A weekend…to the full J!

A weekend in the sign of the J class: in Riva del Garda the J70 European (and National) Championship was staged, organized by Fraglia Vela Riva, with no less than 33 boats in the water from 8 nations; at the Marina di Loano, on the other hand, the J80 Italian Championship was held, with 12 boats at the start.

EUROPEAN J70
Nine trials, lots of entertainment in Riva del Garda. Winning the European title, between hour and peler, was Carlo Alberini aboard Calvi Network, who also won the national title in return. His leadership was never in question, although toward the end of the event the New Territories team led by Spaniard Hugo Rocha (Olympic bronze medalist in Atlanta ’96) had come dangerously close. But the crew flying the colors of the Pesaro Sailing Company, consisting of Alberini, Branko Brcin, Irene Bezzi and Sergio Blosi (pictured) did not let themselves be intimidated and finished in style by winning the last race. Good Uji of the Marinelli-Casale pair, third overall. Among the Corinthians (i.e., crews composed of non-professionals) the victory went to the British of Baby J (owner Charlie Esse) ahead of the compatriots of Jawbreaker (David Atkinson): good bronze for Andrea Magni (CNAM Alassio) on “I Thought Worse.”

ITALIAN J80

At Marina di Loano the Italian sailing “creme” met for the Italian J80 Championship: just look at the final podium to understand the level. Giacomo Loro Piana’s boat with Francesco Ivaldi as tactician won after 7 tightly fought races, followed (on equal points) by Michele Galli’s boat (tactician Francesco De Angelis) and, again on the same score, Edoardo Lupi’s team with Lorenzo Bressani as tactician. Alberto Signorini (together with Tommaso Chieffi) finished in fourth place while class specialist, multiple Italian champion Massimo Rama (tactician Attilio Coppa), had to settle for fifth place.