The second phase of the poll to select candidates for TAG Heuer 2016 Sailor of the Year was also a success, with over 9,000 votes on our website.
CHECK OUT HOW THE SURVEY WENT HERE
Added to those of the first round, they come close to 20,000, demonstrating the popularity the prize, awarded since 1991, enjoys in the Italian sailing scene. To the side you will find the rankings of the “Magnificent 25” remaining in the competition, complete with the number of votes: you chose them, and now your opinion will still matter. The jury that will choose the five finalist candidates for the Sailor of the Year (by the way, you can meet them on Friday, May 6, at the VELAFestival in Santa Margherita, during the Evening of Champions, in which the winner will be revealed) will also take into account your preferences expressed during the third phase (March 31-April 14).
THE STRENGTH OF THE “SOCIAL GENERATION”
Looking at the ranking above, we can make a few considerations: first of all, we take note of the large court of admirers that Roberto Tomasini Grinover, owner of the successful Robertissima series of boats, has been able to build, to the sound of results. But above all, of the many fans ofEdoardo Ferraro and Francesco Orlando, the two young 420 champions who won the Under-17 rainbow title in Japan: 1,100 votes, garnered by hammering them on social media. After all, who better to embody the “social generation” than teenagers? Not surprisingly, the ranking has many young people in the top spots: optimist Riccardo Sepe, foiling specialists Matteo Pilati and Francesco Rubagotti, and Hobie Cat performers Alessandro Cesarini and Diana Rogge. As well as 470ists Giacomo Ferrari and Giulio Calabrò and the very strong optimist Gaia Bergonzini.
MINISTS, BOATS AND TACTICIANS IN THE TOP TEN
Great credit was given to Ambrogio Beccaria Balduzzi, Italian Mini 6.50 Series Champion, and his particular story: he went to retrieve a wrecked Mini in Portugal, repaired it by sweating tears and blood making it competitive, eventually winning the national title. Also in the top ten is the 1976 Hallberg Rassy 41 Gianin VI, two-time Giraglia winner Duccio Colombi, key man behind the successes of Giuseppe Giuffré’s Low Noise II (also overvoted, in tenth place).
A VERITABLE PARTERRE DE ROIS
Scrolling down the ranking then we meet Stefano Chiarotti and Luca Domenici, two worthy owners: the former won the Italian Offshore X2 Champion title, the latter triumphed at the European J/70 Championship. Filippo Vincis (silver at the European Under 16 O’pen BIC) follows ahead of Vasco Vascotto: the Muggiano sailor with 25 World Championships in his career – the last one won in 2015 with Azzurra – is the most titled sailor in the world! Then there are Niccolò Bertola and Jacopo Izzo, Vaurien World Champions and Giancarlo Pedote, arguably the strongest ocean sailor Italy has right now, fresh winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre; Salvatore Mantaci, Marcello Persico, head of the world’s most cutting-edge shipyard of the same name, Roberto Lacorte, winner of 151 Miglia and world Mini Maxi on the Vismara Mills 62 Supernikka (also passed the round), Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich, who have reliably achieved a historic “hat trick” by triumphing at World, European and Italian 49er FX. Closing the “top 25” list are Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei (European SL16 bronze), Paolo Giargia (European U19 Laser Radial bronze) and Alessandro Fornasari (European U18 Laser 4.7 silver).
HOW THE 2016 SAILOR OF THE YEAR VOTING WORKS
On Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m., the Sailor of the Year award ceremony will take place at the VELAFestival in Santa Margherita Ligure (Genoa) during the Evening of Champions. But how does one come to award the most prestigious prize in Italian sailing? With a long and “hard” online selection process where your input is crucial. We explain it in detail, step by step.
– FIRST STAGE (WINNING VOTE – CONCLUDED) – FROM 100 to 52 CANDIDATES.
– 100 CANDIDATES to vote online on our website from Jan. 29 (from 1 p.m.) to Feb. 16 (closing at 12 p.m.)
– 20 CANDIDATES INDICATED BY YOU (you can send us names and motivation from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 to email speciali@panamaeditore.it) voted online on our website from Feb. 5 (from 1 p.m.) to Feb. 16 (close at 12 p.m.)
– The 50 most voted and the 2 most voted among those indicated by you pass the round
– SECOND STAGE (WINNING VOTE – CONCLUDED) – 52 to 25 CANDIDATES.
– 52 CANDIDATES to vote online from March 4 (from 1 p.m.) to March 15 (closing at 12 noon)
– The 25 highest vote-getters pass the round
– THIRD STAGE (CONSULTATIVE VOTE) – 25 to 5 CANDIDATES.
– 25 CANDIDATES to be voted for online from March 31 (from 1 p.m.) to April 15 (closing time 12 noon). The online public vote has advisory value: taking into account your preferences, a jury selects the 5 who pass the round
– FOURTH PHASE – CHOOSING THE SAILOR OF THE YEAR (AND OTHER AWARDS)
-THE 5 CANDIDATES make up the shortlist of “papabili” for Sailor of the Year. These will compete, based on the jury’s decisions, for the Sailor of the Year award and the others: TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Passion,” TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Innovation,” and TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year “Performance.” Each of the winners will be awarded a TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 high-precision waterproof chronograph (pictured opposite), capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 meters. Who the winners are you will only know on the evening of May 6 in Santa Margherita. You are all invited!
For any information regarding the Sailor of the Year, please write to us at speciali@panamaeditore.it
FIND OUT WHAT IS SAILOR OF THE YEAR
AT THIS LINK FIND OUT IN DETAIL THE SECOND ROUND OF VOTING OF THE MAGNIFICENT “52”
AT THIS LINK FIND OUT IN DETAIL THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR THE MAGNIFICENT “100”
DISCOVER ALL 100 INITIAL CANDIDATES FOR SAILOR OF THE YEAR, FROM A TO Z
FIND OUT THE STORIES OF THE “CHOSEN BY YOU” NOMINEES AND THE REASONS FOR THE NOMINATIONS
