Here’s how the Round Aeolian Race went. All the winners

While there is great anticipation for the VELA Cup Sicilia, which will be held this Saturday at the Marina di Capo d’Orlando, last weekend saw the conclusion of the sixth edition of the Round Aeolian Race (RAR), the regatta that circles the Aeolian Islands with start and finish in Capo d’Orlando.
It is a unique and spectacular regatta, where competitors, after passing the disengagement buoy, must choose their course, turning clockwise or counterclockwise around the islands of the archipelago north of Sicily.
Victory went to Guardamago Tickettando, Massimo Piparo’s Italia Yachts 11.98, while Sagola Spartivento, Fornich-Sorrentino-Battiston’s Farr 45, won the title of Italian Offshore Champion 2024.

The Tale of the Round Aeolian Race

After departing at 12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, almost the entire fleet, led by Sagola Spartivento and Guardamago Tickettando, chose to follow a clockwise course, heading toward Alicudi, which they reached before sunset.
The night passage around Salina was marked by becalmed conditions, which gave the crews a spectacular view of the starry sky.

During the night, only Sagola Spartivento and Guardamago Tickettando managed to cross the channel between Salina and Lipari, the race’s critical point, while the rest of the fleet had to wait for dawn and the arrival of a westerly wind to resume the race toward Stromboli.
This change in wind allowed the boats further back to close the gap. With the wind relaxed to 13 to 15 knots around 11 a.m. Saturday, the boats tackled the last 40 miles upwind, with speeds varying between 10 and 15 knots.
The passage between the mouths of Vulcano was the last critical point of the course, causing some position changes.
Waves of about 2 meters made the final descent to Capo d’Orlando challenging.
Starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, the first boats began to arrive, with Sagola Spartivento and Guardamago Tickettando leading the pack, followed by Picomole, Meet White Whales and Nyo in the catamaran category.

All the winners of the Round Aeolian Race

The final rankings after fees were applied, saw the victory of Guardamago 3 Tickettando, Massimo Piparo’s Italia Yachts 11.98, which won the Admiral’s Challenge Trophy Team Admiral Giovanni Iannucci. “Winning a leg of the Italian offshore championship in an event that bears the name of the islands dearest to me has a taste of double happiness.
Very technical and tactical regatta in which GUARDAMAGO redeemed the second place of the last edition, attesting its strength not only in the inshore but also in the offshore ” – are the words of Massimo Piparo.

This Saturday is the VELA Cup Sicilia in Capo d’Orlando

On Saturday, October 5, the VELA Cup makes a stop in Capo d’Orlando, Sicily, at Capo d’Orlando Marina.
The perfect opportunity to have a mini autumn cruise in front of the Aeolian Islands, out of the mess of summer.
A great sailing festival with lots of prizes, fun and dreamy scenery.

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Sign up now for the VELA Cup Sicily

The VELA Cup Sicilia is open to all types of racing and cruising boats (no cards or certificates required), with no age restrictions, bureaucracy or technical complications.
There are prizes for everyone, including special prizes for the most elegant boat and the last place finisher. To register for the VELA Cup Sicilia all you need to do is enter here and finalize your registration by entering your details and those of the boat!

James Barbaro