Dinghy, chronicle of a tough sea dog race (on the lake)

On the weekend of April 12 and 13, thanks to the organization of the Torre del Lago Sailing Club chaired by Massimo Bertolani, the first round of the Italian Cup 2025 of the Dinghy 12′ Class was held on Lake Massaciuccoli.

Dinghy Italian Cup – Mankin Trophy

And despite the gale-force winds, which came close to the 8 m/s limits, beyond which Dinghies must return to port, and despite incessant rain on the second day, they did in fact manage to finish the five scheduled races. Two races were run on Saturday and three on Sunday, the latter so challenging that some of the competitors gave up. It was a very popular first leg of the circuit, with as many as 60 Dinghys peacefully invading the spaces of the club, under the protective canopy of the large pine trees that in the past have accompanied the work of Maestro Puccini and that of the great Valentijn Mankin, who considered this lake an excellent training base.

The winners

Great was the battle on the water, where there was no shortage of scuffles and overly close encounters. In the end, Emanuele Tua with the DB Marine Orietta Mia won the leg and the Mankin Trophy, just one point behind Giovanni Boem, who with the Sant’Orsola vintage Ochin de Medulin was with three firsts the starter of the second day. He was followed by the “young” (for the Class) under 40 Antonio Iacometti with the Always AICD association boat, Gin Gazzolo of the Tigullio Flotta with Pallino, first Master, the excellent Mimmo Bottiglione of the Pugliese Flotta with Jupiter of the Navy, and Fleet mate Andrea Micheli with Urca. First of the Classics came Fabio Mangione with Nashira, tailed by the other Classics Damina by Alberto Patrone and Carlo III by Giorgio Puccini. First of the SuperMasters over 75, Vincenzo Penagini with Plötzlich Barabba, first Lady the Class Secretary Francesca Lodigiani with Cavallo Indomito, 27th, who overtook the ‘eternal opponent Maria Elena Balestrieri, who was involved in a collision that prevented her from running the last two trials, first Legend Paolo Corbellini with Rusty Pelican.

• THE COMPLETE RANKINGS

On Friday night, the eve, at the Grand Hotel Royal in Viareggio, the Class had instead celebrated what is traditionally called Dinghy Day, a day when the annual meeting is held, the national circuit awards are presented, the name of the Golden Dinghyist of the year is revealed, and it ends with a grand dinner.

It is worth mentioning that the 2024 Italian Cup was won with Alberto Patrone, who also prevailed in the Dinghy Classic Trophy, which means that a Dinghy Classic last season prevailed over Dinghy Moderni in the circuit where the ranking is unique. And the same happened in the 2024 Ranking List, which saw Andrea Falciola at the top with Absoluyely Free, a Classic Dinghy also in this case with which Andrea also won the George Cockshott International Trophy. Let’s close with the Dinghysta d’Oro, an award given since 2011 that has seen illustrious winners such as Paolino Viacava, Dodo Gorla, Roberto Ballarin, Ugo Leopaldi, Enzo Falzotti and Roberto Sestini, Ubaldo Bruni, Vittorio s’Albertas, Titti Carmagnani, Vinz Penagini.

An award that goes beyond something that happened in the past season in terms of competitive results. In fact, a lifetime achievement award to those who have shown uncommon affection, passion and dedication to the Class, which for 2024 went to Paolo Corbellini and Carlo Pizzarello, two “Legends,” members of the Board of Directors, who for many years have made themselves available by dedicating so many qualified hours of their time to the Classse.

(Those of the Dinghy)

Photos by Carlo Francesconi