When Guido Costantini set out to refit the Westport 112 Emilia, he wasn’t chasing a destination — he was building a vessel for life at sea, with sustainability, service, and adventure at its heart. Now en route to Panama, his story traces a long, deliberate course from the U.S. Navy to a mission-driven yachting life.
I was born in Rome and grew up sailing in the Mediterranean, but I never developed a passion for it. My father and my older brother were avid racers, while my younger brother and I often battled seasickness. When we moved to the US in 1979, I was 13 years old. It was very important to my father that we embraced this country, and we did just that. I became a citizen in 1986 and seven months later I joined the Navy. This country had already given my family so much, it was my turn to give back.
My four years in the Navy is when I realised I wanted to be at sea. I crossed the Pacific twice and journeyed to the Arctic, and I fell in love with the smell of salt in the air. There is something indescribably magical about being in the middle of the ocean under a clear sky, with a dark moon and billions of stars. The land slowly disappears, you’re not tethered anymore, everything is up to you and the people around you. There’s something very romantic about that.
After leaving the Navy, I finished college and got married, and my wife and I decided to introduce our children to the joys of boating. We purchased a 48ft (15-metre) Sea Ray and cruised the Gulf of Mexico. I was the captain; she was everything else. One memorable year we spent 48 out of 52 weekends on the boat. Then we moved from Texas to Colorado and sold the boat, but I still had dreams; I longed to cross the Panama Canal and the Atlantic. So while we were living in Colorado, I started designing an explorer yacht.
We were deep into the planning process when our business faced challenges, prompting us to pivot. Instead of a new build, we chose to refit a 2002 Westport 112, but I’ve enjoyed the journey just as much. The refit with Destry Darr Designs started in 2022 and we brought Emilia all the way back to fibreglass. Every day for almost two years, I researched every electrical and mechanical component, every material and every product — all to create a vessel that could take us anywhere we wanted, and in as green a manner as possible. The project became my passion. It was a challenge, and it was exhilarating.
It is also a privilege, and we are committed to giving back, not only by educating others on sustainable and ethical building practices but also by supporting those in need. As we visit each port, we would like to fundraise for the Boys & Girls Clubs with a dinner and a day out at sea.
On Emilia, we all carry a challenge coin — a military tradition that started during World War I — which bears our mission statement: “We serve a higher purpose, protecting the innocent and upholding justice.” By doing that, the crew belong to something greater. Carrying that coin in your pocket is a constant reminder that somebody’s got your six, and that sense of camaraderie is invaluable.
We are now en route to Panama, but I’m not focused on the destination, I am wholeheartedly about the journey. I collect old maps with lines tracing the paths of explorers across the world, and that’s how I want my map to be — a long continuous line of adventure and discovery.
BOATPro currently locates the 34.1-metre yacht Emilia just off Liberty State Park – near the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island – in New York, USA.
First published in the September 2025 issue of BOAT International US Edition. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.