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| Sailing off Portoferraio, Italy before coming to New Zealand, Mascalzone Latino syndicate. |
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Italy's second syndicate believes it has the right to call itself the only all-Italian challenge in this America's Cup. Shipping billionaire Vincenzo Onorato has put together a team of Italy's finest sailors and yacht designers for this one boat campaign. Skipper Paulo Cian is one of the Mediterranean's top match racers, and tactician Flavio Favini has won six world titles.
Mascalzone Latino (ITA-72) was launched in Naples in May - christened by Onorato's nine-month-old daughter Andrea. The team has been sailing off the island of Elba, pitting the skills of the new boat against the old Brava Espana from the 2000 Spanish challenge.
Even the money behind the syndicate is pure lira. While Onorato, owner of shipping company Moby Lines, put up the initial finance, the major sponsor is TIM, Italy's one true national mobile phone company.
The name Mascalzone Latino means Latin Rascal, taken from the name of a song written in Naples - Onorato's home.
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