The first leg of the VELA Cup at Marina Cala de’ Medici is only a week away (May 26/28) and already 60 boats have registered. A special stop, not to be missed, because there will also be the VELAFestival: the great sailing festival, where boating operators and local excellence, sailors and enthusiasts can meet and share their passions on land and at sea. Between iconic Classic Boats, cruising and racing boats, here’s who will be there!
All the stages of the VELA Cup 2023
- May 26 / 28 – VELA Cup Toscana / VELAFestival
- June 3 / 4 – VELA Cup Brindisi
- June 24 / 25 – VELA Cup Magdalena
- July 22 / 23 – VELA Cup Venice
- August 19 / 20 – VELA Cup Costa Smeralda
- October 7 / 8 – VELA Cup Sicily
Check out the entries for the VELA Cup Tuscany
We are only a few days away from the start of the first leg of the VELA Cup 2023. As announced, the big news at this year’s VELA Cup is the new Classic Boat class, for all those boats, including production and fiberglass boats, more than 25 years old. Then there are those who participate in the Sport Boat category, using non-inferred sails such as spi, gennaker and code 0, and those who just want to have fun with friends and family, in the Cruising Boat category, with white sails.
All the prizes of the VELA Cup Toscana. Here’s what you can win!
Make way for Classic Boats…
Here they are, they are ripe, but don’t call them old, they are more than 25 years old and their owners keep them in great shape. Class of 1968, Josian, a Swan 36, hull no. 7 from Cantiere Nautor, owned by Florentine shipowner Eugenio Alphandery outpaces in age, by only one year, Tricky, Fulvio Empoldi ‘s BC 4 (Bianchi & Cecchi), which arrives especially from Genoa to participate. A few years younger is Lithian, Matteo Cattaneo‘s Swan 41. Then there are those who race with family or friends, such as the two Comet 910s, Pickwick by Francesco Pardi and Musonero by Moreno Burattini, Osiris, Ugo Speca’s Kelt 760, Golf, Riccardo d’Ottavi‘s Bavaria 390 Caribic, and Roberto Manganaro’s Marina, a Koala 50 that has already toured the world twice.

But there are also those who, with their Classic Boats, want to compete with the more pulled boats, hoisting spi and gennaker, such as Scarmanata, the Beneteau First 260 Spirit by. Claudio Cicinelli, Velite III, a 1983 sloop by Umberto Tedeschi, e Ely j, Gran Soleil’s second Maxione hull, a boat with which its second owner took us around the world, even participating in Antigua Sailing Week, and which today, after seven months of intense work, is back sailing thanks to its current owner Alexander Pines.
And to the “younger” ones
Not only Classic, there are also modern and latest generation boats. Here at Marina Cala de’ Medici we will see on dock and at sea a brand new Bavaria C42, Supereva, Marina Yacht Charter’s latest boat just launched and available for charter for the upcoming summer season. Among the newer boats will be Paolo Boricchi’s Eleven, a Grand Soleil 42LC in its first racing experience, and Thetis, the newly renovated Bavaria 46 Cruiser from Dea dei Mari. Finally, the first and only Corsair 880 in Italy, a folding and towable cruise/racing trimaran, will also participate in the event.

During the days of the VELAFestival it will be possible to visit and try it out at sea (by appointment). For info click here.
SIGN UP NOW FOR MARINA DE’ MEDICI’S SAILING CUP
To register for the VELA Cup Toscana you just need to
enter here
and finalize your registration by entering your and the boat’s details!
James Barbaro