The Italian Sailing League is born!

In the Sala Giunta of CONI, the first meeting of the Italian Sailing League was held in Rome, an association that aims to bring together in a sports league a substantial number of sailing clubs from all areas of Italy, in full compliance with CONI’s Sports Principles, the IVF Statute and its Regulations.

WARM PARTICIPATION
The panel discussion opened with a presentation by LIV President Roberto Emanuele de Felice of the guidelines on which this partnership between Circles will be based, aimed at developing a club racing format that is enjoying great success in Europe, the Sailing Champions League. More than 40 people attended the league meeting, among Presidents, Sports Directors and Delegates of sailing clubs from Garda to Sicily and from Trieste to San Remo, each of whom enthusiastically welcomed the initiative promoted by the Circolo Canottieri Aniene of Rome and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia of Naples.

HOW DOES THE “CHAMPIONSHIP” OF CIRCLES WORK?
Thanks to the support of important sponsors, Alessandro Maria Rinaldi, LIV board member, announced that the qualifying regatta to select the first two clubs to participate in the final phase of the European Sailing Champions League, which this year will be organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in the waters of Porto Cervo from September 18 to 20, can be promoted. A regatta, the qualifying one, for which Michele Fortunato, Councilor of the LIV, has already collected the availability of several sailing clubs present, first among them his RYCC Savoia. Qualify the two Sailing Clubs that will participate in the Sailing Champions League through a series of regattas with an original format, create a sports ranking of the Sailing Clubs, including with a Gold League and a Silver League, create a local sports movement among the various clubs involved, all with clear rules for all, with identical boats even in tuning, equal conditions and low cost, these are the aims and principles of the Italian Sailing League.

THE SUCCESS OF THE FORMAT IN EUROPE
Fourteen National Leagues have already been formed in Europe, following the success of the German League, which associated 38 sports clubs divided into two divisions. Last year the first Sailing Champions League event was held in Copenhagen with 23 European countries represented by their most prestigious clubs. “The Italian Sailing League is a project that places the Club as such at its center,” are the words of LIV President Roberto Emanuele de Felice, “that exalts its guidon and puts it in sporting competition with other Clubs. These elements constitute an irresistible temptation for any sports team, and that is why the many Sailing Clubs participating in the first meeting in Rome showed an involvement, enthusiasm and adherence that truly exceeded all expectations.”