Naval Architecture:

Claudio Maletto

Trained architect and keen sailor who belongs to the generation of yacht designers that emerged in the 1970s, when, in the absence of specific study courses, professional training required the integration of the scientific preparation obtained through university studies with the experience of a sailor gained through the participation in regattas of international level.

Born in Varese in 1948, he graduated with a Degree in Architecture in 1972 at the Polytechnic of Milan. He started his involvement in the design of racing yachts with Flaviano Navone and Franco Fontana, founding in 1975 the studio Fontana – Maletto – Navone. As designer of offshore racers, he has won 11 world titles and 15 national titles in the five “IOR Level Classes”.

He made his debut in the America's Cup in 1992 as designer in “Il Moro di Venezia” Team.

Subsequently, between 1992 and the three challenges with the “Luna Rossa” Team, he  continued to be involved in the design of offshore racers, in particular in the IMS class, with victories in the national championships in 1995 and 1996 and in the Commodore’s Cup and Sardinia Cup in 1998.

Of particular significance was the participation in the four challenges for the America's Cup which included contesting the Match against the Defender in 1992 and 2000 and the three finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992, 2000 and 2007.

In the dinghy field, he has designed several boats for the national class U-5.50 and in the Olympic classes he obtained the best result with the design of the “Star Class", boat winner of the Olympic gold medal at Atlanta in 1996.

He has competed in international regattas in the 470, Laser, IOR and IMS classes, participating in national teams in the European and World Championships. He was part of the P.O. Italian Team at the debut of the 470, as an Olympic class, at the Olympics of Kingston (Montreal) in 1976.

Numerous recognitions have been achieved for the results obtained both in the professional field and sport competition, such as the “Gold Medal for Athletic Value” in 1979, the award “The Rothmans Yachtsman of the Year 1995” and the “Oscar of Yachting 2002”. In 2003 he received from the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano a “Lifetime Achievement Award” and in 2007 he obtained, as designer, the “Audi Yachtsman of the Year Award 2007”.