(Rome, Italy)- Last weekend, the weather across the Italian peninsula
was highly variable, with some J/24 fleets enjoying great racing, while
others (like in Rome) could not sail due to severe weather.
Nevertheless, the winter championship series in several fleets had
enthusiastic participation, despite the cool weather.Cervia (Fleet Romagna)
After two races over the weekend, Francesca Focardi Antonelli’s KISMET is leading the second stage of the Winter Championship- IX Memorial Stefano Pirini- a traditional event that is sailed off the beach in Milano Marittima and hosted by the Nautical Club Amici della Vela (http://www.circolonauticocervia.it). A dozen teams are participating but no one can seem to match KISMET’s speed and tactics, now leading with a 2-1-1 for 4 pts total. They are followed by Marco Maccaferri’s KERMESSE in second place with 6 pts and Viscardo Brusori (owner) and Massimo Frigerio’s (skipper) MAGICAL FAIRY in third place with 10 pts. Antonelli explained, “we were happy to sail two races in about 20 kts of breeze, it was exciting, close racing!”
TarantoThe Sailing Club Ondabuena hosted the second and final day of the Championship VIII for the Taranto J/24 fleet.
"Sunday was characterized by an oscillating wind between 140 and 170 degrees. The day started at 18 kts of breeze, but gradually decreased all day down to 6 kts for the final races,” explained Bari Marcello Bellacicca, owner MARBEA. “For the first beat of the first race, there was a lot of indecision as to which headsail to choose. Most opted for the jib. But, by the fir run, everyone chose to change over to the genoa for the second upwind leg. In the first race, Thomas De Bellis Vitti’s FIVE FOR FIGHTING simply sailed away from the fleet. Sandro Negro’s DOCTOR J was second place and we were third on MARBEA.”
At the start of the second race, there was a disastrous collision between DOCTOR J and Ferdinand Capobianco’s LITTLE DEVIL. As a result, both boats had to withdraw from racing because of the damages! The second and third races were characterized by a lot of wind shifts, with FIVE FOR FIGHTING winning both of them.
"It was a beautiful day that allowed us to always start well and take home three wins out of three,” commented a happy Tommaso De Bellis Vitti. With five victories in six races for the series, FIVE FOR FIGHTING won the regatta quite easily. Their crew was comprised of Vitti, Andrea Airò, Raffo Perrini, Gabriele Gorgons and Marco Raeli. Taking the silver was MARBEA, with crew of Marcello Bellacicca, Toni Macina, Franz Impellizzeri, Marco Di Palo and Gianni Del Vecchio. Despite the collision, taking third was Sandro Negro’s DOCTOR J! For more Italian J/24 sailing information
|
