The Nicco Bianchi show
Sailor and peak salesman, Nicco Bianchi brings his racing expertise — and a touch of unmistakable Italian flair to the team. Fresh off a major victory with Team Nefeli, where he won the Melges 24 World Championship, it only felt right to sit down with him and ask a few questions.
First things first, congratulations Niccolò! How does it feel to be a Melges 24 World Champion with Team Nefeli? What made this campaign special for you?
Thank you! Winning the Melges 24 Worlds with Team Nefeli was truly special. It was the result of years of teamwork, friendship, and trust, both on and off the water. What really made this campaign unique was the chemistry within the team. Everyone brought full commitment, but also a genuine sense of joy and shared purpose. We’ve been building toward this moment for a long time, so crossing that finish line and realizing we had achieved it together was incredibly emotional.
Let’s rewind a bit, how did you first get into sailing? Was there a moment or person that made you realize this was going to be more than just a hobby?
My passion for the sea comes from my father, who worked on ships. I started sailing as a kid at the Club Nautico Marina di Carrara in Italy. Before that, I had tried plenty of other sports, but nothing compared to being on my Optimist. The sense of freedom and the connection with the elements was something no other sport had ever given me.
The club also had a strong sailing culture. The generations before us — sailors like Tommaso and Enrico Chieffi, among others, had achieved remarkable international success, and growing up in that environment was incredibly inspiring.
There wasn’t a single moment when I decided “this will be my career,” but around 2008–2010, when I was helming the Melges 24 and we started getting important results, I realized that this passion could become something more than just a hobby — it could become my profession.
You’ve competed at a high level for years. What keeps you motivated to stay sharp and push for that next win?
When it comes to regattas, I like to stay close to the sailing community, and I’ll keep racing even if I’m not on the water as often as before. Competition is still part of my DNA. At Vakaros there’s plenty to do every day, in my role, that means not only continuing to develop our B2B sales network, but also supporting the growth of RaceSense events across Europe in the many classes we work with. It’s a real pleasure to be part of the Vakaros team and to work toward our goals together, just like a successful crew, aligned and moving in sync.
What keeps me motivated is the search for clarity and precision in how we sail. I love that moment when the boat feels perfectly balanced, every movement is clean, and the team is fully in sync with the wind and the water. As a tactician, that connection between reading the breeze and feeling the boat respond is what drives me.
Of course, mistakes are part of the game. Learning how to acknowledge them, adapt, and move forward is one of the most important parts of improving every time you go on the water. That ongoing process of refining and adjusting is what keeps me pushing.
And finally, enjoying the time on the water with your team matters. If you take yourself too seriously, you lose the joy that makes great sailing possible.
You’re also part of the Vakaros family as European Sales Representative. How does your experience on the racecourse influence the way you approach your work with sailors and partners?
A lot! Being an active sailor helps me connect directly with our users, I understand what they’re experiencing on the racecourse, the kind of data they rely on, what can be frustrating, and what actually helps them perform better. That perspective makes it much easier to translate real needs into meaningful conversations with sailors, coaches, and partners. At Vakaros, we’re not just providing instruments, we’re helping people sail better. And being part of that mission is something I really value.
Vakaros technology is becoming a must-have in high-performance racing. How have tools like the Atlas and RaceSense changed the way teams train and compete, especially in classes like the Melges 24?
The Atlas has completely raised the standard for onboard data, it’s reliable, intuitive, and provides real-time information you can actually use. In classes like the Melges 24, where precision and timing are everything, that makes a huge difference. And RaceSense is truly a game changer. As a racer, once you use it, you won’t want to go back to the old system. It’s fairer, more consistent, and it eliminates those endless general recalls that waste time and kill the breeze. We’ve all had days where the wind dies while the fleet is still trying to start, I can remember many of them! With RaceSense, that simply doesn’t happen anymore.
RaceSense is gaining a lot of attention for its ability to automate race management and deliver fair, accurate starts. From an athlete’s perspective, what excites you most about this innovation?
What excites me most is the fairness and consistency it brings. Every sailor has experienced the frustration of unclear starts or inconsistent calls, RaceSense removes that uncertainty. It gives both race officers and sailors full confidence that what’s happening on the water is accurate. It’s technology that strengthens the integrity of the sport, and that’s powerful.
Looking ahead, both as a sailor and part of Vakaros, what’s next for you? Any goals or projects on the horizon we should keep an eye on?
When it comes to regattas, I like to stay close to the sailing community, and I’ll keep racing even if I’m not on the water as often as before. Competition is still part of my DNA. At Vakaros there’s plenty to do every day, in my role, that means not only continuing to develop our B2B sales network, but also supporting the growth of RaceSense events across Europe in the many classes we work with. It’s a real pleasure to be part of the Vakaros team and to work toward our goals together, just like a successful crew, aligned and moving in sync.
