Francesco de Angelis

Who is Francesco de Angelis?

Francesco de Angelis is an Italian yachtsman. de Angelis is the first Italian skipper to win a Louis Vuitton Cup, a feat he accomplished in 1999-2000 with Luna Rossa ITA45.

Born in Naples, de Angelis was five times World Champion in different classes: 1987 in J24 at Capri, 1989 in Naples and Denmark in the One Ton Class, in 1995 also in Denmark and in 1996 in Greece with ILC40 Class.

In 1995 he also won the Admiral's Cup, to which he later added a Sardinia Cup and two Swan Cups. His palmares is completed by two European and nice Italian titles in different classes. In 2000, after the victory in the Louis Vuitton cup, he led Luna Rossa-Prada in the America's Cup final, but was beaten 5-0 by New Zealand Black Magic, led by Russell Coutts. In 2003 he was again helmsman of Luna Rossa in the XXXI America's Cup campaign, this time defeated in the Louis Vuitton's semi-finals by One World.

In the 2007 America's cup he was chosen again as skipper of Luna Rossa Challenge, leaving the helm to the younger James Spithill. His boat qualified for the Louis Vuitton Cup 2007 final.