We caught up with Gabriele (“Ganga”) Bruni, in Porto Cervo at the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta. Since 2013, Ganga has coached the Italian Olympic mixed Nacra 17 catamaran team, which has achieved some impressive results, including two Olympic gold medals for Tita-Banti at the Tokyo and Paris Games. His athletes (including Bissaro-Frascari and Ugolini-Giubilei) have also won five world titles, along with two silvers and one bronze. Ganga Bruni took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics at the bow of a 49er with his brother Checco, and was the strategist on +39 Challenge during the America's Cup campaign in Valencia. He held the same role in 2008 and 2009 with the YCCS Azzurra project in the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Ganga also coached the Young Azzurra team in the foiling campaign promoted by the YCCS, which concluded in November 2021.

What boat are you racing in Porto Cervo and what’s your role?

I am honoured to be the tactician on Morgana, a beautiful 100-foot Southern Wind custom design. We’ve spent five days here training and we’re ready for the races. To prepare for a superyacht race, you need a few days of training because you have to build team spirit among the crew, the tactician has to get to know the angles of the boat, how long it takes a boat to complete a manoeuvre. There are so many elements to deal with, and preparation is essential to be ready on the first day of racing. 

Whether it's small foiling catamarans or superyachts, it's still sailing, but with vast differences...

Compared to what I usually do, my role here is quite different. Working with very fast boats, you have to make instant decisions, whereas on a superyacht you have a little more time and can share your choices with the crew, but you need to be able to anticipate situations well in advance. In both cases, however, the choices are crucial, so you always have to carefully evaluate the many variables and reason accordingly. 

What do you think of the race course in Porto Cervo?

It's always a pleasure to return to Porto Cervo - it's one of the most beautiful places in the world to race, and it's not just Ganga saying that, everyone says so. Every time I'm invited to race here, I'm particularly happy. It's a unique course from a tactical perspective, where you have to deal with islands and rocks, but even when we’re racing on open waters there are wind shifts, and the setting is unique, as is the warmth of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. 

You’re also a TV sailing commentator, particularly for the America's Cup. What do you think of the wonderful and unexpected news that Naples has been chosen to host the 38th edition?

I think the America's Cup in Naples is an excellent choice. The city will definitely rise to the task of hosting a great event, and I hope to see many participants. I think it was the right choice; the Italian government has made a very important move. I had the chance to speak with the mayor of Naples, who’s not a sailor but is very proud of what’s happening. I’m sure Italians will all be there to cheer on Luna Rossa and the other national challengers. I’ll be the first to cheer them on.