Conero Regatta 2023: victory goes to Anywave Safilens

Alberto Leghissa’s Frers 65 wins in real time at the 24th edition of the sailing event organized by Marina Dorica in Ancona on Sunday, September 17.

Light winds, lots of tactics and sky-high emotions in the 24th Conero Regatta held on Sunday, September 17. Organized in the waters in front of the city of Ancona by Marina Dorica with the support of the Circles of Ancona, 150 boats took part in the competition, a number of participants that, although not reaching the record of the Conero Regatta (202 crews), shows how this sailing event is returning to growth and establishing itself as the most important regatta in the mid-Adriatic, thanks also to the Regatta’s inclusion in the Go To Barcolana and Maxi Yacht Adriatic Series circuits.

The boats, divided into Cruise, Regatta and White Sails categories competed along a coastal course between 8 and 12 miles with start and finish line in the stretch of sea facing “Il Passetto” of Ancona. The 24th Conero Regatta got underway at 11 a.m., with light winds from the northern quadrants around 5 knots of intensity. The constantly changing conditions of the morning made the race very tactical and open to every possible development, favoring in some phases the larger boats, with greater sail area, and in others the smaller, lighter weight boats.

Alberto Leghissa: “Rewarded our training in light winds.”

First to cross the finish line, after 2 hours and 37 minutes of sailing, was Alberto Leghissa’s “Anywave Safilens,” a previous winner in 2021. “Two participations and two victories, it would be fair to say that the Conero Regatta is a lucky competition for Anywave Safilens,” jokes owner and helmsman Alberto Leghissa, on his return to Marina Dorica. “Actually, in recent times we have been working a lot on boat speed in light wind conditions and today our work was rewarded. On board, everything worked well, the tactical choices made by our navigator Alessandro Alberti turned out to be right, the motivation coming from our grinder as well as sponsor with Safilens Daniele Bazzocchi, allowed us to keep the mood always high and hit this nice result. The hospitality of Ancona and Marina Dorica is always spectacular!”

Excellent results for “Orlanda” and “Feather”

Also in real time in second place and a handful of minutes late came the TP52 “Orlanda,” already a winner last year. Beautiful performance finally for the Melges 32 “Feather” which finished in third position. In fourth place, first among the Ancona boats, is Alessandro Pigliapoco Nicosia’s Mia, followed by WB-8, XP 50 with Italian sailing star Mauro Pelaschier at the helm. Between sixth and tenth in the ranking came, in order, Interceptor, Stardust, Anemos II (helmed for the occasion by Alberto Rossi), Adrenalina and Orion.

With the curtain closed on the Conero Regatta, Ancona is preparing to host between Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 Ancona will be the scene of the CICO Ancona, the Italian Olympic Classes Championship that engages all classes of boats participating in the Olympics and the last chance, for several athletes, to peel off a ticket to the Paris 2024 Games.