Storm over the VELA Cup, but it’s a party in Venice anyway

On Saturday, July 22, the VELA Cup Venezia, the fourth leg of the most fun regatta circuit ever, took place, or rather should have taken place. 31 registered boats and many crews from all over the Upper Adriatic had gathered in Venice for a weekend of sports and lots of fun. Unfortunately, the extreme weather conditions that are affecting all of northern Italy these days forced the organization to cancel the regatta. In the evening, the crews said their goodbyes, celebrating in company this last event before the summer vacations, at the Sailing Company’s Nautical Headquarters on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

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

Storm hits VELA Cup Venice, regatta canceled

From day to night in just under half an hour. Everything was almost ready for the start of the fourth leg of the VELA Cup when A sudden storm, with gusts up to 40 knots – 38 recorded aboard Chicale, Alvise Moretto Wiel’s Grand Soleil 46LC on which I was aboard – fell on the race course.. A typical summer day in late July, which, in a few moments, turned into a polar winter.

Fortunately, the crews, who remained at sea for safety, as should always be done when weather conditions do not allow safe return to port, were not seriously damaged except for a headsail that unfortunately exploded. Upon returning ashore, the party continued as planned. Raffle prizes, food and music enlivened the evening. Venetian appointment postponed until next year, hoping the lagoon will give us slightly less extreme weather, while the VELA Cup this year continues in Cala dei Sardi on Sunday, August 20.

At the VELA Cup you win even if you don’t race

Those familiar with the VELA Cup know: there are lots of great raffle prizes up for grabs. Unfortunately, weather forced the cancellation of the regatta but the party went on anyway. So in the evening, at the Nautical Headquarters of the Sailing Company, the awards were held anyway, with raffle prizes offered by our partners. The Leatherman Skeletool KBX knife was won by Roberto Zagolin (owner of the Dehler Hadar), while the SUP raffled by Jobe(Forniture Nautiche Italiane) went to Carlo de Bortoli (aboard a SB20 from Compagnia della Vela). The 200 euro voucher to spend on HiNelson.com was awarded to Alvise Moretto Wiel (Grand Soleil 46LC Chicale), the sailing jacket YachtIngBond to Andrea Petroni (owner of Dehler 36 Mabrouk) andSpeedy Carbonium antifouling and Adherpox primer from Veneziani Yachting went to Claudio Gaio (owner of Feeling 36 Azul). Finally, a Garmin InReach Mini 2 two-way satellite communicator, a useful safety tool for when the sea, as in Venice, gets rough, was also awarded by lottery.

All the photos of the VELA Cup Venice

VELA Cup – See you in Cala dei Sardi on August 20

On Sunday, August 20, the VELA Cup returns to Sardinia, in the heart of the Costa Smeralda, at the Cala dei Sardi Marina in the Gulf of Cugnana. A great opportunity to have fun before returning home from vacation or starting it. A celebration of sailing with lots of prizes, fun and dreamy scenery. Turquoise waters, fine sandy beaches, and rocks that rise majestically provide the setting for this second, and final, event of the season in Sardinia, following the stop in La Maddalena.

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE COSTA SMERALDA SAILING CUP

To register for the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda all you need to do is
enter here
and finalize your registration by entering your and the boat’s details!

CDV Photo / Matteo Bertolin

James Barbaro