Livio Cossutti: "I'm in command at sea."

The following interview is the first of a series conducted in collaboration with AssoYacht, an association that represents the interests of owners or operators of pleasure boats. Livio Cossutti (AssoYacht International), Giovanna Vitelli, Lorenza Guerra Seràgnoli, Simonetta Vecoli, Elio Serra, Gabriella Pantani, Andrea Ruscica, Italo Fontana, Dario Castiglia, and Fulvia Codecasa are among the shipowners associated with AssoYacht who have decided to tell (and share) their life stories and their passion for the sea with SUPER YACHT 24 and in the first issue of AssoYachtMAG.

Livio Cossuti, a Swiss entrepreneur who made a fortune (also) in the design and production of zippers, is the owner of a Sanlorenzo SX88. In this interview with SUPER YACHT 24, he talks about his life at sea, from his early days on Lake Maggiore to his trips to Greece, including his beloved Ferretti 830 yacht. He explains why he decided to captain his boat alone, criticizes some crews, calls for training, and particularly praises the Greek marinas, which should inspire other Italian marinas.

Let's start by telling you about its origins, especially from a nautical point of view? 

“I was born in Milan in 1959 and started boating with my parents on Lake Maggiore on a Posillipo, a 5-meter dinghy modeled after a Riva; my mother was a waterskier.

One summer, my parents took a fiberglass Coronet 24 with a Volvo Penta engine to Yugoslavia, leaving me with a friend and my sister with a friend without cell phones, without radios, without anything, and then they set off. My father told me that they kept going down to Yugoslavia until they ran out of nautical charts they'd bought at the Libreria del Mare in Milan. My mother, in skimpy clothes, went to the harbor master's office (imagine Yugoslavia 50 years ago) to try to get the charts. Even today, I have a collection of Yugoslavian nautical charts that I jealously guard.”

Couldn't your family help but love the sea?

Our sailing experience began there, because the following year they changed boats and bought a 27-footer that looked like their flagship, and they took my sister and I on board too. First the Coronet 24, then the 32, etc. Until one day, when I was 18 or 20, my sister and I stubbornly said we wanted to sail, and we wanted to do it under sail.”

So what happened?

We left for the Genoa boat show and, despite my mother's opposition, we returned on the sailboat. I started studying because by then I'd thrown the stone and couldn't pull back. Big books called "Les Glénans," big books on the history of sailing, on how to trim sailboats, little books written by the greatest sailors where they taught terminology that I instilled in my poor mother too. We left without any preparation and in seven years we sailed 10.000 miles, and only in the summer, visiting everything there was to see. Later, my parents decided it was inconvenient for them; they preferred to return on a small motorboat to use as a support boat for their house in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, so they could go on little outings.

How did your nautical career then evolve?

My sister and I both got married around that time, so I ended up spending about ten years in Forte dei Marmi because my wife didn't want to go sailing with our small children. Then I timidly started again, doing a couple of charters where everyone had a blast; the last charter was in the Aegean Sea.

An experience that captivated the family?

“They fell in love with the Aegean Sea, and in 2008 we bought a Ferretti 830, renamed Titidea, thanks to the support of Carmine De Felice. We kept it in Sardinia for a while and then sent it to Athens in the summer, where we would join it. It was an 83-footer, so already a serious boat. It had two 1825-horsepower Caterpillar engines, did 32 knots, and was fabulous. We kept it for ten years, and I was madly in love with it; one of the most beautiful boats in existence at the time. We had a blast in Greece.”

How did you arrive at your current yacht, the Sanlorenzo Dea?

My daughter got married and got pregnant, and so did my son and his family; so things began to unfold differently. We had been invited by a former Ferretti dealer, who had since moved to La Spezia to work for Sanlorenzo, to an event like the Elite Days, where one of Perotti's first major presentations took place. That day, at the end of the dock, there was an SX88 that was actually a prototype. We had actually gone to see a shuttle or something else that we didn't like, and Federica Ambrosio, an architect at Sanlorenzo, said to us: 'You're young, you love sports boats, come and see the latest creation: the SX88.' I had never heard of her before, but when I arrived, I saw that beach area wonderful where I imagined my grandchildren and all our beautiful company, I told my wife that we had to go out and try it.”

What was the reaction?

“My wife, a little apprehensive at the sight of this boat, much larger and, above all, much wider than the Ferretti, picked up the phone to call my daughter (who owns the house), and she had in her hand a magazine advertising that very boat: the Sanlorenzo SX88. 'I have it right before my eyes, it's wonderful, tell him to buy it right away,' my daughter replied. A week later, we did a sea trial and bought it; it was 2018.”

So he had to return Ferretti…?

“When my wife, two others, and I returned from Athens to bring her back to Italy, we were told to go to the port of Rapallo. Then, at the last minute, there was a change of plans and we took her to Chiavari as requested. Two weeks later, the storm disaster struck, destroying the port of Rapallo… It was an incredible stroke of luck! We emptied the boat and delivered her to Sanlorenzo; she was so perfect and well-maintained that three captains sent by the shipyard to check her condition reached 32 knots, inspected everything, searched the engine room for even a drop of oil, salt, etc., but they couldn't write anything on the delivery of the Titidea, so they had to pay the full used price I had agreed upon.”

