The strongest women skippers internationally will star in the Eurosaf Female Offshore European Championship and the World Sailing Double Mixed Offshore World Championship scheduled for late September and early October. Both events are part of the Navy Pink Ribbon Tour 2023.
For women skippers who are passionate about offshore sailing, there are two events in these weeks that are definitely worth following. The first is the Eurosaf Female Offshore European Championship that kicked off last September 26 from Venice. The competition is part of the prestigious Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour circuit organized by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. and SSI Events with the support of the Navy and Eurosaf, the European Sailing Federation.
In fact, the stars of this exciting regatta are 10 all-women crews aboard fast Bénéteau Figaro 3s competing over two legs. The first, which is about 310 miles long, takes place on the Venice-Montenegro route, while the second takes place on the Montenegro-Taranto route of about 240 miles, with a final ranking that will reward the best crew based on overall travel time.
Lots of emotions between Italy and Montenegro
The Bénéteau Figaro 3 fleet, after departing from the city of Laguna, is expected to arrive in Montenegro shortly. In fact, the weather promises to be generous, ensuring a fairly rapid descent for the crews, albeit with possible variations in intensity that could slow or speed up the teams’ advance. From Montenegro the fleet will then depart on September 29 for Taranto. In the Apulian port, the first crews could cross the finish line as early as the evening of the 30th. The award ceremony for the Eurosaf Female Offshore European Championship is scheduled for Sunday, October 1, in Taranto.
Among the leading players in this pink event are the Quadriga Sailing Team with Germany’s Melanie Aalburg and Hungary’s Viktoria Galla, and the crew of France’s Marion Engelhard racing with Holland’s Marjoleine Hulshof. Lights also shone on the pair consisting of fresh European Mixed Doubles winner Roberta Fazzana and Alessandra Boatto. Then again the pair consisting of Britain’s Connie Stevens and Ireland’s Roisin O’Halloran. Also all to follow are the pairs formed by Giulia Farnetani and Alicia Molly Biggs, Helena Schneider and Florencia Lazzari, Ellie Driver and Catherine Hunt, Rosie Hill, and finally Sophie von Waldow and Charlotte Schneider.
There is also great anticipation for the world mixed doubles
Once the Eurosaf Female Offshore European Championship ends in Taranto, the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour 2023 circuit returns to the water on Oct. 2 with the World Sailing Double Mixed Offshore World Championship, a World Sailing-recognized event featuring 10 nations represented in mixed crews (one man and one woman).
The fleet in this case again aboard the Bénéteau Figaro 3 sets off from Taranto, sails around the Aegean islands and returns to the Apulian port after about 3 days. Final awards ceremony scheduled for Sunday, October 8. In short, if you are a woman and enjoy offshore sailing, you cannot miss these two prestigious events of the Navy Pink Ribbon Tour 2023.
NAVY PINK RIBBON TOUR 2023 AT A GLANCE
OBJECTIVE: The goal of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour 2023 is to promote sailing and offshore sailing in Italy, as well as the presence of women in offshore racing. But it is also a container of institutional, social and environmental values.
ORGANIZERS: The Navy Pink Ribbon Tour 2023 is organized by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. in collaboration with Sailing Series International Sports & Events, and with the key support of ENIT – National Tourism Agency and the Italian Sailing Federation.
EVENTS & DATES:
- Dmo European Championship. Location: La Spezia – Genoa, Liguria. Dates: June 19 – 24.
- Navy Pink Ribbon – Giro d’Italia. Location: Genoa. Dates: June 30-July 29.
- Eurosaf Female Offshore European Championship. Locations: Venice, Montenegro, Taranto. Dates: September 26 – 30.
- Dmo World Championship. Location: Taranto. Dates: October 2 – 8.
- Navy Pink Ribbon Fast. Location: Venice. Dates: November 5 – 19.
REGISTRATIONS AND WEBSITE: The official website of the Navy Pink Ribbon Tour 2023 can be found at www.nastrorosatour.it where all information can be viewed, race notices downloaded and registrations finalized for all scheduled events.