Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, Alberto Riva, Giancarlo Pedote, Checco Bruni, Enrico Chieffi and Antonio Squizzato. These are the finalists of the award ‘sailor of the year‘which will be assigned on 6 June at Villa Miani in Rome.
Roger Tita 30 years from Rovereto in Trentino e Caterina Banti 34 years old, Roman, they are the golden couple of Italian sailing: Olympic champions in Tokyo 2020 brought back to Italy a gold medal in sailing (Nacra 17 class) that had been missing since Sydney 2000 (Alessandra Sensini Mistral class). The blue couple dominated the qualifying regattas, arriving at the Medal Race already with the certainty of the silver medal. The gold came at the end of a final regatta controlled with authority by the two Italian athletes.
Alberto Riva, Milanese, born in 1992, graduated in physical engineering specializing in nanotechnologies, he sailed with some of the best known Italian navigators (Giovanni Soldini, Andrea Fantini, Ambrogio Beccaria) and, as an engineer, carries out data analysis for racing teams (Azzurra TP52) and follows research and development of new electronic devices for navigation. In 2021 he crossed the line in second position in the Mini-Transat. Today Alberto together with his main Sponsor EdiliziAcrobatica is looking for partners for a new Class 40 project.
Giancarlo Pedote represented Italy at the Vendée Globe 2020/21, a solo tour of the world without stopover and without assistance, concluding after 80 days and 28,490 miles of navigation, on January 28, 2021 in eighth position, just 19 hours from the winner. Giancarlo is the first Italian to obtain this result on a regatta held every 4 years and which represents the most extreme test of offshore sailing. Checco Bruni is one of the most complete, eclectic and titled Italian sailors in activity: in 30 years of sporting career he has participated in three Olympics and has to his credit 7 World, 5 European and 15 National titles in various classes. His next one will be his sixth America’s Cup. Helmsman of Luna Rossa in Auckland in 2021 together with Jimmy Spithill, he won the PRADA Cup.
Enrico Chieffi, 59 years old and Nando Colaninno 55 years old: both protagonists of a long and successful competitive career including world titles, America’s Cup and participation in the Olympics: in 2021 they won the Italian and European Championship in the Star class. Antonio Squizzato, 48, in 2021 became world vice-champion in the parasailing category of the 2.4mR class in Warnemünde in Germany, in an event that saw the participation of 33 competitors from 10 countries.
These are the finalists of the award ‘Boat of the Year‘.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli is the Italian team that represents the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in the challenge to the 37th edition of the America’s Cup to be held in Barcelona in September and October 2024. In its sixth participation, it has already won the Challenger selection regattas in two editions . In the final match of the 36th America’s Cup Luna Rossa recorded the best score of an Italian challenger in the history of the trophy. ARCA SGR 100 ‘: a 2021 full of successes for the Maxi 100 feet of the Fast and Furio Sailing Team: in chronological order these are the seven’ line honors’: the 151 Miglia, the Giraglia Rolex Cup, the Palermo – Montecarlo, the Trieste – S. Giovanni – Trieste, the Portopiccolo Maxi Race, the Barcolana and, last but not least, the Veleziana. In addition to the title of Champion of the first edition of the Maxi Yacht Adriatic Series. On board a crew of champions, led by Furio Benussi, skipper of ARCA SGR.
Nacira 69, project by Axel de Beaufort and Guillaume Verdier, created by Vismara Marine Concept for the shipowners Diego di San Giuliano and Federico Marchi, won the line honors and overall victory in the regatta class at ARC 2021, a transatlantic regatta with 141 entries from 38 nations, which left Las Palmas (Grand Canaria) on Sunday 21 November and ended in Rodney Bay, Santa Lucia, after 11 days and 18 hours of navigation and 3,188 miles traveled. An exceptional result of great sporting and team value. On board together with the owners, the skipper Federico Dosso and crew Ambrogio Beccaria, Axel de Beaufort, Matteo Grassi, Edoardo Mazzucco, Matteo Tognetti and Bernardo Zin.
Finally, the finalists of the award ‘owner of the year‘.
Enzo de Blasio: with his Italia Yachts 11.98 Scugnizza, in 2021 De Blasio and his crew won the title of European and Italian ORC Champions. At the end of an exceptional season, Enzo De Blasio also received the UVAI Shipowner of the Year Award.
Andrea Racchelli: The helmsman owner of the Melges 24 Altea won the Melges 24 European championship held in September 2021 in Portoroz (Slovenia) with 40 boats registered from 14 nations. Also in 2021, Racchelli also won the Italian title of the class.
Claudia Rossi, 28, from Ancona, in September 2021 she won the Double Mix Offshore World Championship, paired with Pietro D’Alì, aboard a foiling monohull Figaro 3. A three-stage regatta from Bari to Venice, which saw the ten best crews in international offshore sailing compete for the world title. A week later, the Italian title of the J70 class also arrived at Punta Ala for the new world champion.
Source-www.adnkronos.com