Giorgio Benussi
Secretary General and Sports Director of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Giorgio Benussi has been appointed Secretary General and Sports Director of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), effective 1st October 2025. He brings over 30 years of experience in the nautical and sailing world and has worked as a strategic consultant with leading partners including Loro Piana SpA, for whom he organised events such as the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta and the Loro Piana Giraglia.
He also currently serves as Secretary General of the International Maxi Association (IMA), the international organisation representing owners and sailors of maxi yachts and promoting the development of maxi yacht racing worldwide.
He is co-founder of the 69F project, an innovative foiling one-design class that has redefined the paradigms of competitive sailing and has been selected as a platform for the America’s Cup youth and women’s teams.
As an athlete, Benussi is a four-time World Champion, three-time European Champion and ten-time Italian Champion, with numerous international regatta victories to his name. He has been awarded the Italian National Olympic Committee’s Gold Medal for Athletic Valour.