Snipe Class and for his work as an illustrator.

Readers of SnipeToday associate Paolo’s name with the Christmas greeting cards published on this site every year.

He was one of the promoters of the 2025 Snipe Worlds in Talamone, for which he created the logo and handled promotional and media aspects.

For anyone who frequented Talamone, Paolo was first a Snipe sailor on his boat, a Skipper, and then a constant presence for decades at the Circolo della Vela Talamone (Talamone Sailing Club). He was an organizer, buoy layer, photographer, and videographer, always with great dedication, passion, and the wit that made everyone love him.

A person of great culture, artistic talent, and humanity, Paolo Cardoni was born in Rome in 1953. After attending the Rome Academy of Fine Arts for a set design course with Toto Scialoja, he collaborated as an illustrator with numerous weekly magazines, books, and advertising agencies. On television, he created many spots as an illustrator. He was also a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts.

But above all, Paolo was tied to Talamone and its bay, which he renamed and is now universally known as “Snipe Bay.”

When I rig my Snipe in Talamone, ready to go out for another day in Snipe Bay, I’ll still feel like I can hear his voice without fail: “Ciao Piter! Ciao Ari! Come va? Oggi sono le vostre condizioni, daje!” – “Hello Piter! Hello Ari! How’s it going? Today’s your conditions, let’s go!”

I will miss Paolo, and so will many others.