Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

Alessandra Sensini leaves Azzurra

Porto Cervo, 14th January 2010. It is with regret that Azzurra sailing team announces the decision of Team Manager, Olympic Medallist Alessandra Sensini to leave the consortium in order to prepare for her 2012 Olympic campaign. In a mutually agreed move, Alessandra will give up her role in order to concentrate fully on training for the London event. Alessandra leaves Azzurra following the team’s victory in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta in Nice in November 2009.
“Alessandra is an extraordinary athlete and a wonderful person who contributed greatly to our debut success in Nice,” commented Azzurra President Riccardo Bonadeo. “however, we must respect her decision. Perhaps it is just too soon for her to give up competing.”
Giovanni Maspero, Team Principal of Azzurra and the man who brought Sensini to the project agreed stating: “It’s sad for us but we understand that it is hard for an athlete to leave competition. I thank Alessandra for everything she brought to this team and I wish her all the best for her upcoming sporting commitments.”
Alessandra Sensini explained her motivation: “Unfortunately, if I want to compete at my best in the next Olympics in London must be totally focused. I was very excited about the Azzurra project and it was a pleasure to be part of the birth of a new all-Italian sporting initiative with such a prestigious name. Perhaps I am not ready for a desk job yet, I love the sea and competing too much and for the time being I want to sail, and maybe win. I wish my former teammates success in the coming season.”

About Azzurra
Italy’s participation in the America’s Cup began more than 28 years ago when in 1981 H.H. the Aga Khan and Gianni Agnelli presented the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s challenge for the America’s Cup to the New York Yacht Club. Azzurra’s campaign was a success: she reached the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup and marked the start of a new era for Italy in the America’s Cup and international yachting.

Thirty years on and the philosophy remains the same: Azzurra returns to global competitive sailing with the conviction of being worthy of participating, with a modern and professional team, in some of the world’s most important sporting events. Azzurra won the Louis Vuitton Trophy, Nice on her first outing in November 2009 and will compete in the Louis Vuitton Trophy, Auckland in March 2010.

Azzurra Press Office
Tel +39 0789 902200
Cell +39 3356329999
Fax +39 0789 91213
pressoffice@azzurra.it
www.azzurra.it

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