The new Italian

Nigel Cherrie talks to Andy Hemmings, the sole Brit on Prada's sailing team

Not even Patrizio Bertelli, the founder, financer and passionate Italian CEO of the Prada America's Cup syndicate could disagree that two years ago his team, while worthy Louis Vuitton Cup winners, were outsmarted and out-sailed in the America's Cup final.

The Kiwi defence was a fraction faster and innovative in several departments, but even as the smoke was settling from the gun to mark Team New Zealand's 5-0 whitewash over Francesco de Angelis and his Luna Rossa crew, their 2003 Challenge was officially handed to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

For Mr Bertelli, this is unfinished business and next February he expects his team to deliver to the America's Cup to the Mediterranean shores of Italy.

Amongst the cast of 60 on the Italian Challenge employed to win the America's Cup at all costs are two Poms, or newly resident Italians under the Cup protocol.

Ian Howlett, who drew the lines for Great Britain's last three America's Cup entries in the 12 meter era, sits on the 22 member design board while Andy Hemmings, perhaps one of the most talented sail trimmers in the world, has been selected to join the 34 strong Prada Sailing Team. Hemmings has a sailing CV as long as Luna Rossa and is a master at the art of match race crewing, spending five season with Chris Law (they reached number two in the ISAF world rankings).

So are Prada now the top seeds and the rest of the world the underdogs? Providing an insight into the Prada challenge, Andy Hemmings spoke to madfor sailing.

madforsailing: Andy, thanks for taking time out from your busy sailing schedule. How does it feel to be part of such a Herculean "win at all costs" effort in your very first America's Cup campaign?

Andy Hemmings: It has been a real eye opener actually. In many ways it is different to what I expected. It is fantastic from the team point of view of having all the guys around you and you have quite a lot of fun. Sometimes you do feel like a very small cog in a very big wheel. All of us have on-going small projects to do with this huge project and the America's Cup is about making it all come together successfully in the end.

The nice thing, as opposed to other campaigns, is while it is not a limitless budget by any means you do have the freedom and expansion to try ideas. So long as the idea isn't completely ridiculous, it isn't going to be shot down and if people see value in it we have the facilities to follow it up and that's incredible. There are not many stones left unturned in the pursuit for what we are trying to achieve. Everything you would do in an Olympic programme and more is covered.

It is a fantastic team with great potential.

mfs: In the year and a half you have been with the Prada campaign, what have they achieved?

AH: As in all the America's Cup teams, it has been training, training and training [ed note: not wishing to give too much away, already!] We have alternated between New Zealand and Italy (Punta Ala). When we are not at either base, the boats have been shipped. In that time we get a few weeks break and use the rest of the time to do match racing events.

mfs: And how is your Italian progressing?

AH: I can understand pretty much of what is being said on the boat but I can't follow fast conversations. In many ways that is nice, often when there is chat on the boat if I don't hear my name I know it doesn't concern me and I can concentrate on my job. Thankfully it's a lot easier than I thought it was going to be!

mfs: So what have been the interim goals of Prada during this Southern Hemisphere summer?

AH: Without wishing to give too much away, most of this period has been
concentrating on the crew.

mfs: No stone seems unturned in the Prada team resume, but history says it takes 12 years to win the America's Cup. Could we see Prada, or rather Patrizio Bertelli back in three to five years if they do not prevail in either the Louis Vuitton series or the eventual America's Cup?

AH: Only one guy, Mr Bertelli, will make that decision.

mfs: And what of Patrizio Bertelli, what is his day-to-day involvement with the programme?

AH: He keeps very abreast of the situation, but from afar. His role is in some ways no different to the CEO of a big company, which is essentially what Prada is - a company trying to win an event.

mfs: And we trust he is happy with the campaigns progress to date?

AH: I'm sure changes have and will be made if he is not happy, just like any boss of a company.

mfs: Despite the 'outside looking in' glamour of a Cup campaign, the days and weeks are very long as so much has to be achieved.

AH: Yes, we run a 12 or 14 hour day, six days a week and every few weeks we get a double weekend, so it is very long hours.

We start early in the morning in the gym, then we have breakfast and have meetings. At the compound we load the boat and obviously go sailing. Depending what time you finish sailing you have to come ashore and unload the boats, bring them out (of the water), pack them away and have debriefs and plan the next day.

We may have two and a half to three years to run a campaign but ultimately that isn't a big time frame. You soon swallow it up. You have to maximise the day. The guys at Prada such as Francesco [de Angelis] and Stevie [Erickson] are very good at structuring the day.

mfs: So how to you relax?

AH: It is a bit of a problem. Obviously for me I have my family (wife Gina and young children Rory and Lucy) and when they are here we try and get out of town. I rarely have time but I enjoy fishing.

mfs: In the 2000 Cup series, Prada was a pure Italian team, the pride of Italy, but now there appears to be a cosmopolitan feel...

AH: Within the sailing team we have British, French, American, Kiwi, Brazilian and obviously Italians.

mfs: And how has that strengthened the team?

AH: The foreigners, myself excluded as it is my first Cup, have brought a different perspective to within the team. Every country has different ethics on how they go about things and it is good to bring in other peoples ideas and ethics on work and everything concerned with the America's Cup. I think it has opened up a few different avenues. It also brings in a good atmosphere.

mfs: But has that tarnished the image of an 'Italian challenge' in Italy?

AH: If there has been any reaction I haven't heard about it, but at the end of the day people like winners. How many foreigners are within Chelsea or Manchester United back home? The public still feel Manchester United is English.

mfs: It was widely speculated that the two Young America yachts (USA 53 & 58) that Prada purchased after the 2000 Cup series were the fastest boats in Auckland last time, but never reached their full potential. Has the campaign learned a lot from them and do you believe they invoked a slight change of
tack in design and sailing areas?

AH: Yes, the Young America boats have been a big benefit (he says with a grin).

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