(Cervia, Romagna, Italy)- After the notoriously fickle northern
Adriatic Sea served up bad weather the previous week (rough seas and
high waves), and great racing the following weekend. It was a concern
the final weekend of the eastern Italy fleet fall championship might be
at risk to the fast-moving weather systems that start to fly across
Europe in the fall. On the previous weekend, a perfect day marked by sun, fresh Mistral (12-14 knots) and calm seas allowed the twelve J/24s to sail three excellent races. At the end of the day, victory went to the Romagnan team on CAPTAIN NEMO, sailed by Dominic Bright, Richard Ancarani, Aurelio and Claudio Comporesi Menghi- all members of the Sailing Club Ravenna.
However, by the last installment of this event, the standings would change dramatically. After nine races as counters for the entire championship series, it was Ruggero Sperafico's team on VILJA that wins the XXXVII Winter Championship Interlaghi, the seventh and final leg of the Italian Circolo J/24. Second goes to a Pierluigi Puthod on SPLENDIDA, suffering from a DSQ in race 7 and a 19th in race 9 to lose the championship by three points! Tied with them, but losing the tie-breaker was was Francesco Bertone sailing JJ ExtraLarge-- ugh, more agony for the top three. Then, fourth was Pietro Diamanti skippering JAMAICA only two points back and rounding out the top five was Fabio Di Rossi on VALHALLA only two points further back!! "If only", as they say at the pub afterwards after a few pints of Peroni's Nastro Azzuro! For more J/24 Cervia Winter Series sailing information.
