America's Cup Hall of Fame to award Sir Richard F. Sutton Medal to Vincenzo Ricci and Louis Vuitton

by Herreshoff Marine Museum 18 Jul 2024 11:16 BST October 14, 2024

America's Cup Hall of Fame © Herreshoff Marine Museum

The Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame will award the Sir Richard Francis Sutton Medal to Cino Ricci (b.1934) and Louis Vuitton (founded 1854). They will be honored at the America's Cup Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 14, 2024 at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona.

The Sir Richard Francis Sutton Medal, instituted by the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2018, recognizes the spirit of the America's Cup as set down by the founding donors in their Deed of Gift "to promote friendly competition between foreign countries." It is awarded, from time to time, to persons or entities that have exemplified that spirit in the course of their association with the America's Cup.

"The America's Cup would not be the most prestigious trophy in all of sport without gentlemen like Cino Ricci and companies like Louis Vuitton," said America's Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chairman Steve Tsuchiya. "We are fortunate that they became involved in 1983 as more than four decades later, their indelible stamp remains on the competition to this day."

Vincenzo 'Cino' Ricci (ITA) (b. 1934) - photo © Herreshoff Marine Museum

Vincenzo "Cino" Ricci (ITA) (b. 1934)

Cino Ricci has the distinction of serving as skipper and project manager of the first Italian team to compete for the America's Cup. In the summer of 1983, his 12 Metre Azzurra won 24 out of 49 races, achieving a third-place finish in the Louis Vuitton Cup—the America's Cup challenger races. This strong performance for a first-time contender on the international stage made sailboat racing popular in Italy. Cino retired from Cup racing in 1987, but he helped sustain the public's enthusiasm for the sport as a broadcast commentator and journalist—inspiring new generations of Italian sailors and neighboring Europeans to compete for the America's Cup.

Vincenzo "Cino" Ricci, born on the 4th of September, 1934 in Rimini, Italy, learned how to sail as a child from local fishermen. After the war, he learned yacht racing skills from radical French and Italian sailors of the half Ton and ¾ Ton classes. In 1967, his passion for sharing his love of sailing led him to serve as one of the first instructors, teaching the teachers, at the famous Centro Velico Caprera sailing school in Sardinia.

In the 1970s and early '80s, Cino skippered successful Italian offshore big boat racing teams, building a foundation for an America's Cup campaign. For the 1983 America's Cup, Cino joined yacht designer Mario Violati and Pasquale Landolfi who launched a plan for an Italian challenge. Cino brought in Fiat Chairman Gianni Agnelli, and together, they engaged the Aga Khan and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Italian leadership in the competition has grown and matured through the 12 Metre and IACC eras and remains vibrant today in the era of the foiling yachts. Cino helped inspire Italy to become a leading European America's Cup challenger over a 40-year span from 1983 to 2024, embracing 12 Metres, IACC yachts, and most recently the AC75 Class. During this period, Italy launched thirteen campaigns - more than any other European country - winning the Louis Vuitton or Prada Cup for Challengers three times, second only to New Zealand's four wins. Cino has truly upheld the Deed of Gift's intent to promote friendly competition between foreign countries.

Today, at nearly 90 years old, Cino is retired from sailing, but he remains one of Italy's best-known and best-loved sports figures.

Louis Vuitton Malletier (Founded 1854) - photo © Herreshoff Marine Museum

Louis Vuitton Malletier (Founded 1854)

Louis Vuitton arrived on the America's Cup scene in 1983 with an investment of US$75,000 and a trophy for the Challenger Races for the America's Cup. Since then, the iconic French luxury fashion house has sponsored every challenger series except one (2021) to the point that the brand has become synonymous with the America's Cup challenger selection series. In becoming the title sponsor of the series, Louis Vuitton brought to the Cup a strong sense of style and market positioning as a top-shelf sporting and cultural event. Its presence attracted other sponsors to both the event and to competing teams. In recent times, LV extended its sponsorship to the Match itself.

Bruno Troublé, the mastermind behind the Louis Vuitton Cup, said "Louis Vuitton has been the guardian of the temple...and if the America's Cup has managed to preserve its character intact, drawing people and partners of high quality, while greatly expanding its aura, it is thanks to Louis Vuitton, which has in many ways protected it."

Louis Vuitton continues to be more than just a sponsor. The company gave the sailing public the famous America's Cup press conferences that have generated many memorable lines and moments. When the America's Cup was mired in court proceedings in 2009, LV gave the yachting world the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to keep the spirit of friendly competition alive when it was in short supply. And throughout the years, they hosted parties that gave the America's Cup an extra glamour.

All corporate entities work through people, and without key people at LV we would not have had the company's participation in the America's Cup. The Hall of Fame has inducted the two key individuals who initiated LV's sponsorship of the regatta, Bruno Troublé (Class of 2007) and Henry Racamier (Class of 2019). They have moved on, but the influential sponsor, led today by CEO Pietro Beccari, continues to contribute to the Cup. Louis Vuitton fostered friendly competition, and by doing so, lifted the sport to greater international recognition and public interest.

America's Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee