J/24 Italy Spring Report

(Rome, Italy)- The J/24 fleets around the Italian peninsula all ended up closing out their winter series and are commencing their spring events that dot the coastline  around the Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea, and the interior lakes up north on the Swiss border.  Here are the latest reports from some of those fleets.

Lario Report
With a brace of victories in the six races completed over the weekend, Ruggero Spreafico’s DEJA VU took the final stage and won the Lario Winter Series Championship.

"Over the weekend, with the splendid organization of the Navy League of Mandello, we give thanks to all the competitors for the six races carried out between Saturday and Sunday,” explained Chief of the Lario J/24 fleet- Mauro del Lario Benfatto.  “DEJA VU outsailed her fierce competition from ITA 352 PILGRIM that took second place and also over Marco Stefanoni’s KONG GRIFFIN in third place.  Fourth for the series was Sergio Agostoni’s ITA 469 BRUSCHETTA and fifth went to Giuseppe Perego’s ITA 458 BELFAGOR.  Next is the City of Valmadrera Cup that will be sailed on April 8th and 9th.”

Taranto Report
Closing with a flourish, the FIVE FOR FIGHTING team (sailed by Tommaso De Bellis Vitti, Elia Masi, Andrea Airò) won the final, seventeenth race of the City of Taranto’s Winter Series.

As a result, the final ranking of the FFF team was just 14 pts net, essentially counting all 1st places.  They were followed by the ITA 427 JEBEDEE crew of Luca Gaglione, Nino Soriano, Remo Soriano, Vittorio Renzi, Silvio Tullo and Daniele Sicari that had a total of 24 pts- a good distance behind their leader.  Taking third for the series was ITA 406 DOCTOR J sailed by Sandro Negro from CN L'Approdo Porto Cesareo with a total of 38 pts net. In fourth and fifth place, were ITA 301 LITTLE DEVIL sailed by Ferdinand Capobianco and ENG 450 MARBEA sailed by Marcello Bellacicca and Tony Macina, respectively.

Portoferraio Report
BE BEEF, sailed by Henry Gambelunghe (Porto Azzurro Sailing Club), won the second edition of the Elbe Winter Cup, the offshore racing championship organized by the Yacht Club Portoferraio.

"After the conclusion of the last race of the Elbe Winter Cup, the participating boats seemed still in the race while under sail back down to the harbor, parading in front of so many citizens who were enjoying the boardwalk and the spring-time weather,” commented the Commodore of YC Portoferraio.  “We have once again proved that Elba sailing is alive, has great potential for growth, and can be a driver for our 365 day tourist season. Thanks to the J/24 sailors, the Championship has amused everyone, motivated people to come down to the waterfront, see new faces involved, and give everyone a wonderful savory Sunday afternoon stroll along the waterfront to view the pretty J/24s and their spinnakers- it is truly colorful poetry in motion as they majestically passed by us on the watefront!”

On the final day, characterized by summer-like conditions, the sirocco winds of between 6-8 kts saw the fleet fight hard for clean air to get to the windward mark offshore (normally, a downwind run!).  When they rounded the mark, the fleet set their spinnakers and headed back to the finish line in a beautiful procession.

In the evening, the final awards party included the beautiful music of "Ru'lot" group, a fabulous pasta buffet, and delicious local wines and cheeses. The first three teams won gorgeous ceramic awards made by "Ceramics on the Water" by Laura Valleri, plus silver plates offered by the jeweler Stefano Giannini.
For more Italian J/24 sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.