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Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
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Interview by |
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![]() LUCA TRIGGIANI - M/Y KOS![]() We want to go on with our interviews to shipmasters talking to Luca Triggiani, the young and dynamic captain of Kos, who together with the crew has adopted an entire class of African children, actually opening the yachting world to solidarity in a so unusual and pleasant way. Let's hear what he's got to say of. Where did your love to sea come from originally? I was born and brought up in Genoa, a city of a great maritime tradition; sea and overseas lands not yet discovered have always attract me greatly as well as I was fascinated by figures such as Colombo, Vespucci, Caboto, Magellano, Vasco de Gama, James Cook and Sir Drake for courage and tenacity they put in their adventures. Which was your professional training to become a shipmaster? I began my career aboard the Italian navy. Then I went on with my practical training on board pleasure crafts while I carried out the theoretic one by way of intensive specialization training in Italy and abroad, mostly, attending prestigious universities such as War sash (Southampton) and South - Shields (Newcastle) and obtaining at last the MCA Master's Offshore licence. Nevertheless, I had to do all training again, because, according to the Italian Laws, my foreign qualification is not recognised in Italy. What about your first and last lead? My first lead was on board "Sirius", a Dutch 22 metre displacing shuttle built by Moonen, few months after having finished specialization courses and aced out Mca exams in Southampton. Then I leaded "Spirit of Argentina", a '68 displacing Benetti Classic, 32 metres in length, with a fascinating blue hull. Thereafter I had the great honour to lead prestigious yachts such as "Sokar", a 64 metre Codecasa owned by Mr. Mohammed Al Fayed. Previously I worked on board famous charter yachts such as "Princess Tanya", "Auriga" and "Rosenkavalier". Now, five years later, I am aboard a 36 metre displacing Benetti Classic in an elegant blue "uniform" again; on it I have finished my seventieth lead season. What do you think about the yachting world in which you usually operate? In the last years was filled the gap of rules separating yachts and ships, although they are really operated in a wholly different manner. We must admit that there's an imperative demand for qualified professional men/women on every level in the yachting world today, to which don't often correspond a just offer from the maritime job market. Would you please tell us something about a bad adventure happening in your career? Well, in November 2001, while I was leading a Azimut 80 owned by the yard offering it for a Madonna's movie, we had to face a storm with sea force 8 and a 9 - 10 metre high water wall; we risked to capsize transversely trying to overcome breakers. Although it was very hard, we came out alive from. Which important, noteworthy qualities should have a shipmaster? In accordance with the law a master is civilly, criminally liable for the yacht. In reality he shall be able not only to masterly steer and manoeuvre a vessel but to manage a crew, to count, run and organize; moreover he should be able to establish amiable personal relationships and behave like a good father if it is not enough. Britain defines a yacht as a "Pleasure vessel". Indeed, I mainly work aiming at offering an unforgettable, pleasant cruise in full safety. Which kind of relationships exists between master and owner? Each owner is a unique. In the past a shipmaster was only a "chauffeur" but he is more and more the owner's trustee today who manages a good that's worth of dozens million Euros. Mutual respect and trust are indispensable ingredients of a lasting relationship. Moreover a just wage and a chance of professional growth is the main target of seamen and shipmasters, as well, of course. Why did you begin interesting in solidarity? I often think over the great difference of living standards between West and Third World: Indeed, a lowest common denominator should exist in the life of all people such as, for example, a certain assets and before it a long-term life expectancy linked to the water, since it is a basic good, a source of support for all people. Moreover for all seamen the water is also a primary source of job and personal realization. We usually worry about water even when it begins lacking and we don't think about a lot of people that are endemic devoid of. Although having adopting the Kos' crew and I an entire class of African children could be maybe considered as a utopian act, we hope it's a drop in the "ocean of solidarity". We can assure who wants to follow us in, doing something for someone in trouble can help him remain the same and it is a great joy.
INFORMATION ON THE CAPTAIN
Name: Luca |