Azzurra IV 12 I 11

Design and Construction

Azzurra IV (sail number I-11) was launched in 1986 for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Italian America’s Cup program. She was designed by Andrea Vallicelli and built in aluminium by S.A.I. Ambrosini for the Consorzio Azzurra syndicate. Her original home port was Porto Cervo, Italy.
As the final yacht of the Azzurra campaign fleet, Azzurra IV represented the evolution of Italian 12 Metre design after the success of the 1983 Azzurra (I-4) and the subsequent 1985–86 developments of I-8 and I-10.

Campaign Role

Built specifically for the 26th America’s Cup in Fremantle, Western Australia, Azzurra IV (I-11) joined the Italian challenger fleet in the 1987 Louis Vuitton Cup. Alongside her sisterships Azzurra II (I-8) and Azzurra III (I-10), she formed part of Italy’s expanded multi-boat development effort led by YCCS.
While not a finalist in the challenger rounds, Azzurra IV contributed to the testing and refinement of sail plans, appendages, and rig configurations that defined Italy’s approach to the demanding Fremantle conditions.

Later History

Following the 1987 campaign, registry listings record Azzurra IV under the same name and sail number, with Lorenzo Orrù noted as owner and home port Olbia, Italy. Class records indicate the yacht was later laid up but remains extant, making her one of the surviving hulls from the 1987 Azzurra fleet.

Significance

Azzurra IV (I-11) marked the culmination of the Italian 12 Metre building program under YCCS during the mid-1980s. Though she never advanced to the Cup match, her construction and testing contributed directly to Italy’s growing expertise in America’s Cup yacht design. Today, she stands as a tangible link between the pioneering Azzurra (I-4) of 1983 and the modern Italian challengers that followed.