Rondetto Joins Legends of the Sea at Rahmi M. Koç Museum

The smallest boats can carry the biggest stories – and Rondetto’s solo Atlantic crossings are proof.

 

A New Jewel in a Sea-Lover’s Paradise

Tucked along the Golden Horn in Istanbul, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum is a treasure trove for maritime enthusiasts. Known for its impressive collection of historical vessels, scale models, and nautical artifacts, the museum has added another rare gem to its docks: Rondetto, a 7.6-meter yacht with a mighty legacy.

This modest-sized boat achieved maritime immortality in 1968 when Italian sailor Erik Pascoli completed a solo transatlantic crossing aboard it—making him the first Italian to cross the Atlantic alone. Now, decades after braving the open ocean, Rondetto invites visitors to relive one of small-craft sailing’s greatest tales.

Crafted in 1965 and designed by renowned British naval architect John Illingworth, the boat belongs to the Nordic Folkboat class—a class known for being both humble and hardy. But what Rondetto lacked in size, it more than made up for in tenacity.

Legends at Anchor: Kısmet, Uzaklar, and Rondetto

Rondetto now shares company with two of Turkey’s most iconic sailing vessels—Kısmet and Uzaklar. These boats are not only maritime artifacts; they are living testaments to courage, adventure, and human connection with the sea.

Kısmet, for instance, carried Sadun Boro and his wife Oda Boro on a three-year circumnavigation of the globe starting in 1965. Their voyage remains a cornerstone in Turkish yachting history. Nearby, the minuscule yet mighty Uzaklar—the smallest Turkish boat to ever complete a world tour—awaits visitors intrigued by feats of endurance.

These vessels, along with heritage ferries like Fenerbahçe, traditional Bosphorus rowboats, canoes, and sailing models, form the museum’s maritime wing—an homage to founder Rahmi M. Koç’s lifelong passion for the sea.

And now Rondetto joins this fleet, representing not just Italian sailing excellence but the universal spirit of single-handed adventure.

Portsmouth to Portsmouth: An Atlantic Baptism

Rondetto’s most legendary voyage began in Portsmouth, England, and ended 47 days later in Portsmouth, Dominica. At the helm was Erik Pascoli—solo, unsupported, and equipped only with navigational grit. His journey, documented in the cult classic “From Portsmouth to Portsmouth: Atlantic Crossing with Rondetto”, became a seafarer’s inspiration across Europe.

Measuring only 2.2 meters wide and weighing 4 tons, Rondetto was no ocean-going yacht by modern standards. Yet with its Yanmar diesel engine and reinforced hull, it defied expectations. Pascoli had bought the vessel from its first owner, a Royal Navy officer who had named it after his prize-winning racehorse.

The boat continued its oceanic legacy even after Pascoli sold it to his friend Bruno Pietrangeli in 1981. In 1983, Pietrangeli crossed from Tenerife to Martinique in 30 days, followed by a Gibraltar–Fortaleza (Brazil) passage in 1986 that lasted 41 days. Few vessels of this class have survived multiple Atlantic crossings. Fewer still are on public display.

Today, Rondetto is moored not to a dock, but to history—anchored in a museum that understands what it means to chase the horizon.

More Than a Museum – A Lighthouse for Maritime Memory

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum is no ordinary museum—it’s a sanctuary for stories born on water. With Rondetto joining its ranks, the institution underscores its commitment to preserving not just objects, but odysseys.

This isn’t simply about boats. It’s about the people who dared to test them against nature. It’s about a time when GPS didn’t exist, when weather was predicted by sky and gut feeling, and when the sea demanded both humility and courage.

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor, a boatbuilder, or someone who simply dreams of casting off the lines, Rondetto offers more than nostalgia. It offers a lesson in resilience—crafted in timber, tempered by salt, and delivered through one man’s will to cross an ocean alone.