“The Isolans” win the Navy Pink Ribbon The Fast 2025

With a brilliant exploit and a bold tactical choice, the crew formed by Fabrizio Carboni and Davide Foti won the longest and most exciting offshore race in the Mediterranean. Here’s how it went…

A tough edition with many different weather conditions along the way, decisive tactical choices and resources consumed to the limit for all participating crews, as is normal in a long offshore regatta. The “Marina Militare Nastro Rosa – Il Veloce 2025” did not betray expectations and confirmed itself as one of the most exciting and challenging competitions in the Mediterranean.

A total of 1,492 miles on a non-stop course from Genoa to Venice for ten indomitable crews in doubles racing aboard fast Bénéteau Figaro 3, boats of just over 10 meters equipped with foils. A unique event that, we recall, is now in its 5th edition and was created to promote the values and brand of the Navy.

leggi anche

ARC Rally 2025 speaks Italian: here are all the winners

Certainly a tough and increasingly coveted regatta. Suffice it to say that this year the ten teams that qualified for the Pink Ribbon-The Fast passed a rigorous qualifying session in the Genoa Sea where there were as many as 32 candidate teams from all over the world, including Australia, Ireland, Poland, France, England, Germany and Finland.

Read also: When it rains and is cold, no one is at sea. Except them

Here are all the stages of the Giro d’Italia Veloce

After the grand opening ceremony staged last November 5 with the selected crews, organizers and authorities and in the presence of Navy ship “Palinuro,” the regatta finally got underway. Weather-wise there was very high pressure over Genoa and immediately after the cut-off the fleet faced a few hours of becalmed weather. Then a southerly wind came in that lasted 4-5 days and forced the competitors into a grueling upwind to the Egadi Islands.

Dominating the long descent of the Tyrrhenian Sea was the British crew of “Norbit – Rorc” formed by Joss Cresswell and Zeb Fellows. Behind them “Gin Tonic” with Francesco Farci and Pietro Mureddu aboard, winners of the last edition of the regatta, and “Le Cape Toste” with experienced Adriatic sailors Silvio Sambo and Manuel alternating between second and third positions.

leggi anche

Gitana 18, the Ultim trimaran born to rewrite the rules of the game in the ocean

Head-to-head, tactical errors and “heavy” choices

The passage up to Calabria was the most tactically complex with a light wind alternating with moments of becalmed weather that completely reshuffled positions within the Bénéteau fleet and the rankings. A crucial point for the leading trio was the approach toward Reggio Calabria. Here there was a glaring tactical error by “Le Cape Toste” that cost them a retreat from third to seventh position. Bravo instead to “The Islanders” a.k.a. Fabrizio Carboni and Davide Foti, who instead managed to stay hooked and maintain themselves in the leading group.

The winning bet of the “Islanders”

In the jump from the Tyrrhenian to the Ionian and then sailing close to Puglia toward Santa Maria di Leuca, the crews’ rankings took final shape. In the vicinity of Brindisi the Isolani who were slightly behind chose a more sub-coastal route, despite the fact that the various routings advised a more direct route to Croatia as did the rest of the fleet who found a strong wind in the 30-35 knot range. A choice that rewarded them. Thus, in the night, important gaps were created between the various crews in the lead.

Finally, the last day of racing was characterized by wind holes alternating with a strong Bora in the 40-knot range that slowed down those who had fallen further behind. The final standings therefore saw the victory of “The Islanders,” followed by “Gin Tonic” in second place and “Norbirt-Rorc” in third. Between them and the rest of the fleet, the rich prize pool of 50,000 euros put up by the organizers will also be divided.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE “ISLANDERS” CELEBRATING THE ARRIVAL

Fabrizio Carboni and Davide Foti upon arrival in Venice

In short, a worthy finale for a competition that was, as always, exhilarating and that left the passionate audience with bated breath until the very last. Kudos to the winners and all participants in what is to date the longest regatta in the Mediterranean! The “Marina Militare Nastro Rosa – Il Veloce 2025” is organized by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. in collaboration with Sailing Series International Sports & Events, and with the support of ENIT – National Tourism Agency and the Italian Sailing Federation.