J/80 Italian Winter Cup Finishes in Style(Tigullio, Italy- Feb 20)- This past weekend saw the completion of the 35th Winter Championship in Tigullio, a beautiful lake to sail in Italy. The last weekend was not without its own dramas, thanks in part to the crazy weather conditions and "nightmarish" wind.
The breeze first started out nicely from the Northeast, the usual northern wind for the lake at this time of year. However, after nearly 10 perfects races over the course of the many weekends of sailing, the last Sunday was one of the most difficult days for sailing. Poor PRO on the TYC Race Committee! The first race started OK but the coursed was shortened halfway through. The second race turned into the "nightmare", with very little air starting from the North, then Westerly, then SE, then nearly nothing. In the end, Frederick Rajola's OLJ SPIRIT HATAMURI wins the Winter Championship and takes home the Cup! Second was Rama Massimon's JENIALE! from YCC and third MONTPRES sailed by Paolo Montedonico also from YCC.
The Italian J/80 heads next weekend to Santa Margherita along the coast near Portofino for their next regatta on February 27th. Then after that it looks like Rama Massimo's team on JENIALE! are headed to La Trinite Sur Mer, France to compete against a few thousand Frenchmen (and women) racing J/80s in the huge SPI OUEST Regatta later in March. For more J/80 Italy sailing information.