Is everything perfect with the transition to the new Sanlorenzo?

“Marco Viti was a gentleman, and when I pointed out to him what needed improving (remember, ours was the first boat in a new series), he came to Olbia with the dealer and the service manager and did everything he could to assure me that everything would be fixed by the end of the season. Today, we are very happy with this SX88.”

How does a competent and attentive owner like you experience the boat and how do you compose your crew?

“Experience at sea is what builds you and equips you to handle almost any situation. Knowledge of the boat is fundamental to me, so the first thing I do is truly take ownership of it during the construction phase. I believe that a good summer with almost no risk to guests requires dismantling the boat every winter and performing all the maintenance imaginable, even those not prescribed. My skills have grown over time, starting from when, as a kid, I took apart everything that could be dismantled on mopeds, then on cars, then on vintage cars, then on vintage Rivas, and we've come all the way here. I know how to take everything apart, I have the spare parts to replace everything, and I do it myself. Of course, if there's a good sailor who also knows how to hold a screwdriver and can help me change the oil, a filter, or something else, it's all a plus. The sea is a serious thing, and if you get caught in the middle, it's a big loss. problem. That's why I trust you and my family trusts me."

From the answer to the question about the crew, it appears that you are the captain of this boat, is that correct?

“I'll tell you more. I'm the captain because we've had terrible experiences with captains. We can safely say that I've had captains who stole 30 euros. Even now, when I have to fill up the tank with diesel in my bathing suit and pink T-shirt (so I'm clearly not dressed like a captain), they ask me: 'For you, captain, how many cents should I leave?'. So that's how it works. I've had people fill up their cars with our credit card, but not only that: they even filled up more liters than what was in the tank and brought me the note by hand. One of them destroyed my engine (a Caterpillar) in Corfu, I don't know what he did. Once my daughter and I unexpectedly arrived in Corfu, and a beautiful South African woman (the captain's lover) was in the VIP cabin at the bow, in my daughter's cabin, painting her nails with candles lit 20 centimeters from the Alcantara. So choosing the crew is absolutely the most difficult thing to do on a boat, in my opinion. You interview, but often you They tell stories, obviously they don't tell you if they steal or take drugs, but then you find the evidence and so at the end of the year I find myself having to change 9-10 people to have 3 valid ones.

This means hiring 10 people, testing them, having them on board, explaining everything to them, seeing that they're not a good fit or that they're not a good fit for us and so they decide to leave; then writing the dismissal letters, the bank transfers, etc. An unspeakable amount of time.”

Marine theme and destinations: your ideal cruise?

"Let's start from the assumption that I really enjoy sailing, I like to cover miles. In Sanremo (Portosole), in the toilets there's a beautiful sign: 'Sail, don't talk bullshit on the piers.'

Every year we sail about 2.500 miles. We're private individuals and only take vacations; we don't charter around Europe. So many miles mean so many marinas, so many ports, so many contacts. For me, the trip usually begins with a few days in Sardinia to acclimatize the family; from there, the captain is told to move because the boat needs to be in Mykonos by the end of June. The transfer starts from Olbia, passes Ponza, Capri, and arrives in Panarea. I sleep once in Panarea because the next day is the longest leg, reaching Crotone, the last port in Italy. From there, I sail off the coast of Leuca and head to Albania, leaving European waters, refueling, and then we sleep in Corfu. The next day I usually stop in Patras, sleeping halfway in the Gulf of Patras, and the day after that I'm in Athens; so, in eight days, I'm in Athens. From there, then, depending on the Meltemi, in two stages I arrive in Mykonos where the family wants to spend at least three weeks.”

Is Mykonos the end of the line?

"There's a wonderful concept of a leeward hotel there, with a beautiful beach that offers a mooring line 30 meters from the shore, with space for ten boats. They give you a virtual room number, and then you go down to the hotel dock (made of reinforced concrete that doesn't rock), use the spa, the beach, the children's pool, the adult pool, have the rental car delivered to you by the concierge, and do everything you need to do with this virtual room number. It's ideal for the kids and grandkids; we stay there for three weeks, the sea is exceptional, the weather is wonderful, we do everything there is to do, and then on the way back we visit three or four little islands before returning to Athens, where they catch their plane."

What do you ask and suggest to the Italian navy?

Let's give a concrete example. At Marina d'Arecchi, since the manager changed, a dock was built for large boats or repeat boats, which are treated differently. There are small restaurants and bars, and Amalfi and the entire Amalfi Coast are not far away. A beautiful marina without being inside the port of Salerno, because we're ten kilometers away. The manager finds everything for you; he's good at finding everything. I simply needed the carpet cleaned because we had two brown Labradors, and four excellent guys came with their van, with their equipment, they took out all the sofas, the chairs, they did everything themselves, for a paltry fee compared to what you pay here in Porto Mirabello. This is what I need when I stay at Marina d'Arecchi for two days if the sea is rough and I can't go out. If I need something in those two days and you can give it to me, then I'll gladly come back. You need seven-star service because if you stop at five, then a lot. they prefer five-star hotels because you feel even better.”

