Silvio Berlusconi supports Class 40 campaign

Marco Nannini's Global Ocean Race entry to be renamed 'Bunga Bunga'

Italian-born London-based yachtsman Marco Nannini can confirm today details of a sponsorship deal to support his Global Ocean Race 2011-2012 (GOR) round the world yacht racing campaign from a seemingly unlikely source: businessman and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who is certainly no stranger to grabbing the media spotlight through his extravagant actions.

“My love for the wind and the sea started in my first job as a singer on a cruise ship” commented Signor Berlusconi, "since those careless and free days I always dreamt to set sail around the world and I am proud today to support a young ambitious Italian sailor to achieve this enviable feat” he added.

The Italian skipper will receive a cash injection into his racing funds to rename the boat Bunga Bunga during his round the world race which is due to start in Palma in September this year, in a bid to support Mr Berlusconi’s election as president of the supreme court of justice.

“Racing around the world on a yacht through the perils of the Southern Ocean’s storms is no Bunga Bunga party” commented yachtsman Marco Nannini and we are delighted to have the opportunity to race a boat with such a light hearted name, it will help us smile through the hardships of the race and we will realise the dream that Mr Berlusconi had as young man” he added.

“Mr Berlusconi is not just about dinner parties with scantily dressed young girls as the media portrays him today. Mr Berlusconi is first and foremost a philanthropist and a romantic adventurer, he feels that supporting a young Italian such as Marco Nannini in sailing the national flag around the world will be a strong message inviting everyone to look beyond the media headlines” commented Aprilio Fullio, Head of External Communications at Fininvest, the holding company of Mr Berlusconi’s Media Empire.