OVERVIEW

Storia della Nautica is developed on a theoretical basis through a series of lectures designed to provide the historical skills necessary to understand the evolution of the nautical industry from the past to the present. The teaching aims to provide a cultural vision and background knowledge useful for the training of nautical designers.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to develop the history of boating, from its origins to the 1960s, with some hints at the birth of the yacht and the first yacht clubs in the 17th and 18th centuries, and especially the subsequent developments that saw the transition from sail to motor propulsion (19th century) with the introduction of the first steamboats and motorboats, up to the birth of outboard boats (20th century).

Particular attention will be paid to the development of sailing boats and their progress in the 20th century, as well as that of inboard motorboats, with a nod to the main designers and builders of pleasure boats and large yachts, and to the major Italian, European and world shipyards.

Some specialised topics such as a historical excursus on polyhulls, the invention of the hydroplane and the birth of hydrofoils, and military motorboats will be developed in seminars dedicated to them.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student must have developed the necessary knowledge and skills in naval historiography in the area of the history of shipping and the types of sailing and motorboats.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching is divided into several four-hour lectures that analyze the evolution of sailing, considering the geopolitical and social context. Lectures encourage discussion on the topics covered, developing positive discussion and collaboration skills as well as embracing suggested input for continuous improvement.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. The birth of the yacht and yachting:
   1. Social-historical background to the birth of yachting;
2. Overview of yachting in the 17th and 18th centuries;
   1. Early forms of entertainment: parades, races and regattas;
3. The expansion of yachting in Britain: 1815-1870;
   1. The expansion of yachting in Britain: 1815-1870;
   2. The enthusiastic adoption of yachting by the merchant and professional classes after 1870;
4. The Golden Age of yachting, 1880-1900
   1. Yacht clubs and competitions.
   2. The history of the America's Cup.
5. The influence of steam and the revolution in yacht building in the 19th and 20th centuries:
   1. Evolution of sailing boats
   2. The invention of the dinghy
   3. Evolution of motor boats
   4. Evolution of motor boats
   5. Major shipbuilding in the early decades of the 20th century
   6. Literature and technical manuals on yacht construction
   7. The contribution of Dixon Kemp (1839 - 1899), English naval architect, one of the founders of the Yacht Racing Association (now the Royal Yachting Association) and Lloyd's Register of Yachts, scholar and populariser.
6. Steamboat and motorboat.
7. Runabouts and the birth of outboards.
8. Pleasure boating in the 20th century:
   1. Motorsailers;
   2. Motor yachts;
   3. The great shipyards of the 20th century: from Chris-Craft to Riva, etc..

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

A Summary of Yachting History, The Lotus Magazine, May, 1914, Vol. 5, No. 8 (May, 1914), pp. 505-512.

Aimar, B. et alii. I poliscafi. Storia, evoluzione, caratteristiche tecniche dei moderni poliscafi a vela. Milano: Ugo Mursia Editore, 1992.

Bender Mike. A New History of Yachting. Woodbridge: Boydell Press 2017.

Charles, Daniel. Histoire du yachting. Arthaud, 1998.

Clark, H. Arthur. The History of Yachting 1600–1815. New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904.

Cozzens, Fred S. Yachts and yachting. New York: Cassell & Company, 1887.

Daryl, Philippe, Le Yacht. Histoire de la Navigation Maritime de Plaisance. Paris: Ancienne maison Quantin, Librairies - Imprimeries Reunies, 1890.

Folkard, Henry Coleman. The Sailing Boat: A Treatise on Sailing Boats and Small Yachts, Their Varieties of Type, Sails, Rig, Etc. London: Chapman and Hall, 1906.

Heaton, Peter. La grande avventura dello Yachting. Milano: Mondadori, 1974.

Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Golden Age of Yachting. Dobbs Ferry NY: Sheridan House, 1963.

Illingworth, John H. La Coppa America: storia della più celebre sfida velica del mondo. Milano: Mursia, 1983.

Jaeger, Gérard A. L’America’s cup, une histoire. Paris: Archipel, 2006.

Kemp, Dixon. Yacht designing: a treatise on the practical application of the scientific principles upon which is based the art of designing yachts. London: n.d., (1876).

Kemp, Dixon. A manual of yacht and boat sailing. London: “The Field” office, 1878.

Kemp, Dixon. Practical boat building for amateurs. London: L.U. Gill, [1881].

Kemp, Dixon. Exposition of yacht racing rules, customs & practices observed in match sailing, including decisions on particular cases of protest. London: Cox, 1898.

Pappalardo, Massimo. Storia della vela. Milano: Hoepli, 2019.

Phillips-Birt, Douglas. The history of yachting. Elm Tree Books in association with Hamish Hamilton Ltd, 1974.

Puget, François. Yachting. Histoire des yachts en fer: Nantes 1850-1902. Châteaulin: Locus Solus, 2017.

Santi-Mazzini, Giovanni. Storia dello yachting. Dalle origini all’Ottocento. Milano: Mondadori Electa, 2008.

Sciarrelli, Carlo. Lo yacht. Origine ed evoluzione del veliero da diporto. Milano: Ugo Mursia Editore, 1970.

Stone, Herbert Lawrence. The America’s Cup Races. New York: Outing publishing Company, 1914.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MASSIMO CORRADI (President)

CLAUDIA TACCHELLA (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/9008/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final assessment consists of a written examination comprising both closed-ended and open-ended questions. The aim is to evaluate the knowledge acquired during the teaching and the student’s ability to formulate complex responses to open questions through reasoning and the integration of multiple elements.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination will be assessed based on the accuracy of responses to the closed-ended questions, while the section consisting of open-ended questions will be evaluated according to the completeness of the answers, the ability to establish connections, and the depth of analysis. The exam is designed to verify both the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical content delivered during the teaching, as well as the student’s ability to critically rework the acquired concepts in order to formulate complex responses. This assessment method allows for the evaluation of whether the intended learning outcomes have been successfully achieved.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Please contact the professor for further information not included in the teaching sheet.