2010. Automare leaves everyone speechless

Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into the world of epic moments in motor boating. We begin with one of the stories we were most passionate about.

Automare. Who has met the amphibious Maserati?

From Boats by Motor 2010, no.2, March, pp. 92-95.

At sea anything is possible, even riding in a car. Take an old car, fill it with polyurethane foam and set off on an adventure like Marco Amoretti, an “autonaut” from Sarzana.

Who has seen it? We are sure many would answer. A floating twin-turbo Maserati, fuchsia-colored to boot, propelled only by a 15-horsepower Mercury certainly does not go unnoticed. The interior is a mess. Polyurethane foam, provisions, fishing and sailing gear. Marco Amoretti, born in Imperia but a longtime resident of Sarzana as well as owner of the strange craft, is a repeat offender. Some may remember the guys who crossed the Atlantic in 1999 in an ’81 Ford Taunus and an ’87 Passat. Marco, together with his inseparable companion Marcolino De Candia, had accomplished the incredible feat, the dream his father, Giorgio Amoretti, who died of cancer just as the two boys were in the middle of the sea with no contact with land, had nurtured all his life. Newspapers, TV and radio of the time had covered them, painting them almost as heroes after their 119-day “self-navigation” from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, to Port Tartane, Martinique. Then the silence: it was uncomfortable to have to reveal to the world that the ocean crossings, which the ultra-accessorized sailors made every year, aboard catamarans, trimarans, totally carbon boats, could be completed by two simple boys from Sarzana, aged 23 and 21, aboard two old cars filled with styrofoam, almost for fun. Ten years pass, Marco has grown up, and he starts another adventure, a little less reckless. Many people drive around Italy: but who has ever used the sea as a highway? “L’Automare” (this is its bizarre name), Marco explains, is meant to be a trait d’union between two opposing worlds: the chaotic, constricting society of men, from which Amoretti has not always tried to escape, and the splendid, free, anarchic sea. And so, after the appropriate modifications to make the Maserati amphibious at theZavettieri workshop in Sarzana, Marco and Marcolino set sail from La Spezia. They also asked Soldini, their fellow countryman, to lend them an outboard motor, as money is tight. “I’m sorry, I’m just going sailing,” the caustic reply from Giovanni, who may have tied to his finger the fact that in 1999 the local press gave more coverage to the boys’ feat than his Around Alone victory. Departing from La Spezia on July 19, the “autonauts” arouse incredible curiosity in every port that hosts them.

Arriving in Marina di Pisa, they sail up the Arno to general amazement: the two nice guys host anyone who asks on board for a little jaunt, and in a short time they earn the esteem of numerous fans. Even on Facebook, Marco and Marcolino achieve a certain celebrity status. After a while, however, problems arise: the emblem of the restrictions inherent in our society, in this case, is the Coast Guard. Marco assures us that when they crossed paths with the autonauts, the sea policemen always turned out to be understanding. Of course, some on-board equipment was missing and an earful was in order, but in Tuscany, Lazio and Campania the Maserati sailed smoothly, never too far from the coast and surrounded by onlookers and supporters. In Calabria, however, things are different. Stopped by the Coast Guard, Marco (who in the meantime has been left alone because Marcolino has abandoned for reasons of his own) is forced to a forced stop in Tropea. “The boat” is not up to code, therefore, it cannot move forward. To make theAutomare a seaworthy vessel requires some money, which Marco lacks. Since Sept. 5, the floating Maserati has been stationary in a small “box” on the sea provided by Tropea fishermen. Enterprise finished? One can never tell. “In my original project,” Marco explains. the idea was to reach Venice, completing the circumnavigation. What I don’t have, as De André put it, is a sponsor to help me in the expenses. The warmth and affection that people have shown me is so much, but unfortunately it is money that I need. Besides, Automare guarantees good visibility for those who want to advertise me…” Amoretti then has another project on his mind. The destination, Venice, is not chosen at random: in 2010 the Architecture Biennale, in 2011 the Art Biennale. Being able to display the car in one of these prestigious exhibitions would represent quite a coup.

by Eugenio Ruocco

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