So we need seven-star services?

“What you need is that, with a snap of your fingers, whatever you need can arrive on the gangway. Let's take the case of Greece again, Mykonos, where for five days we couldn't go anywhere because of the Meltemi wind, and my agent in five minutes had four quads ready behind the boat and the guys disappeared to Mykonos. The next day the car arrived, with the van, air conditioning, they take you to a hotel, you can spend the whole day by the pool without having to pay a penny on the spot. You get the invoice from the agency at the end of the month. This is the service you need: picking up the phone, being in an unfamiliar place, speaking a not-so-easy language, and having someone who operates as… problem solver. Then you'll go on vacation and not get bored.”

When and how will you look for your next boat? Does it still go to boat shows?

I usually try not to go to boat shows. I go to the previews that all the shipyards put on. Last year, we were guests of Ferretti in Monte Carlo with Robbie Williams, who put on a wonderful show. They had the entire Ferretti group offering there before they went to Cannes. Sanlorenzo does the same thing in La Spezia. I'm not a well-known figure, but everyone knows who I am, so they invite me to see the new models. We keep an eye out for new arrivals when they come out, and in this case, since we're in love with the SX model, when we saw the 100 was presented, we immediately approached them.

Do human relationships and private events still have their weight then?

"For us, getting to know a new boat happens like this: through invitations, through personal acquaintances. We don't like being in the thick of it at a boat show where you have to jostle to get in and get on for five minutes; you can't look, you can't do anything. Since we really live there, we do all these miles, I also have to dismantle and reassemble it. When I get on board, I say, 'Everyone out, I'm on board now,' and I try to understand how it works. We think personal contact and knowing the people who can invite you are more valuable. I'm also friends with Galassi, as well as Perotti, etc. In fact, Galassi was very nervous because he knew that my vintage Rivas are much nicer than his."

Do you also have any vintage Rivas?

“I have a small collection of vintage Rivas. I dismantled them all and restored them practically at home, except for the help of the shipyard for a few things I needed on the paintwork and on some pieces of wood that needed redoing. So I have these jewels in the garage that I love to touch, caress, and smell. The beauty of these things, in my opinion, is the ownership, not the use. My family, especially my son-in-law, doesn't understand these things; he's all for using them. I, on the other hand, say they're wrong; these things shouldn't be used. If you want to go on the lake, we'll take a Boston Whaler, a dinghy, a more modern plastic boat. If I take a vintage Riva, it's because I want to spend an hour and a half on it first, caressing it, cleaning it, preparing it. At the shipyard, I hook it up, I put it in the water, I remove the cover; I do all these things and they don't get offended.”

How would you like to be described about your professional background?

“For ten years, I made the most beautiful zippers in the world, and my greatest adventure was sponsoring the America's Cup with my company, specifically the Alinghi boat, which participated in and won the 2003 America's Cup in New Zealand. Since I had little money as a small entrepreneur, I couldn't afford to sponsor the spinnaker or the sails like UBS or Audemars Piguet did. Luckily, my company had four letters, called Riri, and those four letters on the boom were the most visible thing in the entire America's Cup, because everyone saw Russell Coutts at the helm and above him was the boom with Riri written on it. It was a perfect combination; as usual, when someone is a little bold, then luck favors them.”

A sponsorship in the nautical industry that allowed you to do marketing?

“My wife brought 100 people to Auckland, including the top presidents and shareholders of all the fashion houses, sportswear companies, etc., because I wanted to launch a new type of zipper that was no longer tied to luxury. We made gold zippers, with real gold for Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Prada, Gucci, but I had a thing for the zipper because there's only one Japanese manufacturer that makes a zipper, which they call the Two Men Zipper because it takes two people to close it. We filed more than one patent for this waterproof zipper, and so the idea was: I'll sponsor Alinghi because I supply them with my zippers to put on their oilskins. What better opportunity to test these zippers and launch them than having 100 customers in Auckland on the follow boat that follows the boats out of the harbor to get to the Auckland Gulf. I had half an hour where they were, they couldn't escape me and they had to put up with the explanation of the zippers; it's It was beautiful and then when we won we returned to Geneva with the Cup and to Lugano with the trophy, we visited the factory with the whole crew, we brought the Cup to the square in Lugano with the mayor, fabulous things.”

Do you have more time to relax and enjoy the yacht today?

From an industrial and entrepreneurial perspective, I like to remember these ten years. We also deal with finance, real estate, and other things, but now my children are taking over, and they no longer need their dad as a guardian angel; they're doing very well. I'm very proud to have taught them that things don't fall from the sky; you can afford anything if you've done a lot beforehand, otherwise it doesn't work. They've understood these things well, and I must say that in their respective responsibilities, they pay much more attention to the individual franc, the individual euro, than I do. Getting them to spend it is a Herculean task, and that's fantastic.

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Livio Cossutti – Michael Tirrito – Nicola Capuzzo – Carmine De Felice