The BMW Match Race Academy employs a team of experts and professionals from the sailing world to provide its students with the best possible preparation for match racing. The main collaborators are the Advisor, who approves the content, materials and development of the lessons, and the Tutor who manages and co-ordinates the day-to-day running of the school, carries out a large part of the educational activities, and is responsible for conducting the programs and looking after the students.

Born in Bari on 19th August 1956. He started sailing at the age of 10 and won his first important competition – the European Flying Junior Championships in Germany – when he was 15. After this, he embarked on a long career in the 470, Flying Dutchman, Star and Soling Olympic classes. He participated at the Moscow Olympics, and the pre-olympic tournaments in Los Angeles and Seoul. He took part in two America’s Cup campaigns, with Italia in Australia, and il Moro di Venezia in San Diego. His official awards include gold medals for Athletic Achievements by C.O.N.I. (Italian Olympic Committee) and he was voted sailor of the year (Rothman’s trophy) in 1991. His victories include: three World Championships; four European Championships; eleven Italian Championships; three Sardinia Cups; two Barcolana cups and a Hawaii Kenwood Cup. He won the Italian match race championship in 1999, and was runner-up in 2000 and 2001. In March 2003 he won the Spring Cup international match race at Genoa, and in September 2004 he won the grade 3 international match race at San Vito Lo Capo. In recent years he has expanded his knowledge of the match race discipline, carrying out educational activities and accumulating unrivalled experience in teaching this particular subject. He participated at the last America’s Cup as a coach to the Italian boat +39

Born in Monfalcone on 29th April 1949, he was the first Italian helmsman to take part in the America’s Cup, on board Azzurra at Newport (USA) in 1983. Mauro has acquired extensive experience and has received numerous awards in both international regattas and match race meetings; in fact he has won multiple Italian championships in the Finn and I.O.R. classes, and prestigious regattas such as the world One Tonner championship in 1983, the Swan World Cup in 1990 and 1994, the Maxi World Cup in 1995, 1997 and 1999, and is the only Italian to have won the Australia Cup for match racing. He is a charismatic figure, well known to the public both as a sportsman and as a commentator on the America’s Cup for the RAI television network. In addition to his role as Advisor to the BMW Match Race Academy, Mauro Pelaschier was the Mascalzone Latino team coach at the XXXII America’s Cup.

An expert sailor with ten years of experience as a tutor and teacher. Following a meeting with Roberto Ferrarese, Giuseppe improved his knowledge of match racing by joining his crew, and taking full advantage of the many learning opportunities this offered. He is the owner of Sail in Progress, a company that deals with all aspects of sailing, placing particular emphasis on competition.

Andrea Di Martino is a professional trainer and communications expert who has been active in the training sector since 1989, he contributes to the academy’s educational activities. He is currently the manager of ADM Advanced Development of Mind, a Rome based company whose main aim is to help people to realise their mental and communication potential.

The umpires Alfredo Ricci and Luigi Bertini and the instructors/coaches Petra Kliba and Simone Ferrarese, 2006 Italian match race vice-champion, will complete the BMW Match Race Academy team. Other professional instructors, in charge of assisting the teachers, will take turns with them,  following the practical part of the students' preparation, organizing teams, helping the students in rigging and showing the specific techniques and strategies of this speciality.