History

Nautical Fiberglass Shipyard was based in Fiumicino (near Rome) and it was in operation from the second half of the 70s until the early 80s. We remember it for having purchased the molds of the sailing boat Orca 43 from the Cantieri Navali di Fiumicino. The Orca 43 was a design by the American Dick Carter, champion of many ocean races in the 60s and 70s. The molds of the Orca 43 were personally followed by Dick Carter himself, who originally designed them for the 1972 Admiral's Cup in order to compete under the IOR regulation.    

Builders of the Orca 43

The first builder was the Sailboats shipyard in Crespellano (BO), which subsequently changed its name to Cantieri del Pardo and became famous for the long series of Grand Soleil models. After the construction of a very limited number of prototypes (probably 4) the molds were sold to the Cantieri Navali Fiumicino (Rome) which, subsequently, passed them to the Cantieri Navali Nautical Fiberglass (Rome). These yards, with some modifications, used them to put on the market, until about 1984, a few dozen Orca 43, some also in the ketch version.