Maxi Jena wins the Veleziana and the Venice Hospitality Challenge. All results
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A weekend of great sailing in Venice, with one big star. Maxi Jena helmed by Mitja Kosmina, winner of both the Veleziana and the Venice Hospitality Challenge. Yacht Club Hannibal’s maxi thus “consoles” itself from its second place finish at the Barcolana behind Alfa Romeo Shockwave. But let’s see what happened in detail.
SAILING 2016
Maxi Jena of the Hannibal Yacht Club led by Mitja Kosmina grants an encore and wins the 2016 Veleziana. A race strongly characterized by the weather conditions with absolute absence of wind and which allowed only 7 boats out of the 187 registered and the 180 starters to arrive at the finish line placed in St. Mark’s Basin in front of the historical headquarters of the Compagnia della Vela.
Maxi Jena did not have a happy start and on entering the Lagoon after passing through the San Nicolò inlet had Pendragon, the maxi yacht of the Società Triestina della Vela led by Trieste skipper Lorenzo Bodini, in front. It took, however, only a few gusts of wind shortly after the first St. Andrew’s gate for Maxi Jena to recover the terno lost at the start and overtake Pendragon heeled in the meantime by a surprising Porto Piccolo the 16-meter led by Alberto Bolzan. 2 hours 23 minutes and 31 seconds was the final time Maxi Jena covered the course.
“Winning in Venice is always a special thrill, and to do it under difficult conditions like today’s is even better. – comments Mitja Kosmina skipper of Maxi Jena – We did not have a brilliant start but managed to take advantage of that trickle of wind coming into the Lagoon that allowed us to gain that small lead to get ahead of Pedragon in San Marco. The spectacle of sailing needs races like this, full of fans and also good sailors.”
“We got off to a good start by taking the lead in the race, which we held by passing the first gate. – adds Pendragon’s local tactician Giovanni Boem – Then light wind conditions more favorable to Maxi Jena penalized us but did not prevent us from still finishing on the second step of the podium in the splendid finish in St. Mark’s Basin even if with some apprehension right in front of St. Mark’s Square where Porto Piccolo had come dangerously close.”
For Sailing Company President Ugo Campaner however, a weekend of great sport and sailing to remember. “Weather and wind unfortunately did not smile on us but Veleziana confirmed that it is a growing event that attracts boats from all over Italy. It is true that the race was missing, the wind did not allow us to enjoy the spectacle that everyone expected but the crews at sea still knew how to have fun and socialize. Thanks go to all those who have made this event possible every year for the past nine years, first and foremost the Fiv Zonale, the sponsors and the many volunteers, who are indispensable.”
Unfortunate, finally, the Veleziana 2016 for a 57-year-old man from Ancona who was bruised in the starting stages. Promptly rescued by one of the sanitarians fielded by the organization, he was stabilized and then transported by an 118 ambulance to the Civil Hospital where he underwent X-ray examinations.
VENICE HOSPITALITY CHALLENGE
On Saturday, however, the third edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge concluded., a regatta organized by Yacht Club Venezia with the support of Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Marina Yachting, Marina Sant’Elena and Moët & Chandon, whose awards ceremony was held today in the presence of Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro.
Venice Hospitality Challenge, the only regatta that brings maxi yachts to compete in a city circuit, hence the name of the city’s sailing grand prix, saw ten teams compete from St. Mark’s basin to the Lido, then to the Giudecca and back to St. Mark’s: eight representing luxury Venetian hotels, a ninth boat for the Hotel Falisia in Porto Piccolo, and the Moro di Venezia representing the lagoon city. The victory again went to New Maxi Jena, helmed this year by Mitja Kosmina for The Gritti Palace.
In second place was Adriatic Europa, with Dusan Puh for Hotel Danieli.
Third placed Pendragon VI, with Lorenzo Bodini for Hilton Molino Stucky, on the podium since the first edition.
The light wind immediately makes it clear that the race will require great technique and good knowledge of the currents that characterize the basin. The first start procedure will be followed by the first repeater because much of the fleet was in ocs position. Instead, the second start turns out to be a good one, but the Moor of Venice mistimes and crosses the line early. Reported ocs by the committee, he has to re-enter compromising the rest of the race.
Maxi Jena broke away from the group early on and began to stretch out on the pursuers. Halfway up the first windward leg, the positions are already well defined and the first mark sees the first three in the order that will later be the order of arrival: Jena leads with a gap, followed by Adriatic Europa and Pendragon, which, having remained in the upwind group at the start, thanks to a series of good maneuvers and tactical choices reaches and maintains third position to the finish line.
“It’s a very technical regatta, we saw that even during the first start. The second time we took the right measurements and came out of the group right away. A spectacular regatta here in Venice”-said Mitja Kosmina, helmsman of Nuovo Maxi Jena, during the award ceremony and the presentation of the doge’s hat made in a unique copy by Seguso Vetri d’Arte glassworks.
“This year I wanted to dedicate this edition to my city,” says Mirko Sguario, president of Yacht Club Venezia, “by adding to its traditional name, Venice Hospitality Challenge, the Grand Prix of the City of Venice. The Principality of Monaco is home to the most impressive Formula 1 circuit within the city course, we the most beautiful circuit of the Formula 1 of Sailing. If our city can now boast of such an important event it owes it to these prestigious accommodations, our best expression of luxury and hospitality, our best calling card for the millions of tourists and others who come each year to admire the timeless beauty that only this city can offer.” continued Sguario, thanking all the hotels involved with this year’s new entry, the Falisia in Porto Piccolo, the Maritime Authorities for their invaluable support, especially Commander Massimo Fabbri of the Morosini Naval College, Assicurazioni Generali, Marina Yachting, Moët & Chandon, Gianluca Seguso of Seguso Vetri D’Arte, Davide Calderan President of Panfido, Fabio Sacco of Alilaguna, Venice Yacht Pier, and Circolo Velico il Portodimare.
Big names in sailing participated in this year’s edition: Furio Benussi, on Weddel for Hotel Ca’Sagredo, Mauro Pelaschier, on Ancilla Domini for JW Marriott, Lorenzo Bodini, on Pendragon VI for Hilton Molino Stucky, Dusan Puh, on Adriatic Europa for Hotel Danieli, Paolo Montefusco, on Idrusa for The Westin Europa Regina, Zeljko Perovic Huck, on Shining Umag Umag for SINA Centurion Palace, Alberto Leghissa, on Any Wave for Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Alberto Bolzan, on Falisia Porto Piccolo for Falisia Resort, and Claudio Carraro for Moro di Venezia representing the city.
The organization made an appointment for next year, for the fourth edition of the Venice City Sailing Grand Prix.
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