European offshore doubles: is this the beginning of a new Olympic story? Italy cheers Rossi-Mason

Nine crews representing nine nations. Is this the beginning of a new Olympic story? It’s still too early to tell, but certainly the European Mixed Offshore Doubles Championship on the Luka 30, the new Olympic class for Paris 2024, offers several interesting insights. The first directly concerns our sailing, as the event takes place in Italy, in Genoa.

The nine Luka 30 are indeed moored at the Old Port of the Ligurian capital and intrigue tourists and the many passersby, but also attracting the interest of racing and Olympic class enthusiasts will be the event’s entry list representing Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands and Spain.

Many indeed are the “stars,” starting with Iker Martinez, Olympic medalist and veteran of world tours, who will pair with Natalia Via Dufresne. For France, Marie Riou, already with Dongfend at the Volvo Ocean Race and a successful Olympic campaign behind her in Nacra 17, will crew with Benjamin Schwartz, who has a record-breaking maxi Spindrift attempt at Trophee Jules Verne behind her. Also worth keeping an eye on is the British pair of Dee Caffari, also a veteran of ocean racing, and James Harayda.

Italy will be in the water with Claudia Rossi and Matteo Mason. Already crewed together in so many J/70 seasons, Claudia Rossi attempts a new Olympic path after a few races in 49er FX and does so with a sailor like Mason with many miles behind him in the world of one-designs and offshore. They can be a pair definitely to watch along this league.

The highlight of the program on the water will include an offshore trial among the rocks and islands of the upper Tyrrhenian Sea, on the course: Genoa – La Giraglia – Gorgona Island – Pianosa Island – Meloria Shoals – Tinetto – Genoa, modifiable according to weather conditions, for a total of 330 miles.

THE BOAT.

The Luka 30 is a boat that has been very divisive. It is a 10-meter fast cruising cabin cruiser conceived by Ukrainian Rodion Luka and designed and built in Slovenia by Andrej Justin, who is known for designing and building RC 44 circuit boats that have the prerogative of being able to be “disassembled and reassembled” with ease to be shipped around the world for stages of the circuit of the same name. The L30 also has this prerogative; it is the largest boat that can be wheeled with an ordinary car.

A boat too cruise and partly outdated as a cone according to critics. A One Design that is simple to conduct and not overly expensive according to its supporters. It will probably not be the best boat on the market to become Olympic class, but at this point the ball is in the sailors’ court and their ability to get 100 percent out of this craft.

THE PROGRAM.

1/9: Inshore regatta with media on board
2-5/9: – Offshore Regatta MM EMOEC 2020
– Virtual Regatta live on the big screen in the village
3/9: Radio-controlled sailboat regatta
5/9: MM EMOEC 2020 Award Ceremony
6/9: Charity Dinner in aid of AIRC at the Yacht Club Italiano

AT THE VILLAGE
– Stands of the Navy, Port Authority, AIRC
– “Sail for Research” with AIRC, sailing experiences for charity
– Introduction to sailing with the Mandraccio Sailing Club
– Guided tours on the harbormaster’s boat
– Genoa’s Lantern lights up in Pink for AIRC (6/9)

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