Porto Cervo, 8 July 2022. The 19th edition of the Coppa Europa Smeralda 888 officially kicks off today, an event that is part of the annual circuit of the Smeralda 888 Class, and is scheduled to run through Sunday, 10 July.

Back to defend his victory from last year is Francesco Bauman on Botta Dritta. The six other teams competing in this edition of the Coppa Europea are: Ange Transparent III - Walter Pizzoli; Bedà - Timifey Sukhotin, winner in 2020; Black Star - Paolo Rotelli; Monaco Plaisir/Show Lapin - Blandine Medecin; Millenium Falcon - Marco Favale, and Vamos Mi Amor, owned by Charles De Bourbon.

Racing around the marks will begin this afternoon, with a maximum of three races per day aboard the Smeralda 888 one-design boats. The class was commissioned from yacht designer German Frers in 1991 by the YCCS and is currently based at the Yacht Club Monaco.

Following a briefing and welcome lunch for all participants on the Azzurra Terrace, the appointment is at 2.30 p.m. on the regatta course off Porto Cervo for the first starting signal. The weather forecast gives a north-easterly breeze wind of 8 to 10 knots.

Updates on racing will be published on the YCCS Instagram channel.