Photo: Carlo Borlenghi
What is the first boat that you ever sailed?
Pietro & Gianfranco Sibello: We sailed Optimists from age eight to fourteen. We started sailing 470s together in 1995.
How did you learn the racing game?
P & G: In the beginning, first-hand experience. We didn’t have a real coach, so we learned a lot on our own. Also, my father sailed in the 1972 Olympics—he was a good resource!
You’ve sailed 49ers since 1998. What attracted you to the class?
P & G: The concept of the new skiff appealed to us—you need speed and coordination. Every day you sail a 49er, you improve and you gain control. It’s the best class we’ve ever sailed.
What would you consider your biggest strength?
P & G: Our strength is that we are brothers and have sailed a lot of hours together, because coordination between skipper and crew is the most important thing. As brothers, we know everything about each other! Every moment, we know what is happening with the other person, so we both can react to each other’s movements. This allows us to focus on details. Not many teams have that experience together, so it’s a big advantage for us.
Do you have any rigging tricks?
P & G: Our best system is the combined pole and gennaker halyard system that utilizes back-to-back Harken Ti-Lite blocks. Ti-Lites are light and strong, and they’re great because they articulate. They align the load in the best way and that makes them even stronger. They’ve lasted for two seasons already—that’s unusual for a team as active as ours is!
How do you prepare for racing physically and mentally?
P & G: We train physically every day. In the winter we have a strength and conditioning phase to gain power, and during regattas and the busy parts of the season we have a lighter routine to maintain our fitness. We do light running and stretching and spend some time in the gym. Rowing is great—it’s very low impact and involves all the muscles. Mentally, we give feedback to our coach, which is logged. We review the log often to see where we have problems that we can fix.
How do you handle the stress of racing?
P & G: The stress is important—it helps you maintain concentration. It is important to focus the stress towards a positive result.
How do you prepare your boat for racing?
P & G: Before important regattas, we check everything. Knowing the boat is perfect allows us to focus on what we have to do, not on problems that could occur.
You became involved in the 49er class a few years after its inception, right before its Olympic debut. How do you feel you have influenced such a revolutionary class?
P & G: At the Italian National level, we have gotten more people involved with the class. We’ve given newcomers tips on how to manage the boat, always trying to let them see the fun you can have on a 49er. Fun is the most important thing.
How do you use McLube™?
P & G: Before we go out, we McLube™ the foils to clean them and make them work smoothly. We use McLube™ a lot—it makes everything work better.
What would you miss on the boat if you forgot it?
P & G: We’d have a problem if we couldn’t adjust the rig tension for different conditions. Rig tension is key.
What is your most memorable race?
P & G: The last race we sail is always the most memorable, especially when we win! We just won the Breitling Regatta in Medemblik—without any discarded races. We stayed totally focused and won every race when we started in the front; when we didn’t start in the front, we always came back. It was good.
The 49er seems to be an addictive class; people never seem to want to give it up. Are there any other types of sailing that interest you?
P & G: At the moment, no. 49er races are fast and technical and they aren’t over until you reach the finish line. The boats are just fun to keep under control. Professionally though, we need to watch other classes because we won’t sail 49ers forever.
What advice would you give to beginning skiff sailors?
P & G: Never give up. At the beginning it’s a little bit harder than other boats because you capsize so much and start thinking you’re not a good sailor. The best thing is not to think, but to do! It’s very satisfying once you start sailing right.
Have you learned any lessons on the water that you can apply to the rest of your life?
P & G: The most important thing I’ve learned is it’s easy to think you’re the best when you win and that you’re not good when you lose. You need to maintain your line. Don’t let the highs be too high or the lows be too low.
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