Do they look familiar? They should. That’s Leonardo Servi, joined by his formidable co-owners Lorenzo Merlini Manzoni and Alessandro Bianchi, flanked by Franco “Ciccio” Manzoli, Matteo Teglia, Giuseppe “Peppone” Filippis, Francesco Izzo, and Lee Musarò, an eclectic crew if there ever was one. Together, they clinched a well-deserved third place overall at the 2025 Loro Piana Giraglia, aboard Scricca, the ever-capable Comet 38s with a logbook full of salty tales.
And the best part? Helmsman Leonardo Servi is no stranger to the Giraglia. This was his seventh edition, and in 2016, he took home the overall win , aboard the very same Scricca. Since then, the boat had changed hands, as boats often do, only to find her way back to her rightful helm.
“I bought her back after a few rounds,” Leonardo explains. “She was already pre-owned back then, but beautifully built, cleverly optimized, and full of potential. She brought us victories at the Palermo–Montecarlo, the Roma X Tutti, the Roma x2, and the 151 Miglia overall in 2019. When we started looking for a fast, reliable boat, it turned out the answer was waiting for us in the past.”
A sentimental choice? Not at all. Scricca proved more competitive than anyone expected, and judging by the admiring looks and compliments dockside in Saint-Tropez, the refit didn’t go unnoticed. But nostalgia doesn’t win races. What does is consistent training, every weekend since January, meticulous prep work in the yard, including input from Matteo Polli, and the unshakable conviction that a well-kept 2010 hull can still make newer builds sweat.
And so it did. At the Giraglia, Scricca delivered a textbook performance: a sharp start, a strong upwind leg flexing every inch of her trim, and a steady pace alongside much larger yachts in Class 1. The rounding at La Giraglia came at 7 p.m., with a solid breeze and a clean exit under Code A0, just before the wind died. Then came the crawl: 18 nautical miles in 12 hours through a windless stretch. Only those who stayed focused and never gave up crossed the finish line. And Scricca? She was there, of course. Giving up is simply not in her vocabulary.
Now, the team already has eyes on the next challenge: the Middle Sea Race this October, racing under both ORC and IRC. A famously demanding regatta, perfect for testing boat and crew once more. With a purpose-built team and, needless to say, a drive that needs no introduction.
