TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year 2022: Ruggero Tita, Caterina Banti and Ganga Bruni win!

During the Sailor’s Evening of Champions of the‘Year TAG Heuer 2022 were unveiled all the winners of the most¹s most prestigious of Italian sailing, awarded by the Giornale della Vela since 1991. To Olympic champions Tita-Banti and their coach Gabriele “Ganga” Bruni the title. The other category winners: Azzurra (Sailor of the Year Epic), Francesco Sena (Most Voted), Circolo della Vela Sicilia (Yacht Club by Seably), Alex Demurtas (Young), Northern Light Composites (Designer by SKS), Owner (Gennaro Coretti)

Milan – May 12 marked the final act of the TAG Heuer 2022 Sailor of the Year, the most prestigious award in Italian sailing, given by the Giornale della Vela since 1991.

The Evening of Champions was held in the settings of the Signature Kitchen Suite showroom and Hotel Manin. Leading the evening, in front of a parterre of guests including the President of the Italian Sailing Federation, Francesco Ettorre, was sports journalist Mino Taveri along with Alberto Cossu of the Giornale della Vela.

TAG Heuer Sailor of the Year, Ruggero Tita, Caterina Banti, Ganga Bruni win.

The Quality Jury of the Journal of Sailing has delivered its verdicts, they are Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, along with their coach Gabriele “Ganga” Bruni, theTAG Heuer Sailor of theYear winners, in light of winning Olympic gold (aboard the mixed catamaran Nacra 17). A gold that Italian sailing has been missing since Sydney 2000.

Other Sailor of the Year awardees.

In the Yacht Club by Seably category, the award went to Circolo Della Vela Sicilia in recognition of its work in supporting Luna Rossa in its challenge to the 36th America’s Cup and in promoting sailing among young people.

In the Young category, the Jury awarded Alex De Murtas, for his victory at the Garda Optimist Meeting, one of the most crowded regattas in the world, and for his bronze at the World Championship.

In the Designer by SKS category, the award went to young designers from the innovative startup Northern Light Composites for excelling in the design and construction of a high-performance, recyclable racing boat such as the Eco Racer.

In the Owner category, on the other hand, the choice fell on Gennaro Coretti, a historic name in Italian boating with his Adria Ship, the family-owned company that is now 25 years old and has brought the Bali, Nautitech and Elan brands to Italy, among others. He has sold more than 1,000 boats and helped grow sailing in Italy.

Also honored during the Evening of Champions was the Most Voted, that is, the candidate among the initial 100 who garnered the most votes on the web, Youtuber Francesco Sena, who totaled an impressive 3094 preferences. A lover of “extreme” sailing and fishing, on the web he always pierces the screen with his ability to tell about the adventures he has at sea. That is why he is closely followed and is a great testimonial for sailing.

Instead, a special moment was the presentation of theEpic Sailor of theYear, a career tribute that the Giornale della Vela wanted to award to Azzurra, the first Italian challenge to the America’s Cup, which in 2022 will celebrate 40 years since its first launch. Representing Azzurra, Riccardo Bonadeo, Mauro Pelaschier, Nico Reggio, Niky Mosca, and Chicco Isenburg were present for the evening.

The Sailor of the‘TAG Heuer Year

The Sailor of the Year is the most prestigious award in Italian sailing, awarded by the Giornale della Vela since 1991 and now in its 31st edition. The 2021 Sailor of the Year was won by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team.

The 2022 edition consisted of 3 stages: the first was the “charge of the 100” candidates chosen by the Jury. From these, the public voted at http://velistadellanno.giornaledellavela.com/ to choose the three finalists in each category, casting a total of 23,000 preferences.

The second phase was still online, with interviews with the finalists, conducted by Mino Taveri and Ambrogio Beccaria, with contributions from Mauro Giuffrè, aired in the days leading up to the Evening of Champions on the Journal of Sailing’s YouTube channel (you can see them all HERE).

TAG Heuer 2022 Sailor of the Year Partners.

NEVER STILL. AS TIME. TAG Heuer, lo historic Swiss watch brand of the LVMH Group, active in 139 countries, has been the naming partner of the Sailor of the Year since 2013. Its Aquaracer marine timepieces are the “summa” of 160 years of history, research and innovation.

BETTER SAILORS WITH SEABLY. Seably For Leisure is the online training platform for all sea lovers. Seably offers a world of courses for every shipowner. Download Seably’s app and enjoy the best content available for every boater.

“TOP” KITCHENS ARE SKS. Signature Kitchen Suite is the appliance brand from high-end built-in kitchen from LG Electronics, a world leader in consumer electronics. At the SKS Showroom in Milan, the Evening of Champions opened on May 12.