OUR HISTORY

Where we come from .........

it would be necessary to write many pages to tell you our story,  but  we will try to give you an idea about our past writing just a few lines .......
Founded in 1948 by Alberto Bertacca, the company in the early years dealt with the 'armament of merchant ships both owned and under management, in addition to carrying out the activity of customs forwarder and bunkering, operating mainly on the routes that led to Corsica and Sardinia.
Starting from 1950 the Company was taken by his son Alfredo Bertacca which extended maritime trade to the whole of the Mediterranean and in the mid-1960s moved the business from merchant ships to pleasure craft. Member of the Permanent Maritime Commission at the Chamber of Commerce of Lucca, he was one of the founders of the Versilia Nautical Club of Viareggio, holding the post of vice-president, president of the Canottieri Society Sergio Berchielli of Viareggio until 1990, the year of his death.
He promoted the famous Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio off-shore powerboat race for many years, the Viareggio-Bastia-Livorno sailing regatta, favoring the development of nautical activity in Corsica and helping to acquire important synergies for the construction of the family-funded port of Campoloro Rothschild. He founded Bertacca France which carried out maritime mediation activities on the French Riviera. To commemorate his activity, a plaque was affixed to the Port Authority of Bastia.
Another  peculiarity of the Bertacca Company is the large number of important Shipyards of which it has been the exclusive dealer and we remember some below: Bordogna e Macpi, Mochi Craft, RI.RI. Italia, Teknocantieri,  Nordcantieri/Costaguta, Garda Sud, Mariver, Tyler International Boat(England), De Visser B.V. (Holland), Striker (Holland).
We also like to remember the valuable contribution that Alfredo Bertacca had to make on the occasion of the birth of Intercantieri di Viareggio, the current FIPA Group, engaging in the logistics, purchases and handling of the first Maiora hulls that from the Powles Shipyards in Norwich (England ) moved by river (Seine) and then by sea to Viareggio. Hulls under construction with only tanks, engines and temporary maneuvering consoles that were finished once they reached the Viareggio's shipyards.
At the beginning of the 1980s, thanks to the great wealth of experience received  by his grandfather and father, Captain Alberto Bertacca, after 16 years of service as Captain of Long Course, took over the Company and improved it with an important expert activity that year after year has become more and more established both in the public sector body and the commodity one, collaborating with the leading Italian and foreing insurance companies.Today the Bertacca Maritime Agency represents a historical reality in the Italian nautical industry, with its two locations in Viareggio and Porto Ercole is able to offer its services practically all over the Italian territory and continues to grow keeping pace with the times and opening up to new specializations that modern boating requires.
1948 ....................... the Bertacca Maritime Agency and the Shipping Company were founded by Alberto Bertacca (1888-1950) in  Viareggio, in via M Coppino 265, assisted by his son Alfredo and his daughter in law Anna Franca Morescalchi (in the photo I am on the left).
Anna Franca Morescalchi has been operating in the nautical sector since 1942 when the Delfino brothers from Genoa opened the Viareggio shipyard headed by Eng. Alfredo Cegan of Turin. The Comm. Giacomo Delfino and Eng. Alfredo Gecan were respectively Vice President and Counselor of the MUTUA MARITTIMA VIAREGGINA, Insurance Company specialized in ships and reinsured at Lloyd's in London. During the war the shipyard was confiscated by the Germans to transform the wooden fishing boats into minesweepers and the administrative headquarters was transferred to the center of Viareggio and after to Camaiore. At the end of the World War II, the shipyard resumed regular activity and also bought the Itoyz and Puccinelli shipyard calling it Navalferro, with the aim of building iron ships among which the first was the "Franca" motor ship (1949) for the Sicilian ship owner Domenico Misurata. Afterwards, the shipyard was bought back by Dante Itoytz where Mrs. Anna Morescalchi worked until the age of '53. (In the photo on the right the launch of the "Franca" motor ship where you can see Mrs. Anna Morescalchi together with Engineer Fortini, inspector of the aforementioned owner.)
The first fleet with which the Bertacca company began to sail between Italy and Corsica, transporting all kinds of goods. "EZILDA B" and "COSTANZA F".
We want to remind you that "COSTANZA F" played a very important role, during the Second World War, initially as a (discrete) surveillance unit under the name of "correspondent BETA", subsequently for the transport of MTSM and operators of the Tenth MAS. In July 1942 it took part in the attack on an aircraft carrier in the Western Mediterranean, between July 1942 and August 1943 it played a role of support to Captain Job's auto column in Alexandria, Port Said and Haifa.
It sunk in September 1943 in La Spezia, recovered and then sunk again in April 1945. ((The photo below shows the "COSTANZA F" with on board the equipment and staff of the Tenth MAS))
Alfredo Bertacca, won the title of Italian Rowing Champion and in '45 he even participated at the pre-Olympic selections.
At the end of the Second World War he actively engaged in the revitalization of the Canottieri S. Berchielli Company of which he remained honorary president until his year of death (1990).
On the right, the statute that establishes the Versilia Nautical Club in 1957 and on the right the card n.4 of the founding member.

