Extremely shifty winds wreaked havoc on the race course on the final day of the III Coppa dei Campioni – Zonal Deep Sea Sailing Championship organized by Circolo Canottieri Barion of Bari in collaboration with Marina Cala Ponte of Polignano, with the support of LNI of Monopoli, under the aegis of the VIII zone FIV, Puglia.
In the last two races, technical stick racing, the tacticians were the busiest in interpreting the many wind shifts and directing their boats to the most useful spots to gain water. A day with wave that constituted a completely different race course from previous days, making the Champion’s Cup races challenging and fun, right up to the last mile.
For Enzo De Blasio with three firsts out of five races on his IY 11.98 Scugnizza and the colors of CC Napoli, he racks up the trophies with the Italia Yachts Challenge Trophy for 1stoverall at the III Champions Cup and 1st in the owner/helmsman standings and the Italia Yachts Trophy destined for the first place among the Shipyard winners, “The event went beyond our expectations for all the organization, for the hospitality and for the race course that allowed us to have 5 good races in ever-changing marine weather conditions. In the series we found fierce and prepared opponents and a sister ship with whom we had daily direct confrontations. For us, who come from Naples, this could be the venue for an Italian championship or other more important events.”
Andrea Palminteri tactician of Gianluca Fischetto’s Thalita Salona 41 for LNI Brindisi , three firsts out of five races: “A 15 to 20 knot wind made the two stick races fun and ‘tough’. We had a problem early on with a wind shift to the left that delayed the start of the Grand Cruise category. Fantastic race course with perfect conditions for everyone to reach their potential. Very suitable place for wind and committee up to the situation.
The title of Zonal Offshore Champion and the Don Ferdinando Capece Minutolo Trophy are awarded to Nicola De Gemmis, who, with GS 39 Morgan IV representing the colors of CC Barion, dominated the standings. “Very good for us in regatta 4 while in regatta 5 we tested new and different adjustments because of the upcoming season. The event lived up to expectations: excellent assistance ashore and at sea and the setting in which it was organized was also very nice. For me it was new, I had never sailed in these waters despite being a stone’s throw from home. It was a nice discovery.”
Alberto Lategola, president of the VIII zone FIV: “a fantastic championship kissed by ever changing weather conditions allowed the participants to race in all conditions. Very good technical level of the participants both among the Apulian champions, competing for the zonal title and qualification for the Italian championship, and the special guests such as world and Italian champions. Tight races with very short gaps. As the FIV zonal representative, I am happy to be able to nominate Polignano and the Marina Cala Ponte as a venue for top-level regattas, because of the beautiful setting and hospitality. The federal staff was also able to work to the best of their abilities in terms of skills technical abilities on the race course.”
The Ranking Cruise Regatta 1. Scugnizza -De Blasio (5 p.); 2. Morgan IV- Nicola De Germmis (10 p.); 3. Unpopergame – Niki Vescia (11 p). Grand Cruise 1. Thalita- Gianluca Fischetto (5 p.); 2. Shamir – Nicola Turi (6 p.); 3. Yomee – Andrea Milizia (11 p.)
