Anyone who knows him knows that Rodolfo Ubertini has sailing in his blood. From his first regattas in Argentina to his arrival in Spain, he has travelled a path where sailing has always meant passion, effort and shared learning.
His story is that of a racer who started as a child in a small Optimist and who, over time, came to represent his country in international championships, train young talents and compete in ocean and offshore regattas. It’s not just a sporting CV, but a journey marked by perseverance, a love of the sea and the ability to pass on those values to those around him.
Today, after thousands of miles sailed and having been part of some of the most important clubs in Argentina, Rodolfo continues his journey in Spain, where he has launched a project that reflects his way of understanding sailing: the Saudade Sailing Team. With this team he seeks not only to prepare good racers, but also to create a community where every trip out to sea is an experience of learning and camaraderie.
With that idea in mind, we wanted to ask him a few questions to tell us more about his career, his experiences and what it means to him to lead a project like this.
I was lucky to start very young. My parents had a boat and by the age of six I was already sailing in my first Optimist. At eight I started training and racing. Over time I joined the Argentine national team and took part in the 1983 Cadet World Championship, where we finished fifth among more than 130 boats.
I kept competing in different classes: Snipe, 470, windsurfing… I even took part in the South American Snipe junior championship in Brazil. Later, at just 19, I became a coach at Club San Fernando, one of the biggest in Argentina. It was a very enriching stage: I trained many racers, including Luis Soubié, who today is still involved in the world of sailing and is well known at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia.
Yes, I raced my first ocean regatta at 14: the Buenos Aires – Mar del Plata. It was a two-and-a-half-day race and I had to work hard on board. It was an experience that toughened me up and that I enjoyed enormously. Afterwards I repeated that race several times, as well as other offshore events, and over time I had my own racing boats in Mar del Plata. With them we got very good results — some rivals even preferred not to enter because they knew we’d be hard to beat.
Four years ago I moved here with my wife and in that time I’ve sailed more than 4,500 miles. The idea of creating the Saudade Sailing Team came up here, a project we’re developing together with the club and the whole team, and one I’m really excited about.
What we want is for each member to learn to handle a racing yacht in every position. In training we rotate so everyone can do everything and develop as complete racers. In the end, what counts isn’t only what you learn, but also the laughs, the rapport and the passion for the sea that we share as a group.
We train twice a week, so each member can sail at least four times a month. Plus, each month we organise a match race with our Ro-265s: a competition where all the team members take part rotating positions. This year we’ve started competing in official events: a week ago we raced our first regatta in Cullera, the Trofeo Bahía de los Naranjos, and we made the podium on our debut, which makes us very happy.
Yes, we’ve added the Babe Reloaded, a Platu 25, a pure racing yacht. Its original name, Babe, refers to its small size, and Reloaded because we’ve given it a new life: new sails, new lines and everything ready to compete. It’s a boat that’s already giving us a lot of joy and with which we hope to keep growing as a team.
Above all, respect and love for the sea. We want every outing to be a chance to learn, improve and also enjoy. We have a diverse group, where each member brings something different that makes the experience unique.
To go for it and live this experience with us. Here everything is learned and enjoyed as a team: Saudade Sailing Team is passion, energy and companionship. If you’ve already mastered basic trim, the time has come to take the next step in your learning.
The story of Rodolfo Ubertini is that of someone who has made sailing a way of life, passing on his passion and experience to new generations of racers. With the Saudade Sailing Team he has created a space where learning, fun and a love of the sea go hand in hand.
If you want to experience it first-hand, the team is waiting for you: just take the step and join this adventure here.
