From Alessandro Pelliccia, infopress@formula18.it
2019 Italian National Championship has just ended, and it is first to note the event benefited of optimal conditions, even sometimes shifty, during the three regatta days, permitting Race Committee to complete full programme, and it is further to stress the hosting club did its best to provide sailors with a well organized and friendly event.
On Friday, the fleet joined racing area after equipment inspection and final registration, under a shore wind close to 15 knots. After leading boats rounded windward mark, and were just about to cross leeward gate, a sudden 40 degrees wind rotation towards NNW forced the RO to abandon the race, and to ask mark layers to set a new course.
A new start for Race 1 was given thirty minutes later, by a 12 knots Mistral wind, permitting first boat to complete the two laps within 35 minutes. Steady wind conditions for the second race extended to three laps, but the fleet was rather nervous, so RO had to display Black Flag after two General Recalls.
Unfortunately, the wind returned to North East, becoming shifty on the whole racing area, hence a third race was not attempted.
Saturday offered “Sail Paradise” to competitors: 15 to 18 knots North-East breeze on the whole sailing area, and no waves. Four races were launched back to back, before competitors sailed back to the shore and enjoyed the dinner offered by the Organization.
Sunday was the last racing day, when a weather alert was spread all over Central & Northern Italy. Fortunately enough, Calambrone Bay showed practicable sailing zones, convincing the Race Committee to try to complete the program. Intuition was right, and three other races were sailed on the day, by a steady 12-15 knots North-East wind.
At the end, 2019 Italian Nationals were an exciting championship, with repeated changes in the standings, title being awarded in the last race, after quite a photo finish: actually, after Race 8, three boats were in a tie: Radman/Cioni, Mazzucchi/Lisignoli, and Vettori/Stella, creating a tense drama before Race 9 to be sailed… and the title to be awarded by one boat length!
National Champions are ITA 23 Radman/Cioni, one point ahead Mazzucchi/Lisignoli, second, and three points ahead Vettori/Stella, third. Pretty tight finish…
This closes a season that brought competitors all around Italy, benefiting always of the atmosphere that characterize F18 Class: friendship, sport, adrenaline and fun…
Good wind from Formula 18 Catamarans Italy, looking forward July 2020 that will bring F18 World Championship to Formia-Gaeta with more than 150 expected boats.
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