Italia II 12 I 9
A Challenger That Never Had Her Shot
Built for Speed, Stalled by Misfortune
Italia II (I-9) was the second 12 Metre yacht built by Consorzio Italia for the 1987 America's Cup, representing an advanced evolution of the original Italia I design. Crafted under the International Third Rule, Italia II was the product of extensive research and development, including testing of ten different scale models at the renowned Wageningen towing tank.
Designed to be faster, lighter, and more competitive than her predecessor, Italia II was poised to take on the world stage in Fremantle. But fate had other plans.
A Mishap at Launch
During her launch in 1986, Italia II suffered a catastrophic accident—dropping onto her keel and partially sinking. The damage was severe and required extensive rebuilding. Though repairs were completed and the yacht was shipped to Fremantle, Australia by September 1986, the incident left little time for sea trials or tuning.
As a result, Italia II did not participate in the Louis Vuitton Cup, and her opportunity to race as a Challenger in the America's Cup was lost.
A Quiet Life After the Cup
After the campaign, Italia II entered a long and quiet period of dormancy, passing through several owners and uses:
1986–1996
Intermarine (La Spezia, Italy) stored the yacht in a shed, offering her for sale but making no significant updates.
1996–2000
Purchased by Francesco Menconi (Marina di Carrara), Italia II was relaunched and used for daily charters. However, maintenance was inconsistent, and the yacht gradually faded from the spotlight.
Since 2000
Eventually acquired by the Renaissance School, she found new purpose as a training vessel for sailing students somewhere along the Adriatic coast.
Racing Legacy
Despite her promising design, Italia II never saw formal racing during the America's Cup. Her only known competition result came over a decade later:
1999 World Championship (Saint-Tropez): 12th place
Italia II Today
While she never fulfilled her original mission as a Louis Vuitton Cup contender, Italia II remains a symbol of high ambition, advanced design, and the unpredictable nature of competitive yacht racing. From cutting-edge testing in European model basins to training young sailors in the Adriatic, her story reflects both the glory and the grit behind every 12 Metre yacht.