Audi Italian Sailing League final concludes after three intense days

Porto Cervo, Italy. 30 September 2018. With 15 flights and 45 races completed, Circolo della Vela Bari claimed the title of Italian National Club Champion. Second and third on the podium steps were teams representing Aeronautica Militare and Società Canottieri Garda Salò respectively. The final event of the Italian Sailing League was organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Audi.

Today’s racing was characterised by a light north-easterly breeze in which nine races were held to complete the 15th flight. With ten victories out of 15 races run, Circolo della Vela Bari – composed of Simone Ferrarese (captain and helmsman) Valerio Galati, Corrado Capece-Minutolo and Leonardo Dinelli – took first place in the classification to bring home the title of National Club Champion 2018. Eight points behind, in second place, was the Aeronautica Militare team (Giancarlo Simeoli – captain, Niccolò Bertola - helmsman, Marco Balbi, Giovanni Bannetta) followed by the crew representing Società Canottieri Garda Salò (Diego Franchini – captain, Carlo Fracassoli – helmsman, Pietro Corbucci, Mauro Spagnoli), in third.

 “The Circolo della Vela Bari is the new Italian champion of the Italian Sailing League (Lega Italiana Vela),” commented helmsman Simone Ferrarese, “and we are really happy. I would like to thank the team, Valerio, Corrado and Leonardo, who together with me gave it their all, just as they did a month ago in St Moritz, where we also managed to win the SAILING Champions League international championship. Who knows how it will go next year, we can’t wait to come back!”

The final 2018 classification, which is also valid as a qualifier for the SAILING Champions League championship, sees Yacht Club Gaeta (Ferdinando Colaninno – captain, Federico Colaninno – helmsman, Luca Baldino, Gaia Bergonzini), in fourth place and qualifying together with the top three teams for the international regattas.

YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo declared: “We are pleased to conclude the YCCS sporting season with the national final of the Italian Sailing League, three intense days with a format that brought us exciting racing. I would like to thank the Italian Sailing League and our partner Audi, not only for their collaboration in this great event but also for their support of our One Ocean initiative, promoting the principles of the Charta Smeralda. My thanks also go to the Race Committee, the Jury, the Umpires, to the YCCS staff and all the teams that participated in these days of sport and Club spirit. “

"It was a challenging day,” commented Italian Sailing League President Roberto Emanuele de Felice, “the teams competing showed that they are the best in Italy. The fast and dynamic formula of the races calls for concentration and teamwork, qualities that the Clubs demonstrated brilliantly. The performance of Circolo della Vela Bari, winning 10 times out of 15, was particularly commendable. The collaboration with the YCCS, whose efficiency allowed such a large number of races to be completed, has proved once again to be a winning one with great synergy between the staff at sea and ashore.”

“The Italian Sailing League,” said Francesco Ettore, FIV President, “is an important circuit that the Federation supported from the beginning and which we continue to support since we are firmly convinced that it is an important opportunity both for Clubs and sailors. The format is the right one, fast and fun, in line with the new way of sailing outside of Olympic classes. Here in Porto Cervo we have experienced intense days of excellent sailing, with top teams, amongst whom I see great enthusiasm for this format. Thanks must go to the Italian Sailing League for the work they are doing, including with our youth, who represent the future of sailing and of our Clubs.”

This event concludes a busy sporting season for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda which organised 15 regattas in 2018.

Quantum Sails and Garmin Marine are Technical Partners of the event.

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