14 Questions to … Fabio Rochelli

Fabio Rochelli, aka "Rocket" or ... "Red Cappuccet" (Little Red Riding Hood), from Trieste - 1) Your first time on a sailing boat? In 1974, at age 12, in the harbor of Barcola, they made me get on an Optimist. I began to slide on the water with this invisible force of the wind. And I was bewitched. - 2) Your first time on a Snipe? In a regatta in Monfalcone in 1998, after 18 years away from dinghies - 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta? While I was sailing a big boat regatta called "24 Hours of San Marino" at the helm of Fanatic, an ultralight displacement boat of 54 feet, we hooked with the keel the anchor line of a course mark. We tried to free the keel from the line and, because it was impossible, at the end, we tried to cut it, but ... unfortunately we perforated the mark. At that point we recovered the flat mark, the line, the chain and the anchor and we delivered them to the race committee who was at the club. Result: Race cancelled.

by Pietro Fantoni 01/01/2014

Fabio Rochelli, aka “Rocket” or … “Red Cappuccet” (Little Red Riding Hood), from Trieste

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

In 1974, at age 12, in the harbor of Barcola, they made me get on an Optimist. I began to slide on the water with this invisible force of the wind. And I was bewitched.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

In a regatta in Monfalcone in 1998, after 18 years away from dinghies

– 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta?

While I was sailing a big boat regatta called “24 Hours of San Marino” at the helm of Fanatic, an ultralight displacement boat of 54 feet, we hooked with the keel the anchor line of a course mark. We tried to free the keel from the line and, because it was impossible, at the end, we tried to cut it, but … unfortunately we perforated the mark. At that point we recovered the flat mark, the line, the chain and the anchor and we delivered them to the race committee who was at the club. Result: Race cancelled.

– 4) What is the thing that most angers you in a race/regatta?

When I make mistakes of what I can do.

– 5) Which is the race/regatta that you remember with the most pleasure?

Two things I remember with most pleasure: the Master Worlds – Junior division – that I won in Rio in 2010 and the 130 miles of surfing at 21 knots during the descent of the Adriatic in the “500×2” (a doublehanded regatta of 500 miles) that I won on Fanatic in 1999.

– 6) And the race/regatta you would like to forget?

In a midsummer night in 2000, during the “200 miles of Lignano,” along the coast of Istria, we were hit by a sudden and violent squall at 85 knots; we capsized a 40-foot boat. The crew was rescued but the boat was destroyed.

– 7) Your “dream in the peak”? (Your sailing dream?)

The round of the world with a cruising boat. No racing.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2013, and beyond?

A good result at the European Championship.

– 9) The most important people for you in sailing and in the Snipe?

Elio, my first instructor, sailing with him was love or hate. The whole family of the Snipe.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

It allows me to race on a one-design dinghy with my wife Daniela.

– 11) Your perfect sailing venue and your perfect sailing conditions?

Talamone, Tuscany, 8-12 knots, small waves.

– 12) Besides sailing which other sport do you practice?

Skiing and cycling.