SERGIO GUGLIELMONE
"CROCE DEL SUD" (Southern Cross)
We are in La Spezia in the Beconcini shipyard talking to
Sergio Gugielmone, Captain of the Southern Cross which is
currently here undergoing repairs and repainting. The
captain has kindly invited us into the chartroom, outside
there is a 30 knot, south westerly gale blowing and it
seems as though we are at sea during a storm.
Are you originally from Liguria and does sailing run in your family?
I was born in Bocca di Magra. My father bought a trawler
and I started helping out on the trawler when I was about
13. I was born a fisherman and I then became a sailor,
next an officer and then finally a captain. In Bocca di
Magra there were not many other alternatives, it was
either fishing or sailing.
Where did you study? What about your career?
I have always put my family first: as young boy I helped
my father at work , when I was 24 I got married and I
started leading boats for a living. In the meantime I was
studying to become a captain which I did in Genoa in
1968. From then on I sailed on cargoships which is where
you really learn to sail professionally. Life in
particular on containerships is stressful because of the
pressure of running to tight schedules. I've also been
arrested twice, the first time was in Bengasi while we
were pumping salt water from the double hull. Towards the
end of the pumping the salt water became rusty in colour
and the Libyans charged us on the grounds of polluting
the water. The Second time was in Tripoli because of our
flag. The Libyans charged us as they found it offensive
that our flag was higher then theirs was. I was able to
get out of trouble in both cases thanks to my quick
thinking. Anyway I love my job and I wouldn't change it
for any other.
Which are the main characteristics of "Southern Cross"?
Southern Cross is a family boat which was made by from a
love of the sea. From 1933 up to the present day it has
been in the same hands. I think that only the yacht
"Britannia" breaks this record. It is a typical three-
masted schooner. This means that a third mast has been
added to the typical two-mast schooner giving an extra
sail that helps to better harness the wind.
This has probably been the choice of the owner and of the
designer. The structure is made of iron, the interior is
in mahogany, the deckhouse and the steerage are made of
teak and the mast is made of spruce. In the interior,
from the mast to the prow there is the captains cabin,
the kitchen and the crew's cabins with room for 10
persons, on top naturally there are the bathrooms. From
the mast to the stern there are 5 guest cabins and the
lounge. On the main deck towards the prow there is a
small sitting room bar overlooking the sea, at the stern
there is the chartroom with navigation equipment.
In the stern there is also the open wheel area as is
typical with this kind of boat. The deck is spacious (8 m
in width) and there are dining tables in the open, a
"Boston Whaler", a tender, and an old lifeboat. The
Southern Cross is designed to sail downwind and due to
the kind of sail, it doesnt constrain the wind too much,
it hasn't any sailing problems and can be classified as
an oceanic going craft.
Which are your favourite routes?
My favourite route is the Mediterranean in general. In
particular I like: Croatia, between the new destinations
because it is still a place where even in the middle of
August it is possible to find a cove to have a swim on
your own. Greece still has some quiet bays, the Balearics
are lively ; Sardinia is wonderful, especially in the
west from Cagliari to the island of Asinara. Turkey is
beautiful and quite isolated. The beauty of the
Mediterranean is in its colours and in the variety of
beaches, rocky and sandy alike, making each corner unique
and picturesque. Moreover there is not just the
possibility to go swimming but it is also possible to
visit a lot of historic and archaeological sites.
How about your cooking onboard?
Vegetables, fresh fruit and fish purchased locally and
cooked with Mediterranean care.
Which trip you would still like to do?
I would like to make an Atlantic crossing on the
"Southern Cross". If you think that Christopher Colombo
crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a simple 16m vessel without
any equipment, I'd like to do the same kind of journey on
the Southern Cross just for my own personal satisfaction.
In this way I would like to crown my career as Captain
and I could then retire with my small boat in Bocca di
Magra.
Which other boat do you would like to command besides to the Southern Cross?
Only the Southern Cross I couldn't wish for a better boat
than the Southern Cross.
How about your worst adventure?
We were going to Marseille from Genoa with a Messina
container, when two illegal immigrants, onboard a
cargoboat, threw themselves in the sea. It was not easy
to recover them because of the height of the sides of the
ship. As matter of fact we had to lower the main door to
sea level and let them ride in on a wave, tied to a rope
and to the lifejackets we had thrown to them.
And your favourite memory?
Passing through the Faraglioni (and other difficult
passages) is a personal satisfaction that one takes
pleasure and satisfaction in completing successfully.
Nobody asks you to do these kind of things, experience is
the only way to learn at sea, as in life. Maybe second to
this is being humble enough to learn.
How could you summarize the life of a superyacht captain?
Motor yachts have a big bureaucratic part to them, a lot
of paperwork and organisation comes with them. I'm lucky
because I can change and go on a sailboat where I can be
a sailor and have some fun, during the cruise and during
the meetings of "Vele d'Epoca".
What kind of rapport is there between you and the ship owner?
Marvellous, we have a trust based relationship. We
collaborate working on behalf of the "Southern Cross".
And the crew?
With this type of boat it's really important to have
experienced sailors not only to sail under any condition
but also to be able to maintain the boat. At the moment
I'm really lucky to have a great crew, and in particular
the boatswain is irreplaceable. He used to be captain of
an ocean going fishing boat, and sailed in the Read Sea,
the Persian Gulf, along the Terranova Coast and around Senegal
CAPTAIN OF SOUTHERN CROSS
Name: Sergio
Surname: Guglielmone
Age: 64
Nationality: Italian
Education: Padrone Marittimo Technical College, first year (evening classes)
Sailing experience: Since he was 14 (when he left high
school) he sailed as ship's boy and sailor on sail boats
such as Motosailor and regatta yachts of 1st and 2nd
classes. Up to 27 two years of sailing sports on the
Navys Artica II and Stella Mattutina. At 28 he achieved
the title of maritime Captain, starting his merchant
navy career on ferries and containerships of "I: Messina
& C." Company, Genoa; up until he was 33 he worked as
first deck officer. At 33 he started working on
Mediterranean routes still with "I: Messina & C.", Genoa,
sailing along the North African coast to Turkey, the Read
Sea, the Canary islands, West Africa, Nigeria, until he
was 40 (1980). In June 1980 he started working as captain
on the Southern Cross. He still works on the same boat
and has done so for the last 24 years.
Flag: Italian
Boat details: three-masted schooner, length 42 m, width
7,80 m, draught 5m - speed 10 knots.
Designer, Shipyard Martinolich, Builder Shipyard Martinolich (Lussinpiccolo) JU
Favourite Port: Porto Cervo
Winter Base: La Spezia, "Porto Lotti"
Favourite route: Mediterranean, Greece, Turkey , The Balearics, Croatia
What development in the world of yachting has most
impressed you and why? the building of new, large
Superyacht, has created a more professional environment
within the pleasure craft field because of the presence
of people with a merchant background This has improved
safety within the superyacht sector in which there are
involved many lovers of sailing... but not real sailors.
Worst experience: the rescue of two survivors near the Genoa Coast;
Most memorable experience: the passage between the two
points called "the faraglioni" of Lipari (they are named
"the two policeman") going east at sunset, with the sun
setting between the faraglioni that gave a red glow to
the Italian flag of the Southern Cross.
What do you think is your role as captain and of the
environment in which you operate?
The sea is one natures great forces, Captains firstly,
have to feel respect and humility towards the sea
because the art of sailing is as always being a sailor.
|
