And you, are you ready for the VELA Cup on May 9?

For us, VELAFestival is an extension of the Sailing Newspaper that leaves the confines of paper and the Web to become a physical reality. That is why we are working on it and updating you, as if we were having an editorial meeting with you. And so it seems only fair to give you the first updates on what we are preparing for you. First of all, we urge you: are you ready to try your hand at the VELA Cup, the big TAG Heuer VELAFestival sailing event in Tigullio scheduled for Saturday, May 9? Competitive, but not overly so, sailing in the beautiful Gulf of Tigullio: not the usual regatta reserved for experienced crews. They will also be there, but in a separate ranking. And there will be rankings and prizes for all kinds of boats, from dinghies (free entry!) to vintage boats and multihulls.

REGISTER!
You can already sign up by clicking HERE. You can participate with your own boat (mooring in Santa Margherita Ligure will be reserved for you, subject to availability, berths in the docks in front of the waterfront at special prices) or you can rent it(HERE is the list of charter operators with agreements).

WHAT IS THE VELA CUP
The VELA Cup is innovative regatta/sailing open to all sizes and shapes of boats, with no age restrictions, no bureaucracy or technical complications, with rankings based on length and “almost for everyone” prizes. Everyone can participate. The more relaxed “white sails”-without spi and gennaker-with a reserved ranking, and the more fierce crews who want to compete by taking advantage of the full potential of the boat and crew capabilities. It takes place on Saturday, May 9 in the setting of the beautiful Tigullio Gulf, passing in front of Portofino with start and finish in front of the shores of Santa Margherita. The VELACup then moves, once the regatta is over, to the spaces of the VELAFestival and culminates in a big party at the dock and event/Hospitality space with an awards ceremony with prizes for “almost everyone,” a show and a cocktail reception.

THE PATH.
The course of the VELA Cup is coastal, in the setting of the beautiful Gulf of Tigullio, starting and finishing in front of the shores of Santa Margherita and passing in front of Portofino. Departure, on May 9 in the morning, takes place in front of the “Santa” harbor, continue to the buoy in front of the Gulf of Portofino, and head to the end of the Gulf of Tigullio, at Sestri Levante, and then return to Santa Margherita, for a total of 18 miles. Depending on the wind direction, the route can be reversed and shortened in case of “little wind.” The Gulf of Tigullio is one of the most fascinating and historically charged stretches of the Ligurian coast. This is where, in the second half of the 1800s, leudi and cargo boats competed in speed before officially entering service on their assigned routes. And they sailed white sails, meaning only with mainsail and genoa, no gennaker or spi. It is to revive this tradition, that even VELA Cup participants in the “cruising class” will not use “balloon sails,” but will have to take advantage of every gust to prove they are the best.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
All boats and multihulls without age limitation, without using the rating certificate (IRC/ORC/CIM) from 3 meters and up with division by length overall, in two categories, “cruising class” (white sails) and “racing class” (spi, gennaker, etc.), with the following rankings:

– overall “overall” ranking for all boats (excluding multihulls)
– overall ranking “cruising class” (white sails/ excluding multihulls)
– overall ranking “regatta class” (spi, gennaker, etc./ excluding multihulls)

Special rankings will also be drawn up for the following categories:

– Vintage boats (construction before 1950 with any construction material)
– Classic boats (construction before 1975 with any construction material)
– Open boats (without cabin, excluding multihulls)
– Monotypes (same model from a single site)
– multihulls

Rankings are compiled in real time may be divided into divisions by homogeneous overall lengths (declared by the yard). Those registering in “cruising class” must sail “White Sails” and that is with only mainsail and genoa/jib. Those who register in “regatta class” can use any sail (spi, gennaker, code 0, etc.).