Alfredo Bertacca has held the position of Vice-President for many years.
In the photo Alfredo Bertacca as he arrives with the helicopter on the deck of the Italian Military Ship.
It was the Spring of 1962 when Alfredo Bertacca, while sitting at the table of "Lavezzi" restaurant in Bastia with Lulù De Casalta and his wife Giannina decided to star a powerboat race meant to be the connection between Corsica and the italian coast. The "Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio" was born, destined to become the most important European powerboat race.

The first edition took place on July  the 14th  of the same year on the occasion of the French National Day. This first race, unlike the subsequent editions, had the particularity of making a stop in Bastia and then leaving the next day for Viareggio. On the evening of rest, in Bastia, a great Gala Party was organized and in front of the port of Bastia there was an Italian Military Ship, to honor the important event.

In the photos on the right Alfredo Bertacca at the award ceremony and Mrs. Anna Bertacca with Eng. Nemo Picchiotti during the gala party.

Another very important year was 1968 when from an idea of Alfredo Bertacca,  vice president of the Nautical Club Versilia, shared with enthusiasm by the presidents of the Livorno Yachting Club and the Bastia Nautical Club, the Golden Sail Trophy was born, an offshore sailing that linked the ports of Viareggio and Livorno to that of Bastia.
Silver medal donated to Alfredo Bertacca from the Nautical Club of Bastia for the organizational commitment of the offshore regatta Trofeo Vela d'Oro.
Gold plaque donated to Alfredo Bertacca by the merchants of Bastia for the commitment shown as founder and popularizer of the famous motorboat race.
Above. On the left, the "MANUEL" motor ship. On the right, the new headquarters. In the center, the extract published by the Italian Naval Register where the entire fleet is listed.
From 1954 Alfredo Bertacca began to get closer and closer to the world of Yachting and began, through his friendship, an important collaboration with Harry Braci Torsi, which later proved to be decisive for the history of our Agency.
In the photos we see him together with the then President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Gronchi.
In these two photos, together with his father, Captain Alberto Bertacca, current owner of our company, when he was still a child onboard of the "ZEPHYR".
In the following years Yachting assumed, for Alfredo Bertacca, more and more importance up to the point that, at the beginning of the 60s, he decided to definitively move the activity of the Maritime Agency from the merchant sector to the Yachting one. In this regard, we like to remember this pleasant anecdote: "In 1962, when his presidential term was about to expire, Giovanni Gronchi decided to renew his candidacy in view of a second term. Thus Alfredo Bertacca began to look for a prestigious boat that could to welcome President Gronchi on the occasion of the celebrations for his second election. He found it and it was love at first sight, it was called "CHAMBEL II". never used for celebrations, but fate meant that, after a few months, Alfredo Bertacca was summoned to the port of Le Grazie to take on the task of managing a boat, he immediately recognized it, it was the "CHAMBEL II" which now had a new name, "TRAGARA". The Bertacca Agency had definitely entered the world of Yachting".
S / Y "TRAGARA" ex "CHAMBEL II" - Designer A. Mauric - Shipyard van Lent & Zonen - Year 1957
For the renovation Alfredo Bertacca made use of the young designer Ugo Faggioni of Cadimare and the workers of the Argo di Le Grazie Cooperative Shipyard, already known to be the reference site of the Agnelli and Moratti families, subsequently purchased by the Innocenti family. Until the day of his death, one of the partners, Sergio Bello, was an important guide for the young Alberto Bertacca.
