The fantastic invasion of Lasers in Imperia: 600 to race for the Europa Cup

It was an edition marked by wintry weather conditions, the third leg of the EurIlca Europa Cup 2025. From March 13 to 16, in fact, the waters of Imperia welcomed 602 ILCAs (formerly Lasers) with an opening of the first day with 35 knots of southwesterly and two-meter waves that forced the fleet ashore. The situation did not normalize until the afternoon of the next day when the six hundred ILCAs 4, 6 and 7 were able to leave the port basin. An exterminated fleet from 23 European and non-European countries that required the relocation of hulls to four different slipways.

How did it go

For the crowded ILCA 7 fleet, in a single group of nearly eighty hulls, after five races the final success was the prerogative of Croatian Bruno Gaspic who, with two firsts and a third on the day, left behind Enrico Tanferna by four points and Luca Valentino, at the top in the debut race, by nineteen. Antonio Pascali, fourth overall, was the best of the Under-21s while Edoardo Del Rio, 11th overall, topped the Under-19s.

In the ILCA 6 women’s Olympic singles, summit monopoly of the Under-21s with Ginevra Caracciolo, absolute constancy of results (6-3-2-4), achieved supremacy to the detriment of Maria Vittoria Arseni (14-2-1-1) who, although fresh holder of the world overall, class and the place of honor at the European Championships, had to surrender while still holding stern Alice Ruperto (6-2-8-9).

After four races, in men’s Division 6, racing with three different fleets, the overall leader was Alessandro Cirinei with four wins on the day followed, with equal scores, by Nicolò Giuseppe (1-3-1-1) and in third place Britain’s Archie Munro-Price (1-1-1-5).

All three Under 18s and all Italians topped the Ilca 4. With three very fierce trials Alberto Avanzini deserved the lead and, despite a forgettable finish (2-1-dns), held off Laszlo Sassi (3-1-1) by half a point and Alessandro Massironi (3-2-1) by three, while France’s Louise Rahn won the women’s field. At the top of the Under 16 and fourth overall was Switzerland’s Leo Gosling, and Italy’s Ludovica Bancale proved to be the best U 16 female.

EurILCA Europa Cup – how it went on the water

The first day of trials was able to enjoy a breeze from the southern quadrants that convinced the chairmen of the two race committees to give the go-ahead for starting operations on the two race courses. A decision that allowed the holding of one race for the ILCA 7s where Croatian Stipe Gaspic won ahead of Luca Valentino and compatriot Bruno Gaspic. Among the ILCA 4s Mario Dattoli Codispoti put the bow ahead of Niccolò Maria Sparagna and Laszlo Sassi while in the other two fields the Swiss U 16 Leo Gosling and for the U 18s Christian Girani rose to the top. The ILCA 6, on the other hand, had to forfeit, for them the weather conditions were not right for this first round of the Europa Cup.

On Saturday, March 15, although the sunshine was not as spring dictates, the weather allowed two race courses to be organized and the whole fleet was given the start. Among the ILCA 7s, racing in a single group of nearly eighty hulls, Luca Valentino repeated the second place that took him to the top of the provisional ranking followed by Enrico Tanferna (6-3) and the leader of the first hour, Croatian Stipe Gaspic (1-25). Among the women’s Ilca 6, a single fleet of sixty, on the other hand, the day’s success and provisional leader is Croatia’s Petra Marendic (2-1) with five points ahead of Alice Ruperto (6-2) and eleven ahead of Ginevra Caracciolo (8-6). For Division 6, three courses for the blue, red and yellow fleets, the day’s successes were won by Alessandro Cirinei, Nicolò Giuseppe Cassitta and Britain’s Archie Munro-Price.

On the final day, the weather drew a fateful situation: blazing blue skies, libeccio over 20 knots increasing and sea with significant waves. Challenging appointment, then, for the laser racers and also for the race committees for the management of the two courses. In the Ilca 4, the day’s successes in the three fleets went to the aforementioned Laszlo Sassi, Alessandro Massironi and the Under 16 Leo Gosling, who then finished fourth overall; in category 6 to Cirinei, Cassita and Leonardo Alberto Lodigiani, who fell to 91st position; in the women’s 6 to Maria Vittoria Arseni; and in division 7, finally, to the aforementioned Enrico Tanferna.

Tomas Gazo