SSL Gold Cup, a.k.a. World Cup sailing with champions

In the world of sailing, unlike the world of soccer, it is harder to distinguish between the various events that are defined as “world cup.” There are many classes in the racing world, Olympic and non-Olympic, one-design or rated, and each has its own Worlds. How then can one elect the absolute “World Champion” by nations? This question is being answered by the Star Sailor League (SSL ed.) Gold Cup.

SSL Gold Cup – How it works

The world’s top 56 countries, selected in the SSL Nation ranking (which takes into account the nation’s sailing prestige and achievements in various international classes), will battle it out to lift the Sailing World Cup. The SSL Gold Cup began on May 19 with the Qualifying Series in Grandson, Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland. All teams ranked from Top 25 to 56 in the January 2022 SSL Nations rankings met in 8 rounds of 4 teams each. The top two teams in each round gained access to the Final Series being held in the Canary Islands these days, through Dec. 3, aboard RC 44s in fleet races with match racing in the finals.

SSL Gold Cup – Italy is also there

Among the nations that have always participated in Star Sailor League events is Italy, which is fielding a top-notch crew captained by Vasco Vascotto in this edition. The team that participated this season also included Matteo Aguardo, Vittorio Bissaro, Michele Ivaldi, Umberto Molineris, Enrico Voltolini, Michele Cannoni, Diego Negri, Francesco Bruni, Pierluigi De Felice and Federico Colaninno.

The level of the teams and their captains is stellar, with sailors involved of the caliber of Paul Cayard, Robert Scheidt, Santiago Lange, Luis Doreste and many others, all profiles that in their classes have written historic pages of sailing.