In the 1960s, Alfredo Bertacca, again in the maritime sector, established an important collaboration relationship with Panama. On the occasion of  the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the canal, the Government of that time presented a precious collection of coins and e commemorative book to him.
The Panama Canal has become topical again in recent times with works been done to increase its width.
A great sailing enthusiast, Alfredo Bertacca has collaborated with important shipyards and sailed with boats destined to mark the history of the Italian pleasure craft starting from the drifts and then moving on to Cruisers such as the Panda 28 (A. Buchanan), the Koala 37 (Bigoin & Divergie ) up to the great Koala 50 (R. Clark).
Precisely for this last boat he collaborated with Nord Cantieri / Costaguta on the occasion of the famous first edition of WHITBREAD 73/74, during which he made his logistical contribution and attended the unforgettable departure from Portsmouth (England) on September 8, 1973, directed by Sir Alec Rose known solitary navigator.
                                                                                                  WITHBREAD 1973/74
                    The cannon shot                                Departure from Portsmouth (England)           The CS&RB during the regatta around the world
The 70s .......... Alfredo Bertacca opens the French office in Mentone which takes the name of "Bertacca France" (photo on the left) and collaborates in the construction of the port of Campoloro in Corsica (photo on the right )
Cards and photos that testify to a long and professional collaboration with the most important Brokers in the world.
Constantly increasing the Yachting sector in the 70s, the company participates as Brokers, with its own Stands, to the main European Boat Shows.
This commemorative plaque was affixed to the Capitaneria of the old Port of Bastia for the great contributions offered to yachting by Alfredo Bertacca, among these we remember the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio motorboat race, the Vela d'Oro trophy, the friendship sail, the tourist guide "CORSICA ITINERARI" published in several languages and distributed on the ships of Corsica Ferries and the twinning between the city of Viareggio and the city of Bastia represented in the photo above, published by the newspaper "LA CORSE " on August 12, 1987.
In the photos, Ms. Bertacca with the Deputy corso Zuccarelli during the inauguration ceremony of the plaque in memory of Alfredo Bertacca affixed to the old port Authority of Bastia.
At the end of the 70s, Alberto Bertacca enters the scene. He followed the career of Long Course Commander who led him to navigate both on large merchant ships and on important Yachts. During a long stay in the French Riviera (France) he has the opportunity to collaborate with the Chantier Naval Voisin in Villefranche sur Mer for the S / Y "ZACA" built for the Own er Errol Flynn.
Here we are at the beginning of the 80's ... when Com.te Alberto Bertacca returns to Viareggio and takes over the helm of the company, increasing it and above all renewing it, alongside the Maritime Agency with a highly appreciated Naval Technical Study. In the same period, Com.te Alberto Bertacca achieved the qualifications of Maritime Agent, Maritime Broker, as well as becoming a member of the examination commission for Maritime Brokers at the Chamber of Commerce of the Province of Lucca.
At the beginning of 2000s, Com. Alberto Bertacca started an important collaboration with the State of Gibraltar. These photos testify the presence of Com.te Bertacca at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club.
Over the years, the company led by Captain Alberto Bertacca has steadily increased its activities, as a consequnce it expanded first to the Etruscan Marina than to Punta Ala and finally to porto Ercole, in Monte Argentario were its second headquarter was purchased.
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