News

FEDERICO PILLONI CLAIMS SECOND STEP ON THE PODIUM AND WINS THE U23 CATEGORY IN THE iQFOiL CLASS 

Porto Cervo, 29 September 2024. Today saw the conclusion of the Italian Olympic Classes Championship (CICO), an Italian Sailing Federation regatta held in Cagliari from 26 September and organised by Windsurfing Club Cagliari and the Cagliari Italian Naval League, and promoted by the Sardinian Region's Department of Tourism, Crafts and Commerce. Young Azzurra athletes Cesare Barabino, competing in the ILCA 7 class, and Federico Pilloni in the iQFOiL class, delivered outstanding performances at the event. Cesare secured first place in his class, while Freddy achieved second place overall and claimed victory in the U23 category in the iQFOiL class.

As always, the ILCA 7 Class saw a very large fleet of 61 participants take to the starting line, mainly hailing from Italy. The Young Azzurra athlete had the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest sailors at the national level, including Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini, fresh from representing Italy at the Paris Olympic Games in July. Eight races were completed over the four days of competition, with the ILCA 7 fleet managing to complete at least one race even on days of very light wind. A diverse range of weather conditions challenged the athletes on the water, demanding tactical finesse and strategic thinking in light winds, while also testing their physical endurance when a strong Mistral wind swept in on the penultimate day of the event.

Cesare got off to a promising start, finishing the first race in second place, while a complicated second day saw him cross the finish line in 38th place. Concentration was undoubtedly one of the key factors that enabled the Young Azzurra athlete to climb to the top of the rankings, notching up two second-place finishes and a third on the following day. The final day was decisive in electing the winner of the CICO 2024 for the ILCA 7 Class, and with a 7-4-14 scoreline in the final three races, Cesare was able to claim victory.

“Winning the CICO 2024 is really significant for me, I have worked very hard to keep improving and always learning new things. In sport what really counts is being able to perform at your best at the right time, and this time I succeeded. Being back on the top step of the podium makes me really happy and makes me feel a thousand other emotions that I’m still getting to grips with at the moment.” commented Cesare.

The event also got off to the best possible start for Federico Pilloni, who took two first places and a third on the first day, taking the lead in the provisional overall ranking in the iQFOiL class. Light airs meant that the scheduled races could not be completed on the second day, so a total of five races were held the following day, 28 September. This was a challenging competition for the entire fleet of 28 participants, who raced in mistral winds of 18 to 24 knots, and especially for Freddy, who also had to deal with a retirement due to a broken clew line. The results of the third day left Freddy in seventh position in the provisional overall classification, second among the Italian participants. This morning he took to his home waters and gave it his all in the four slalom races held, climbing to finish on the second step of the podium in the Italian Olympic Class Championship and in first place among the U23s. 

“I am absolutely satisfied with my result here at the CICO 2024. It was a perfect opportunity to get a taster ahead of the European Championships taking place here in Cagliari from 6 October, as there were in many foreign athletes competing and the level was very high. I got excellent feedback during the event on the aspects I have been working on in view of competing in a senior fleet, from the starts to my upwind speed. I’m look forward with confidence to the next competition.” commented Federico Pilloni.

The next event on the calendar for Federico Pilloni will be the iQFOiL Senior European Championship to be held in less than a week in Cagliari, from 6 to 11 October.

The YCCS congratulates the Young Azzurra athletes on their excellent results.