ITS Capricia was built and launched in 1963 at the Bengt Plym of Sweden, from a design by Sparkman & Stephens of New York, the famous sail vessels naval architects atelier. The Training Unit Capricia is a sail vessel assembled as a “Yawl” Marconi. She was designed to compete in offshore races under the R.O.R.C. Rating rule and, in the same year of her launch, the vessel, owned by Mr. Einar Hansen from Malmo, Sweden, ended first in the Fastnet Regatta, the New York YC Trophy Race and the Britannia Cup event.

The vessel is entirely made of wood, the structure in white oak, the planking in mahogany and the deck in teak; even the masts are in Canadian spruce painted in white. The Agnelli family bought it in 1971, and they sent her to the same architects atelier for a thorough renovation of the interior, which included the creation of a bathroom with a huge bathtub. In 1993, the Fondazione  Agnelli gave the Capriciaas a present to the Italian Navy, and since then she has been used to train the cadets of the Naval Academy.
During the school year the vessel sets sail daily with the Cadets from Livorno and in summer she carries out a 3 month-long Training Campaign for the Midshipmen who have completed their 3rd form – in these activities she is assisted by two other school ships of the Italian Navy: the Stella Polare and the Orsa Maggiore. The Midshipmen are thus given a possibility to test their nautical skills, as well as their endurance to the hardships of life onboard as crew members. Since the vessel can be engaged either in long runs navigations, or in competitions, they are required to take turns in the fulfillment of tasks and the management of the vessel.

Apart from the interior refurbishing, the hull and the fitting-up have remained unaltered, thus entitling the Capriciato the membership of the Associazione Italiana Vele d'Epoca (Italian Association of Vintage Sailboats) as Classic Yacht. During the summer campaigns the Capriciacompetes in the Classic Yacht Regattas, always with top performances.