What a spectacle the magic of the VELA Cup in Porto Rafael – Palau! Here’s how the regatta went
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The VELA Cup in Porto Rafael – Palau was a spectacle of colorful boats, landscapes and sails. From the Marina of Porto Rafael, 19 boats of all types and sizes – from the smallest (6.50 m) Beneteau First 20“Il Mozzorozzo 2” to the largest (27 meters) Wally 95 “Nina” – colored the sea of the Maddalena Archipelago during a beautiful early summer Saturday.
– SEE ALL THE PHOTOS OF THE REGATTA HERE –
A spectacular course amidst the “natural buoys”
The weather conditions made it possible to fully meet the scheduled start times: briefing at 9:30 a.m. and starting signal for the Porto Rafael – Palau VELA Cup at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
No buoys on the race course: marking the course were the beautiful islands of Spargi and Spargiotto. Crews started on the starting line bounded by the buoy positioned in front of Porto Rafael and the committee boat, and then circled counterclockwise around Spargi and Spargiotto, also leaving the meda to the left before returning to the finish line, located between the starting buoy and the Porto Rafael Marina turret.
Antonino Venneri, owner of the Swan 42 “Suspiria the Revenge,” is a regular at the VELA Cup, in his third participation, and brought his boat here from San Remo to participate in the regatta. We intercepted him at the dock and he confided that he had a great time, even given the very favorable weather conditions.
The course entertained both experienced and amateur crews aboard boats of all lengths and types, from Classic Boats to modern racers to lateen sails and multihulls.
The weather provided ideal conditions: not a single cloud and stable wind around 10 knots mainly from the North/Northwest, with no wind holes and a few gusts up to 13-15 knots in the second part of the race, during the stern return to the finish line.
– READ ALL THE RANKINGS OF THE REGATTA HERE –
The first to cross the finish line was Antonio Bevilacqua ‘s Wally 95 “Nina” after 1 hour, 24 minutes and 58 seconds, followed by all the other boats, which within about 3 hours of the start crossed the finish line right in front of the spectacular Porto Rafael Marina, an oasis carved out of moon rock right in the middle of the area’s crystal clear waters. Here you can swim right from the dock where the boats are moored!
We look forward to seeing you all at the next VELA Cup in Sardinia, the one in Cala dei Sardi scheduled for August 20-22, 2025.
Rendezvous in 2026?
We intercepted Palau Mayor Francesco Giuseppe Manna who anticipated the administration’s willingness to replicate the event again next year. “When the councilor and Sara Pincioni of the Marina of Porto Rafael approached us with the possibility of organizing this VELA Cup we immediately accepted with great enthusiasm. Seeing all these happy crews at the Marina I can only confirm that it was a winning choice. The will is to try to give continuity to the event for 2026 as well, to make sure that sailing lovers get to know more and more about this area that certainly lends itself.”
The other unmissable stages of the VELA Cup 2025
(click on the stage name for all the info and to sign up)
VELA Cup Sardinia/2
Wednesday, August 20 / Friday, August 22 (regatta: Thursday, August 21)
Gulf of Cugnana / Porto Rotondo, Marina Cala dei Sardi
VELA Cup Procida
Friday, September 26 / Sunday, September 28 (regatta: Saturday, September 27)
Island of Procida, Marina di Procida
VELA Cup Sicily
Friday, October 3 / Sunday, October 5 (regatta: Saturday, October 4)
Capo d’Orlando/Eolie, Capo d’Orlando Marina
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