– The International Emilio Benetti Historical Event ISCYRA Trophy turns sixty
– From Friday to Sunday in Viareggio the historic Star Class event
– The Andrea Bandoni Trophy will go to the first helmsman of the Star Fleet of SV Viareggina
– This year, in addition to the first Master, Grand Master and Exalted helmsman, the first Young Under 30 will also be awarded, demonstrating the great commitment of Velica Viareggina in promoting and spreading the Star, especially among the youngest.
Viareggio. Once again demonstrating spectacularity and charm and after having just concluded the VI Seven Stars Trophy – Sergio Puosi Memorial Trophy in the same regatta field, this weekend too the crews of the timeless Star Class will descend on the Viareggio stretch of sea surrounded by the evocative setting of the Alps Apuane to compete for the Benetti Trophy, a prestigious event now in its sixtieth edition.
From Friday 24th to Sunday 26th May, in fact, the Società Velica Viareggina, the Club Nautico Versilia and the Yacht Club Cortina d’Ampezzo – on delegation of the FIV, in collaboration with the Versilia Sailing Clubs Committee, the CV Torre del Lago Puccini, the LNI sec. Viareggio, the assistance of the Port Authority of Viareggio and the support of Telemar Yachting Italy-, will organize the LX Trofeo Emilio Benetti Historic Event ISCYRA, a historic event which, as every year, is attended by leading names in high-level national and international sailing technical: the greatest sailors of all time, in fact, have tried their hand at the Star and Viareggio hosts one of the most important fleets in the world and one of the most popular regatta courses.
Among the crews already registered, that of the winners of the last two editions made up of the champion helmsman and CO Slam Enrico Chieffi (with the absolute record of six victories in the history of the Trophy) and the Olympic bowman Star in Sydney 2000 Nando Colaninno (crew also holder of three consecutive Italian titles -2023 in Viareggio, ’22 in Gaeta and ’21 in Brenzone sul Garda- and the European one -in 2021 with an advance match in Croatia-). Welcome return (after his debut at Benetti last year) for Flavio Favini (unforgettable among the many world, European and Italian titles, his victory at the Admirals’ Cup ’95 at the helm of Capricorno) still racing with Nicolas Serravalle, and for the legendary (among other things, skipper of Italy in the ’87 America’s Cup and world champion in 1984 with the 12-metre Victory I-83) Aldo Migliaccio, who returned in the last edition after 32 years of absence at the Benetti Trophy, won in 82. All eyes are also on the Under 30 crew Claudio Parboni and Alessandro Sodano.
Also in the regatta are the Como natives Vincenzo Locatelli (four-time winner of the Benetti) with Ambrosini and Carlo Buzzi (also a “veteran” of the trophy) with Fabio Barindelli, the Campanians Fulvio De Simone and Pino Ritucci (Flotta Capri), Francesco Cuccotti with Alberto Bellelli ( Bracciano), Guido Falciola (Lesa), the class secretary Massimo Canali, the fierce local standard bearers – Antonio Balderi with Amerigo Anguillesi, Giampiero Poggi (who boasts 5 victories at the Benetti) with Davide Mugnaini, Graziano Bonanno with Giovanni Giorguli, Corrado Musso with Marco Esposito, Marco Viti with Alessandro Cattaneo, Luca Massaccesi with Maurizio Bellini, Diego Maltese with Mauro Fragiacomo, and the President of the SVViareggina Paolo Insom with the SVV Secretary and Class Assistant Silvio Dell’Innocenti – and many other representatives of the various Star Fleets.
The Benettiche Trophy first assumed the qualification of a Classic event and subsequently – thanks to the Iscyra International Star Class Yacht Racing Association – it was also considered Historic, allowing it to be consecrated at an international level. It was established in the 1960s by Maurizio – then owner with his brother of the MB Benetti shipyard – to remember his father Emilio, one of the most important figures of the Viareggio navy, progenitor of the dynasty of builders of sailing ships, sailing vessels, barcobeasts, tugboats and merchant ships that have made Viareggio known throughout the world since the end of 19th century.
Enrico Chieffi and Nando Colaninno winners of the 2023 Benetti Trophy
President of the Regatta Committee of this 2024 edition will be Marco Cerri who will be assisted by Luigi Liberti and Carlo Cesare Augusto Tessi while the Proteste Committee will be chaired by Riccardo Savorani with Valentina Anguillesi.
The program includes the completion of registrations on Friday from 8.30 to 9.45, the skipper briefing at 9.45 in the room on the first floor of the Club Nautico Versilia and the warning signal for the first test at 12.55. The regattas – a total of five are planned and a maximum of three can be held per day only if they are behind schedule – will also continue on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon at 6pm in the rooms of the CNV the conference (open to all) will take place “Watch out for the light and the skin of those who go by boat”: Doctor Carlo Antonucci, Medical Officer of the Navy specialized in ophthalmology who has also had among his patients the legendary Admiral Straulino (among other things gold in the Star at the filtering glasses, clothing that absorbs UV rays and how to manage minor eye accidents. In the evening, however, the traditional welcome dinner reserved for the crews will take place on the terrace of the Club Nautico Versilia restaurant.
During the awards ceremony – on Sunday at 5pm in the CNV rooms – the first five crews classified in the Benetti Trophy, the winners of the day’s trials, the first helmsman in the Master, Grand Master, Exalted and – new to this edition – Young categories will be awarded Under 30 (demonstrating the great commitment of Velica Viareggina in promoting and spreading the Star especially among younger people). The Andrea Bandoni Trophy will go to the first helmsman who is a member and member of the Viareggina Sailing Fleet. However, in the event that the winner of the Benetti Trophy is a member of the SVV, the Bandoni Trophy will go to the second place winner of the Star Fleet of the SVV in the general classification.
The 2023 edition was won by Enrico Chieffi and Nando Colaninno (SVV, 5 points, 1, ufd, 2,1,1). Also on the podium – ex aequo with 9 points – were Giampiero Poggi (winner of 5 editions) with Davide Mugnaini (AVBracciano; 4,1,1,3,4) and Vincenzo Locatelli (present in 40 editions, won 4 times) with Alessandro Sodano (LNI Mandello del Lario; 2,2,3,9,2). During the awards ceremony, the SVV President Paolo Insom, the Secretary and Sports Director of the CNV Muzio Scacciati, Alfredo Giacon writer, sailor and navigator of the YCCA, and the Star Class Assistant Silvio Dell’Innocenti had also awarded the hosts Antonio Balderi and Amerigo Anguillesi, winners of the 2023 Andrea Bandoni Trophy.
All useful information, the notice and sailing instructions
www.velicaviareggina.altervista.org
www.clubnauticoversilia.it
Press office Società Velica Viareggina Asd
and Club Nautico Versilia
Paola Zanoni
