Chiara Degli Angioli: Focus, Teamwork and Passion

Women's sailing according to Chiara: share the course, not just the helm, with friendship and determination

Charting New Horizons in Women’s Sailing

Chiara marks the closing chapter of Making Waves, our spotlight series focused on young women from the RS21 crew Magique et Terrible. In the next episodes, the focus will shift to shine a light on those female sailors who have chosen to take on the challenge of the ocean, giving life to The Famous Project.

Stay tuned for that and, in the meantime, enjoy discovering the story of Chiara Degli Angioli, who after a brilliant youth career in high-level judo, chose to dedicate herself to sailing. Today she is the rational and smiling soul of the women's RS21 team Magique et Terrible.

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Sailing as a Journey of Self-Discovery

After starting out on dinghies, she discovered a new path to grow in the world of team and monotype sailing: more dialogue, more listening, more sharing. Chiara believes that every young woman deserves to continue sailing after the junior classes – something she has demonstrated, regatta after regatta, by supporting the team, nurturing confidence in her younger teammates and helping build something greater beyond the finish line.

As Chiara puts it: 'We are women, and we are stubborn. Deal with it.' A simple sentence that says it all.

On the water, as in life, Chiara believes that trust comes before all else

It's not just a way to perform better at sailing: it's the only way to build something lasting. At 24, she is already a role model for many girls who, after the youth classes, don't want to stop racing.

Born by the sea in Rimini, Chiara discovered sailing at an early age. After a frightening experience at sea at a young age, an experience that left its mark, she stepped back from the Olympic ILCA single races and found a new compass in teamwork. Today, she is one of the star sailors on the RS21 Magique et Terrible women's team, a project created to keep the passion burning even when sporting careers have to run alongside with university or professional commitments.

'Not all of us can aim for the Olympics, but that doesn't mean we have to give up sailing.'

Growing Together in Team

Magique et Terrible, supported by SLAM as their technical sponsor, is a true testing ground for sporting and personal growth.

'Everyone has their role. On board this is also reflected in the way we dress. Those at the bow need freedom of movement, while those at the helm prefer comfort and lightness.'

But a common spirit unites them all:

'There are five of us working hard to do what other crews do with three. This makes us more attentive, more coordinated, and stronger.'

Chiara speaks of a different kind of sailing, not just in terms of gender but also in terms of approach:

'With an all-female crew, communication is constant. We talk a lot, we discuss things, we learn to compensate for our inexperience by listening. Even ashore: sharing a drink after the race is more than just a ritual, it's a way of strengthening the group.'

And if tensions rise?

'We don't take it out on crew members who make mistakes. We finish the race and analyse everything with a cool head. That's the true spirit of teamwork: not judging but supporting each other.'

2025 kicked off with new additions and new challenges: Chiara is now joined by even younger sailors. For some, this is their class debut. But her confidence remains unwavering:

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We all want to improve, each at our own pace. And every mistake is an opportunity to grow, not to give up.

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For Chiara, 'making a difference' means just that: creating a space where women can express themselves, learn and be appreciated. With her hands on the halyards, sheets and sails, a smile in the wind and the certainty that, in racing as in life, it's not just about being the first to cross the finish line but about setting out and each time striving to improve in both performance and character, it’s about finding the perfect balance.

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A previous negative experience on a boat taught me to take care of myself and those around me, whether they are on the boat with me or the younger sailors training with me. No one should ever be put in a difficult situation.

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RS21 Crew - 2025 season

Chiara Degli Angioli – crew and strategic management
Malika Bellomi – new helmswoman
Sofia Giondi – transition to mainsail and tactics
Lucia Marchi – young foredeck, born in 2009
Annalisa Vicentini – born in 2007, former helmswoman in the 2023 season

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Chiara Degli Angioli: Focus, Teamwork and Passion