Gabrio Zandonà - 470 World Champion in 2003, a three-time competitor for Italy at the Olympics, Italian Navy athlete, and coach for the Italian Sailing Federation. We interviewed him during the Range Rover European J/24 Championship in Porto Cervo, where he was racing aboard La Superba, representing the Italian Navy.

What do you think of the regatta course in Porto Cervo?
This is a beautiful location, there is always wind. I was lucky enough to have been able to train here on the 470. I spent several winters in Sardinia and made a lot of friends here that I still see. 

What did you do in that 470 era when it was too windy, did you go windsurfing?
Trim the sails (smiling). During the winters here, when the wind was strong and not only the Mistral, we had to adapt. We adjusted the sails on the 470 so that we could continue to go out on the water and keep training.

What impression did you get of the fleet of participants in the J/24 European Championship, of the spirit of the class?
There’s a great atmosphere, the J/24s are very competitive and tactical boats. The last time I competed in a race on a J/24 was more than 20 years ago, I think in 1999/2000, and the spirit is still the same. I get on very well with my crew, they are very close-knit, and to come on board as tactician on a boat like that is always enjoyable and fun.