OUR STORY

After almost 60 years of activity, Nautivela is still a family business now run by brothers Paolo and Alberto Portiglia (both former 420 then 470 sailors), and continues to build, distribute and promote 6 out of 8 Olympic Classes as well as several of the most successful sailing boats in the dinghy racing and recreational market.

1961
Founded in Milan by Aldo Repossi and his wife Luciana Borelli, Nautivela starts out as a family business distributing Italian builder Alpa’s products in the northern Lakes district of Italy.
1963
The first GRP boats built by Nautivela are the Flying Junior International Class which at the time was the Italian Sailing Federation‘s school boat.
1965
At the Salon Nautique of Paris, looking for french boats to distribute in Italy, the couple selects the Ponant from Deschamps and the 470 from Jean Morin.
1966
Luciana’s sister, Tilde Borelli joins the flourishing company. She oversees Nautivela’s finances since then.
1967
Jean Morin, impressed by the construction capacity during a visit to the factory in Milan, proposes to Nautivela to become a licenced 470 builder. The Nautivela 470 soon becomes very popular, also thanks to the great work of the 470 Class Secretary of the time, Gianfranco Picchio: when 470 qualifies as International Class in 1969, there are already more than 1000 boats registered in Italy. In the years that follow the Nautivela 470 encounters great success, bringing home numerous World and European Championship titles as well as 4 Olimpic Medals: 2 Golds in Barcelona M&F (1992), 1 Gold in Atlanta M (1996), and 1 Silver in Beijing F (2008). Nautivela was also Ufficial Supplier of the Isaf 470 World Sailing Championships in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. Continuing building 470 dinghies since 1967, today Nautivela is the world’s most longstanding 470 producer: units constructed over the decades exceed 7500.
1971
Acquisition of Nautivela’s current 6000 square meter production site in Milan’s industrial area.
1975
Starting the producion of the 420 Class to fulfill the growing request for a youth trainer of the larger Olympic Class International 470. Over the years the Nautivela 420 model continued to thrive and dominate the charts at World and European Championships. At present Nautivela is global market leader and builder of reference for the INT. 420 class. Nautivela is also the biggest supporter of the INT. 420 class, World Sailing Official Supplier since 1997 and the main partner of World Sailing Youth Worlds.
1976
Commencing the construction of OPTIMIST boats. During 40+ years of uncessant production, Nautivela became one of the 5 major worldwide builders and a committed supporter of Optimist Class events (Official Charterer of boats for Europeans and World Championships).
1989
Aldo Repossi suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed for the rest of his life. Tilde’s husband, Franco Portiglia joins Nautivela and takes over his place.
1993
Presentatiom of the Nautivela Jet.  An innovative project developped to approach the novel skiff market, the Jet was the runner-up to the 49er at the official selection of the new Men’s Olympic Class for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
1995
Luciana Borelli retires.
1996
Paolo Portiglia, Tilde’s elder son joins the company after attending Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. He oversees production and research since then.
2000
Presentation of the Nautivela VIS.
2000
Becoming Official Distributor for South Europe of the 9er family: 29er49er & 49erFX, Nautivela is also a very important supporter of the classes in this traditionally conservative geographic area.
2001
Franco Portiglia has a fatal airplain crash with his Piper over his beloved Lago Maggiore. Alberto Portiglia, Tilde’s younger son joins the company after attending Bocconi University. He oversees sales and marketing since then.
2002
Nautivela is the exclusive builder and distributor of the Intl. Byte Class in Europe.
2003
Nautivela is the official builder of the Italian Sailing Federation‘s new schoolboat, the 555FIV.
2008
Presentation of the new Nautivela 420 model.
2011
In an effort to reduce Nautivela’s carbon footprint, the roof of the factory is covered with solar panels that supply 100% of production needs of electricity (and some more). Hundreds of tons of Co2 have been spared to our planet since then, bringing the carbon footprint of our production to 0.
2014
The New Nautivela 470 model is presented, designed by Julian Bethwaite, the acclaimed designer of the 49er skiff.
2019
Nautivela is the official NACRA distributor for Italy.
2020
Nautivela is one of the 8 new global licenced builders of ILCA Dinghies.

OUR STORY

After almost 60 years of activity, Nautivela is still a family business now run by brothers Paolo and Alberto Portiglia (both former 420 then 470 sailors), and continues to build, distribute and promote 6 out of 8 Olympic Classes as well as several of the most successful sailing boats in the dinghy racing and recreational market.

