WEAR A STORY.
LIVE THE VALUES.
THE BADASS FISH
Auckland, New Zealand – February 14, 2000.
Maybe it was Valentine’s Day too, as every year.
In all stories, a detail can often make the difference.
Everything begins on a certain day.
It was the night before the official presentation of the Italian yacht that would compete in the oldest and most prestigious sailing challenge in the world.
The team owner asked me for a drawing to be designed on the still-hidden bulb of that boat, something that could embody the values and spirit of that young, unknown, yet fiercely determined crew.
Those men, who had been preparing for months, if not years, needed a symbol they could truly identify with.
So I drew what a New Zealand neighbor of mine later called: “The Badass Fish.”
It became our symbol, and above all, our mascot.
In the years that followed, it appeared on bulbs, wings, bows, helmets, and shirts.
Sometimes, you recognize yourself in a drawing.
If I had to translate its meaning, I’d define it as: “a tough one.”
That adventure was immense.
This one may be starting now, together with each of you.
Photo by Carlo Borlenghi
Photo by Keith Brash
Romolo Ranieri
A professional sailor with experience in three America’s Cup campaigns (2000, 2003, 2007), I’ve sailed and lived unique moments with many different teams. Today, I continue to race in major international circuits, carrying forward the values I want to express through the Badass&Co brand: determination, humility, resilience, and loyalty.
The brand’s logo, derived from a drawing created in 2000 to inspire our team, has become the symbol of a broader vision.
Today, I’d like it to act as an ambassador of positive values, capable of going beyond the world of sailing and inspiring anyone to pursue their goals with passion and commitment.
