Our Optimist team athlete Alessio Secchi, 14 years old, was selected, through the Italian Sailing Federation, for the Generazione Vespucci – Vita di bordo project, which gave the opportunity to live the extraordinary experience of sailing aboard the training ship Amerigo Vespucci.
Alessio took part in three intense days in the Civitavecchia-Livorno stage. Here is his story.
“When my father told me about the initiative, I didn’t think I could be selected, but I decided to try, and I sent my application: a questionnaire to evaluate my behavior in the crew, my sailing curriculum and a video message to explain my motivations.
I was incredulous when the call to Civitavecchia arrived but very happy!
With just a few days’ notice, we quickly organized ourselves because we needed clothing that I didn’t have (boat shoes, white t-shirts and a blue cap without logos, overalls, etc.), and my whole family got moving to help me.
Day 1 – Boarding
On the day of embarkation, after 7 hours of train together with other selected guys we arrived at the port of Civitavecchia and embarked. We were gathered for the explanation of the rules of military life, and to learn the knots for the hammocks. After some free time, dinner on board and… first night in the hammock (a badly made knot had ensured that it fell).
Day 2 – The Departure
The ship sailed at 8. During the maneuvers we were on deck with the opportunity to explore it. Once in the open sea, they put us to work divided into two groups – one to polish the brass and the other to wash the deck. After two hours of work we had lunch.
In the afternoon they explained to us how the control panel works and they let us steer. We had a screen that indicated the degrees of direction of the ship and a rudder degree indicator that allowed us to maintain the course.
In the evening we had dinner with the crew and went to watch the sunset on the bow (very beautiful). At one point a military jet passed by and bowed to us. We then stayed up to eat the famous “midnight pizza” – when the ship is sailing, the chef prepares pizza to warm up the sailors on watch.
Day 3 – The return to Livorno
In the morning they woke us up at 7 and we had breakfast, then they put us all to polish the brass and the ship entered the port. We disembarked at 11.
I realized that my experience on Optimists was useful to me, I was not afraid of the sea or of suffering from it and I knew the main nautical knots.
I was thrilled to be chosen, and even happier when I came on board and made friends.
Only then did I realize what I was doing: I was on the most beautiful ship in the world and I even steered it… this is a story that I will tell my children and that I will remember forever!!!
Alessio