The 44’ day sailer Stella Filante was launched in Sirmione (Lake Garda) at the end of July 2001.
According to the technical sheet, the designer’s comments state:
“During the design phase, we realized that what the commission requested had an antique flavor, reminiscent of last century’s sailing—whether from the early 1900s, typical of Newport waters when catboats challenged for the America’s Cup in the same waters as Shamrock and Reliance; or from the Admiral’s Cup years, when one might yield right of way to a Dragon helmed in perfect ‘British cruising’ style. For the 44, the spirit is the same: a club boat designed to attend the most important events in the best possible way, but also comfortable, fast, fun, and aesthetically unique.
Comfortable for the helmsman, with all assisted controls within reach, and for guests comfortably seated on a proper sofa in the cockpit. Comfortable in the bay, with a large cockpit that ends at the stern very close to the water.”

As for performance, the hull is fast, both due to the chosen ratios and the sophisticated construction—on par with a pure racer—featuring a sail plan with a powerful big roach that remains easily manageable (in-boom furling). At the helm, the boat is particularly pleasant thanks to the sensations it transmits. The length-to-displacement ratio, normally used on much larger hulls, is paired here with a high ballast percentage, ensuring fun and strong sensations. In short, the acceleration, turning speed, and planing offer the pure pleasure of sailing typically found on dinghies.
The interior layout is very simple, as life on board takes place on deck; inside, two comfortable opposing sofa-berths and a separate head are sufficient.