Cove of the Sardinians, how the big sailing festival in Sardinia went

Today, Sunday, Aug. 20, the Gulf of Cugnana was filled with boats, of all sizes and shapes, that arrived at the Marina Cala dei Sardi to participate in the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda. From the 4-meter Bluto, Tommaso Buzzi’s D-one, to the 24-meter Vismara Momi 80, Vallicelli 80 Nice (Ice Yachts) and Wally Bombarda (formerly Indio), the three maxi yachts of Nicola Minardi de Michetti and Angelo Mario Moratti, Marco Malgara and Paolo Pavanati. Forty boats participated in this fifth round of the most fun racing circuit there is. Line Honors for Why Not, Roberto Colombo’s Mylius 60, which led a fierce race in an excellent way, speeding across the start line near the committee boat and managing to keep ahead of the fleet at all times.

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

The charge of 40 at the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda

A beautiful, typically summery, sunny day with a slight 8/10 knot thermal welcomed, in a truly unique setting as only Cala dei Sardi, the Mediterranean’s most ecological marina, can offer us, the diverse fleet of boats that took part in the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda. A resounding event and a truly unique opportunity to celebrate summer, racing with friends, in one of the most beautiful sailing destinations there is, and that the whole world envies us.

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About 40 crews, by the students of the Yacht Club Cala dei Sardi and the Caprera Sailing Center, to professional sailors such as the guys from Mascalzone Latino, Alberto Fantini and Marco Savelli, took part, as protagonists, in this festive event, in which competition combines with the passion for sailing and the desire to share the beauty of going to sea.

The protagonists of the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda

The genuine and relaxed spirit of the VELA Cup, which again on this Sardinian leg saw boats of all kinds and crews of the most diverse backgrounds racing side by side. Including thoroughbred skippers and superstar cabin cruisers.

Among them on the starting line of the VELA Cup Costa Smeralda there were, for example, the Melges 32 Mascalzone Latino, with a Vincenzo Onorato aboard for the first time at the mainsail after handing over the helm to his son Achille, and Arya, the X-50 of Giovanni Laviosa, former Overall Sport Boat and Line Honours winner at the VELA Cup Toscana. A aboard Arya, there was also one of the strongest bowmen who ever sailed our seas: Alberto Fantini, known as the “squirrel” because of his ability to climb the mast. A former bowman on Azzurra, legendary was that America’s Cup regatta in which, aboard Il Moro di Venezia in San Diego, he had to hang for 45 minutes at the masthead to keep the mainsail up.

Among the Classic Boats was cartoonist Davide Besana, with his Midva, a splendid three quarter tonner built of mahogany laminate in Trieste by Petronio and Pecarich in 1982 to a design by Ron Holland. While it made (almost) a class of its own, the splendid auric cutter Vistona, a beautiful 1937 boat commanded by Giambattista Borea D’Olmo, from the lineage of noble Ligurian sailors. A sight to see him hoist his Gennaker / Reacher to the windward mark with the entire crew engaged in this complex maneuver, performed strictly by hand and running.

Nox Oceani, the competitive team of the Cala dei Sardi Yacht Club, was also present with no less than two crews. On Nox Oceans 1 were Andrea, Giorgio and Marco Nocella, Luca Giovannini, Francesco Columbano and Riccardo Serra. While aboard Nox Oceans 2 were Andrea De Matteis, Laura Murineddu, Ferdinand Palomba and Salvatore Garippa. Young sailors who in recent weeks are preparing, followed by their coach Camillo Zucconi and with the help of Andrea Casale, to participate in the RS21 World Championship, which will be held at the end of September in Porto Rotondo.

Prominent among the more curious boats was Tommaso Buzzi’s D-One (Devoti Sailing shipyard) Bluto, a single-handed dinghy, the smallest boat in the fleet, which on the starting line slipped in front of maxi yachts 6 times its size. Then there were two brand new Grand Soleils, fresh from the shipyard, Yankee, the GS40, and Lazy Dog, Sergio Sagramoso’s GS44. The nearby Caprera Sailing Center also wanted to participate in the VELA Cup with two Pogo 30s led by the school’s students.

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Prominent among the more curious boats was Tommaso Buzzi’s D-One (Devoti Sailing shipyard) Bluto, a single-handed dinghy, the smallest boat in the fleet, which on the starting line slipped in front of maxi yachts 6 times its size. Then there were two brand new Grand Soleils, fresh from the shipyard, Yankee, the GS40, and Lazy Dog, Sergio Sagramoso’s GS44. The nearby Caprera Sailing Center also wanted to participate in the VELA Cup with two Pogo 30s led by the school’s students.

A breathtaking route in the wake of the Mistral

After registration and Gift Bag delivery, the fleet on Sunday, August 20, enjoyed the breathtaking course of about 12 miles. Departure between Porto Rotondo and Cala dei Sardi, then a very long upwind to Mortoriotto (reef in front of Mortorio) via Soffi, then turn and descend at the grand slack to the Gulf of Cugnana with arrival at the entrance to Marina Cala dei Sardi.

The real time winner was Why Not, Roberto Colombo’s Mylius 60, which got the better of Mascalzone Latino, which came in second. Rounding out the podium, third in real, was Arya, the X-50 of Giovanni Laviosa, a previous winner of the VELA Cup Toscana last May.

All the winners, the best is yet to come

All rankings and winners will be revealed this evening at the awards ceremony at the Sardinian Cove Marina (and later posted on our website). In addition to class prizes, prizes will be awarded to the first Classic Boat (at least 25 years old) in each homogeneous grouping by length, the most beautiful and elegant boat . Also, during the evening, the many raffle prizes offered by our partners Garmin, Veneziani, Leatherman, Plastimo, HiNelson, YachtingBond and U-Sail will be awarded.

Photos by Simon Palfrader

James Barbaro