It is now in common lexicon. The foil (piece composed of the arm, the yellow part plus the black wing that has the flap as in airplanes) is used to literally make the hull and its futuristic appendages fly. Together with the rudder, mast and sails – partly covered by industrial secrets – they also make the best of Made in Italy sail in the waters of Auckland. Red Moon engaged in the challenge against New Zealand. Persico Group, which apart from the sails and the mast provided the essential elements and most of the strategic elements of the boat sponsored by Prada e Pirelli, recorded a consolidated turnover of 158.1 million euros in 2019 with a slight decrease compared to 158.9 million in 2018. Marine perch, on the other hand, in 2019 it showed an increase in turnover compared to the previous year: 29.8 million against 20.9 million in 2018.
The Nembro company
Persico Group is one of the Italian companies of world excellence that has supplied most of these elements: 2 carbon hulls (the regulation provides for 2 boats); 16 arms (4 for each of the 4 teams participating in the Prada Cup and America’s Cup , as the official supplier for all teams); 1 set of wings (2 in total, one on the right and one on the left while another 3 wings were commissioned by Angelo Glison to Cropelli of Palazzolo sull’Oglio, Brescia); 4 rudders.If we then add 3 years of work, 120,000 man hours on site and 40 people dedicated full time to the construction of the two Luna Rossa, the commitment and dedication of the Bergamo-based company Nembro also for sport.
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From wood to carbon plastic
The company was founded in 1976 by Pierino Persico (supported by his 3 children Claudia, Alessandra and Marcello for some time) as a wood modeling shop. Over the years it has then specialized in the design and production of molds and systems for the automotive sector, as well as in the construction of racing and performance cruising yachts. The company is internationally recognized in the design and production of molds and turnkey systems for multiple applications.
The group has accelerated the internationalization process, with the opening of new offices in Mexico in 2019 and Germany in 2020, while in 2021 it is expected to open a branch in China. Persico then significantly increased its workforce, in Italy and abroad: in 2018 there were 487 employees, in 2019 they were 551 and in 2020 as many as 724.
In the nautical sector, Marine perch is one of the most advanced shipyards in the world in the construction of sailing and motor boats both in the racing and cruising sectors, with particular know-how in the production of high-performance yachts as regards racing, and maxi yachts – unique pieces for demanding owners in the racing-cruising. The shipyard’s technology, which combines the expertise of technicians with equipment normally used in the aerospace sector, makes Persico the supplier of appendages – and in particular foil – in carbon for the main ocean circuits and sailors.
The link with the America’s Cup
The link with the America’s Cup starts with Il Moor of Venice in 1990, when Raul Gardini sent his technicians to the Nembro shipyard, where a special and innovative – at European level – 5-axis milling machine is in operation: Persico Marine will participate in the production process of the Italian hull and thus formally begin to compete in the Cup America.
Then, in 2004, Persico built the two boats Ita86 e Ita94 who will participate in the 32nd edition of the America’s Cup in 2007.
The partnership with Luna Rossa is also confirmed for the 2013 edition: Persico builds theAc72 and in that edition he also made the rigid wing for another team, Artemis. In the following edition Persico will be the supplier of the main parts of the catamaran Land Rover Bar, the English team, and on the return of Luna Rossa to the America’s Cup, will produce the 2 boats currently competing, as well as the arms for all the teams, a feasible series production thanks to the technological capabilities of the shipyard and the research & development sector.
Recent productions
Alongside the production of the Cup hulls, still in the regattas and performance sector, Persico has created hulls that have participated in the main ocean regattas: in the last 3 months, just to stay up to date, Persico has seen boats racing at Vendée Globe and al Jules Verne Trophy. It was made entirely by Persico Marine, in fact, Linked Out, Thomas Rouyant’s foil boat that closed the Vendéé Globe a few weeks ago in fourth position. The yard was the reference for the construction of the appendages, the foils in particular, for many Imoca60, for Hugo Boss (Alex Thompson), Prysmian Group of the Italian Giancarlo Pedote and Arkea Paprec. The Jules Verne trophy (the world speed record) currently sees Persico protagonist thanks to the realization of a series of parts for the catamarans Sodebo e Gypsy, considered the fastest sailing vessels in the world and which will retry the record in the coming months.