123 Stories of passion. The TAG Heuer VELAFestival Report

Italian sailing proves to be the leading sector in the recovery of boating and tourism in our country. Look at the numbers TAG Heuer VELAFestival has gathered: more than a million real and virtual visitors forEurope’s only major sailing festival dedicated to this world. The audience of visitors multiplied exponentially, and the thousands of “physical” visitors were joined by a much larger number of enthusiasts. Just like a soccer game, where those who go to the stadium are only a fraction of those who follow the event. In the pages of the May issue of the Journal of Sailing you will find the full Report, a real drunkenness of sailing and pure passion.

CULT. 24 BOATS THAT HAVE A SOUL
There are boats that have a story to tell and become icons because they mark a pivotal moment in yachting history. No matter how long their history is, what matters is what these hulls represent today. Therefore, we selected twenty-four boats starting from the Goletta America, a faithful reproduction of an 1851 design, to the Mini and brought them together on the dock at the VELAFestival. Side by side. Our goal has been to bring before your eyes the history of yachting in its most salient episodes. Each hull present had a reason for being there, and we want to tell you about it, to show you how each boat is a reflection of the spirit of the owner who so wanted and thought of it. These are the human components that give a soul to sailboats and make them CULT objects.

33 GREAT SAILORS MYTHS OF ITALIAN SAILING
They are like us, part of the same tribe even if they are famous: sailors, sailmakers, builders, designers, owners, helmsmen. They are sailing enthusiasts, they look like old friends meeting in the harbor, young adventurers eager to set out to take on the sea alone. These are the legendary sailors who brought the VELAFestival to life, characters you dream of meeting at the dock to chat or just for a handshake. Great sailors able to share their passion for the sea and sailboats with you.

27 BOATS FROM 3 TO 20 METERS. SYMBOLS OF PASSION
The emblem of the love of sailing is them, the boats. So many and so diverse were the ones that animated the VELAFestival docks. Protagonists as different as fast dinghies or solid Northern European boats, born for those who want to live aboard. Sporty and elegant cruiser-racer or comfortable models for family cruising, through catamarans and mythical ocean-going boats. Many new features made their official dockside debut in front of the general public in Genoa itself.

39 ACCESSORIES FOR NAVGATION AT ITS BEST

At VELAFestival there was truly everything a boat owner needs to optimize his or her boat: we summarize in these pages a summary of what we saw. There was the best in accessorizing: between onboard electronics, deck gear, clothing, safety, and gadgets for fun on board, the offerings were truly all-encompassing. Also present were Italy’s “top” sailmakers, ready to unveil to the public the latest technologies in laminates and membranes, and a large contingent of nautical operators to promote their services: from garaging in its most classic sense to the latest frontier of so-called “eco-refit.” From portals to go on free boating vacations to the team that follows your boat during the construction phase so that it is a perfect fit for you