In 55 at the VELA Cup Brindisi. Record number of entrants and. obstacle challenge!

Record number of entrants for the second edition of the VELA Cup Brindisi, an Apulian leg of Italy’s most entertaining regatta circuit, organized by the Giornale della Vela and the
Marina di Brindisi
, in collaboration with the
Circolo della Vela Brindisi
and the Italian Naval League Sect. of Brindisi. Fifty-five crews, including racers and enthusiastic sailors, battled it out in the waters of Salento in a 12-mile coastal race along the beautiful beaches of Punta Penne and Torre Testa, close to the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve. Line Honors for Verve Camer, Luigi Ancora‘s Comet 50 Carbon Race, which managed to make its way through the many logs that came to sea following the recent flooding that devastated Romagna.

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

Success at the VELA Cup Brindisi

Great success at the Brindisi Marina for the second leg of the VELA Cup. Many local and non-local crews enlivened the waters of Brindisi’s beaches during this long weekend of festivities, driven by a 6/7 knot grecale, on a beautiful sunny day, the first taste of a summer that is now just around the corner. On the race course, the many logs, which came into the sea following the violent flooding that hit Romagna in recent days, forced competitors to juggle along an obstacle course.

The regatta aboard Buena Vista

I am invited by VIII Zone FIV President Alberto La Tegola to participate in the regatta on Buena Vista, Luigi Pannarale’s ICE 62, one of the fastest boats in the fleet. After an excellent start at the buoy, leading the fleet, Verve Camer parades us from below the coast. We are second at the buoy of the Punta Penne shallows.. There are many logs in the water, which we try to avoid, unfortunately without success. No bangs but we slow down abruptly, and as Camer increases the gap, the rest of the fleet approaches. Finally, after some maneuvering, we manage to free the hull. Camer is already 3 miles away doubling the meda, off the rocks of Àpani; difficult to recover. Reaching the meda, we also tack, lay down and fire the gennaker. On the beam, with the boat in trim, we are fast. We easily reach 10 knots, but it is not enough to regain the lead in the race. We push to the edge of the lean-to, not to break down, Camer has crossed the line and we are second.

VELA Cup Brindisi: how it went.

Crossing the finish line first was Verve Camer, Luigi Ancora’s Comet 50 Carbon Race in 1 hour 30 minutes xx seconds. Behind him is Buena Vista,Luigi Pannareale’s ICE 62, and in third place in real Flash, Andrea Milizia’s Farr 39 IMS.

All the winners, the best is yet to come

But these are only the first ones in real time, all rankings and winners will be revealed this evening during the awards ceremony at the Marina di Brindisi (and later published on our website). In addition to class prizes, prizes will be awarded to the top Classic Boat (at least 25 years old) in each homogeneous grouping by length and the most beautiful and elegant boat. In addition, the numerous raffle prizes offered by our partners Garmin, Veneziani, Leatherman, Plastimo, HiNelson and YachtingBond will be awarded during the evening.

Photos by Simon Palfrader

James Barbaro