1961
Founded in Milan by Aldo Repossi and his wife Luciana Borelli, Nautivela starts out as a family business distributing Italian builder Alpa’s products in the northern Lakes district of Italy.
1963
The first GRP boats built by Nautivela are the Flying Junior International Class which at the time was the Italian Sailing Federation‘s school boat.
1965
At the Salon Nautique of Paris, looking for french boats to distribute in Italy, the couple selects the Ponant from Deschamps and the 470 from Jean Morin.
1966
Luciana’s sister, Tilde Borelli joins the flourishing company. She oversees Nautivela’s finances since then.
1967
Jean Morin, impressed by the construction capacity during a visit to the factory in Milan, proposes to Nautivela to become a licenced 470 builder. The Nautivela 470 soon becomes very popular, also thanks to the great work of the 470 Class Secretary of the time, Gianfranco Picchio: when 470 qualifies as International Class in 1969, there are already more than 1000 boats registered in Italy. In the years that follow the Nautivela 470 encounters great success, bringing home numerous World and European Championship titles as well as 4 Olimpic Medals: 2 Golds in Barcelona M&F (1992), 1 Gold in Atlanta M (1996), and 1 Silver in Beijing F (2008). Nautivela was also Ufficial Supplier of the Isaf 470 World Sailing Championships in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. Continuing building 470 dinghies since 1967, today Nautivela is the world’s most longstanding 470 producer: units constructed over the decades exceed 7500.
1971
Acquisition of Nautivela’s current 6000 square meter production site in Milan’s industrial area.
1975
Starting the producion of the 420 Class to fulfill the growing request for a youth trainer of the larger Olympic Class International 470. Over the years the Nautivela 420 model continued to thrive and dominate the charts at World and European Championships. At present Nautivela is global market leader and builder of reference for the INT. 420 class. Nautivela is also the biggest supporter of the INT. 420 class, World Sailing Official Supplier since 1997 and the main partner of World Sailing Youth Worlds.
1976
Commencing the construction of OPTIMIST boats. During 40+ years of uncessant production, Nautivela became one of the 5 major worldwide builders and a committed supporter of Optimist Class events (Official Charterer of boats for Europeans and World Championships).
1989
Aldo Repossi suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed for the rest of his life. Tilde’s husband, Franco Portiglia joins Nautivela and takes over his place.
1993
Presentatiom of the Nautivela Jet.  An innovative project developped to approach the novel skiff market, the Jet was the runner-up to the 49er at the official selection of the new Men’s Olympic Class for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
1995
Luciana Borelli retires.
1996
Paolo Portiglia, Tilde’s elder son joins the company after attending Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. He oversees production and research since then.
2000
Presentation of the Nautivela VIS.
2000
Becoming Official Distributor for South Europe of the 9er family: 29er49er & 49erFX, Nautivela is also a very important supporter of the classes in this traditionally conservative geographic area.
2001
Franco Portiglia has a fatal airplain crash with his Piper over his beloved Lago Maggiore. Alberto Portiglia, Tilde’s younger son joins the company after attending Bocconi University. He oversees sales and marketing since then.
2002
Nautivela is the exclusive builder and distributor of the Intl. Byte Class in Europe.
2003
Nautivela is the official builder of the Italian Sailing Federation‘s new schoolboat, the 555FIV.
2008
Presentation of the new Nautivela 420 model.
2011
In an effort to reduce Nautivela’s carbon footprint, the roof of the factory is covered with solar panels that supply 100% of production needs of electricity (and some more). Hundreds of tons of Co2 have been spared to our planet since then, bringing the carbon footprint of our production to 0.
2014
The New Nautivela 470 model is presented, designed by Julian Bethwaite, the acclaimed designer of the 49er skiff.
2019
Nautivela is the official NACRA distributor for Italy.
2020
Nautivela is one of the 8 new global licenced builders of ILCA Dinghies.

TECHNOLOGY

The most modern technology of construction and quality controls are used in Nautivela’s production.

Temperature and Humidity control in the lamination chambers.

24 hrs running owen in a modular structure able to contain boats up to 12mt in lenght.

Press machine for high stress joints assembly and straightness control of flat surfaces.

Vaccum bagging technology with two 80cubemeters per hours pumps and a dedicated area for the 4 bag, the two breathers, the 2 primers and the peel-ply.

Epoxy resin testing and working area were kevlar (DuPont registered trademark) and carbon fibre are in use.

Every separate item built is weighed in and signed before assembly for total weight control.

Structures calculation and optimization in conformity with class rules done in place with customized software.

Records of every boat built are active since 1997 to identify all materials and colors for repairs.

ALL THE RAW MATERIALS WE USE ARE SUPPLIED FROM iso9000s CERTIFIED FACTORIES

TECHNOLOGY

The most modern technology of construction and quality controls are used in Nautivela’s production.

Temperature and Humidity control in the lamination chambers.

24 hrs running owen in a modular structure able to contain boats up to 12mt in lenght.

Press machine for high stress joints assembly and straightness control of flat surfaces.

Vaccum bagging technology with two 80cubemeters per hours pumps and a dedicated area for the 4 bag, the two breathers, the 2 primers and the peel-ply.

Epoxy resin testing and working area were kevlar (DuPont registered trademark) and carbon fibre are in use.

Every separate item built is weighed in and signed before assembly for total weight control.

Structures calculation and optimization in conformity with class rules done in place with customized software.

Records of every boat built are active since 1997 to identify all materials and colors for repairs.

ALL THE RAW MATERIALS WE USE ARE SUPPLIED FROM iso9000s CERTIFIED FACTORIES

RESEARCH & EDUCATION

Nautivela is a longtime partner of Politecnico di Milano, collaborating on research and development of innovative materials for boats.

RESEARCH & EDUCATION

Nautivela is a longtime partner of Politecnico di Milano, collaborating on research and development of innovative materials for boats.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Build boats with minimal environmental impact is one of our main commitments.

Nautivela’s boats are produced with clean energy sourced from our own photovoltaic panels that cover the entire roof of the factory since 2011. It supplies 100% of production needs of electricity (and some more), sparing hundreds of tons of Co2 every year, bringing the carbon footprint of our production close to 0.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Build boats with minimal environmental impact is one of our main commitments.

Nautivela’s boats are produced with clean energy sourced from our own photovoltaic panels that cover the entire roof of the factory since 2011. It supplies 100% of production needs of electricity (and some more), sparing hundreds of tons of Co2 every year, bringing the carbon footprint of our production close to 0.