A few months ago I met Nico for the first time. A passionate sailor, he was living in Rome with a ton of ambition, but no boat, and no clear path in front of him.

Today you can find him on his Mini Vector, trying to get funding for his Mini Transat campaign - proud of the person he has become and proud to stand tall for his right to sail and compete as a queer person.

I have really enjoyed having the privilege to meet him, get to know him more, and understand his dreams, challenges, and goals!

The connection happened through The Magenta Project mentorship program where I applied to be a mentor earlier this year. I was really pleased when Nico’s details were shared with me. Whoever connected the dots did a great job in matching us - we are both Italians, both part of the queer community, and both with big dreams. The only difference is that I'm a bit older and I might have some experience to share.

I have to be honest, I never 100% believed in ‘fixed’ mentorship. In other environments (skiing instruction or the creative world) I saw a few of these programs fail because the connection between mentors and mentees didn’t happen naturally and forcing the relationship didn’t create the necessary trust to move forward, get vulnerable, and feel comfortable enough to share valuable experiences.

But recently, the Magenta Project has been successful at creating really meaningful networking opportunities and this has made me re-evaluate my thoughts and beliefs about a well planned mentorship program.

The Magenta Project has a bit of history in my family too: my wife Sally was one of the OG founders after she raced around the world with Team SCA in The Ocean Race 2014-15. Seeing how far the program has come in the intervening years since then makes it even more special to be part of their mentorship scheme.

Over the past few months Nico and I have had multiple calls and video chats, and I’ve put him in contact with other experts in the industry to give him as many tools as possible to navigate his own campaign in the very best way. It’s been a pleasure watching him develop his own voice and place in this sailing world, not only to try to race at the highest level, but doing it with meaning and sharing a strong message that sport should unite us all. In a world where hate, division, and harm are on the menu every day, working alongside Nico has been a breath of fresh air!

He is fighting for more visibility and inclusion in a country like Italy where these subjects are still extremely hard to showcase - and that’s an incredibly brave thing to do.

When it comes down to the biggest challenges facing all sailors, funding is at the top of everyone's list, and the hardest area to help with. But I know with a solid plan, determination, passion, and a bit of luck, it is possible to find the organizations who believe in you and your project as much as you do. Something I've been very lucky to experience, most recently with 11th Hour Racing.

Mentoring really is a fantastic thing to do - both for yourself and for the wider community around you. If you have experience, if you want to give back, and think you can help someone in your industry, I highly recommend becoming a mentor for someone that needs some guidance. You might actually find that the one in need of guidance is you, too! It can be a humbling experience and makes you realize how important it is to connect, actively listen, and problem solve together with another human being who has the same dreams and hopes as you do, or once did.

Please follow Nico in his endeavors of ocean sailing and representation for the queer community in his new campaign ‘Racing.against.tide’, you can find the page on Instagram and give it a follow! By following his journey, you’re not just supporting an athlete—you’re supporting visibility, inclusion, and the belief that sailing, like all sports, should be for everyone.

Also, follow The Magenta Project - or the equivalent program in your chosen sport - and check out if you could be part of a mentorship program. It’s a great opportunity to network and grow - who knows whom you might meet next!

Giving back really is the best gift.

Giving back is the best gift

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