The charge of 124 very young Openskiff sailors in Calasetta!

Three days of sunshine, variable conditions, and a race course that showcased the future of sailing: the first leg of the OpenSkiff EuroChallenge 2025, hosted in Calasetta (Sant’Antioco Island, Sulcis), was able to combine sporting spectacle, hospitality and educational spirit, leaving its mark among athletes, coaches and families in tow. As many as 124 boats, 124 very young sailors at the start. This is the sailing we like!

The sailing we like

Organized by the Naval League of Sulcis with the support of the FIV, the Municipality and the Marina of Calasetta, and the contribution of the Region of Sardinia, the event confirmed how much especially youth sailing can become a vehicle for tourism promotion and personal growth.

With nine races completed in three days-from a light westerly on the first day to the final mistral, passing through a challenging day of sirocco over 20 knots-the Sardinian course offered a comprehensive test for the more than 120 young helmsmen in the race. And making the final day even more special was the appearance of a group of dolphins just a few meters from the fleet, a symbol of freedom, play and fun just like the principles of the class!

The OpenSkiff class, returned since last year to the international “Eurochallenge” circuit, confirms itself as a hotbed of sailors and values. Sportsmanship, respect and passion are the key words of a project that looks at training before performance. It is no coincidence that it is precisely the clubs that invest in this approach – from the North to the South of Italy – that have climbed the podiums with consistency and quality, along with young talents from Poland and Ukraine.

The results: balance among the little ones, dominance among the Under-17s

Among the Under 13s, the balance was maintained until the last race. Gabriele Lizzulli of Tuscany (CNV Argentario) defended the lead from attacks by Davide De Felice of Naples (CN Posillipo), a specialist in light breezes (two firsts on the last day). Third, tied on points, was Poland’s Franciszek Sowa.

In the women’s field, an excellent performance by Sofia Benetti from Trento (Circolo Vela Arco), who was able to emerge even in the toughest conditions, surprising with the strong wind on the second day: she won ahead of Sardinian Bianca Gorgerino (LNI Cagliari) and local Lega Navale del Sulcis holder Gaia Sabbatino, second overall on the first day as the best partial, and one of the newcomers to the organizing club, which has a long and titled tradition in the OpenSkiff class.

Wider gaps in the Under-17 category, with the absolute domination of Ukrainian Yasnolobov Sviatoslav, sailing for Club Nautico Rimini, who finished with a 16-point margin over Poland’s Pawel Sitko. On the third step of the podium was Italy’s Mattia Giusto of Circolo Vela Arco (Lake Garda), with 2-1 as the best partial. Among the girls, victory of Poland’s Paulina Szczepa, fifth overall, followed by Aurora Milanese (Circolo Vela Arco) excellent second overall in the last race; third Maria Elena Barbarino (CN Posillipo), tenth overall.

Team spirit and passing the baton

Much more than a regatta: the Naval League of Sulcis, with one of its bases of operations in Calasetta, also showed the value of teamwork and continuity between generations: former athletes of the OpenSkiff class, now active in the RS Aero made a fundamental contribution to the organization, collaborating in assistance ashore and on the water; a concrete sign of the sense of belonging that the club knows how to build over time.

The OpenSkiff EuroChallenge will resume at the end of May in Lake Balaton, Hungary, while on the national front, the next event will be the Trofeo Accademia Navale di Livorno (Livorno Naval Academy Trophy) in early May, the third stage valid for the 2025 ranking list.

• Rankings: https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/documents/11360/event
• Elena Giolai’s Photo Gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/a9YdYnLbzeCosEXN8