The Lulworth – An Update

A couple of weeks ago I promised an update if I learned more about the fate of the Lulworth. Today I got a bunch of information. My Italian sailing friend Nico sent me a link to an article about the seizure of the Lulworth in Tunisia by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (GdF). The plot suddenly went from bouillon to porridge. Sidenote, the GdF is Italy’s rough equivalent to America’s Treasury Men. Think Eliot Ness in Armani. Hence it is part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not Defence.

The Fixer

A fixer is, ‘a person who makes arrangements for other people, especially of an illicit or devious kind.’

Following a 2017 preventive seizure court order against an unnamed Roman faccendiere (fixer), the GdF started chasing a vast array of movable assets, like expensive cars and boats, and some immobile ones like luxury villas, too. The total was worth over 40 million EUR. Besides Ferraris, Bentleys and Jaguars, the crown jewel was the Lulworth.

The Crime

Working at an executive level in a criminal association, the fixer issued over 180 million EUR in invoices for non-existent transactions for several Italian and Chinese businesses seeking to avoid taxes and raise unregulated dark money. Pretty standard fare for the head of numerous shell companies with offshore banking and money laundering abilities. Fun Russian fact: Alexei Navalny accuses Vladimir Putin of getting wealthy by very similar means.

The Chase

The hunt was on. The fixer moved his residence to the Principality of Monaco and then to Dubai, no doubt driving fast cars and flying private aircraft along the way. Given the high-speed chase, purchasing the Lulworth seems like pure vanity. Nonetheless, she moved from Italy to Mallorca and eventually to the port of Bizerte, Tunisia, in an effort to keep her out of the hands of the government. But it’s hard to hide a 46 metre, century old gaff cutter with a 17-story mast. The Tunisians kept an eye on her until in August, 2020, the GdF boarded her and sailed her (in ski masks and bullet-proof vests) to Gaeta.

The Capture

Thus far the fixer and four of his associates have been given a precautionary custody order. It is unclear if anyone has been formally arraigned or convicted in the case. What is clear, is the fixer has expensive tastes and probably a strong desire to escape to sea. The Lulworth is a gorgeous vessel and a week on the water would doubtless soothe the nerves of even the most frenzied financial outlaw.

The Quay

By order of the examining judge in Rome, the Lulworth is now at the disposal of the Guardia di Finanza which plans to use her as a training ship. That explains her location on the GdF’s dock. One hopes they will take care of her, polish her up, repair the rot on her boom end and keep her seaworthy. It is an expensive, labour-intensive prospect for a(n undoubtedly cash strapped) government body. But a month before they seized the Lulworth the GdF snagged a billion euros worth of ISIS-made amphetamines, and they have all those cars to sell.

The Question

I wonder what Lulworth’s provenance was between the time she was sold in 2010 and when she was captured? Whatever the truth, this is the stuff of a miniseries. Perhaps George Clooney would play the accused? He looks like a shady accountant, doesn’t he?