Now the games are over. From May 31st to June 2nd there city of Trani will transform into the Italian capital of offshore sailing with the VI edition of the “Champions Cup – Italia Yachts Trophy. With the consolidated organization of the Naval League of Trani, under the aegis of FIV, the Champions Cup is confirmed as one of the most important and competitive sailing events on a national level. It is a challenge that tests the preparation and skills of the sailing teams but also offers an opportunity for pure fun for owners and crews and an exciting show for sailing lovers.
Faithful to its tradition, in fact, the Champions Cup offers with Trani a splendid regatta field in the waters overlooked by the historic village and cathedral, with perfect organization in the water and on land. Reserved for a limited fleetthe Champions Cup is a sporting challenge which brings together the best crews through qualification in the FIV Zone VIII offshore championships and summons with an exclusive invitation the boats that have excelled in the national and international offshore sailing competitive circuits.
There are twenty boats registered who have confirmed their presence in Puglia for a weekend that promises to be full of pure passion and adrenaline. The Italia Yachts fleet is particularly large who decided to participate in the event sponsored by his parent company to test himself and compete on a unique battlefield.
Two Italia Yachts 11.98, five IY 9.98 and one 14.98 will arrive in the Adriatic waters in the next few days. The 14.98 present will be Fury by Michele Vitulano (CV Bari). Among the 11.98 we find Wizardwarden III (CNRT) by Massimo Romeo Piparo, artistic director of the Teatro Sistina in Rome, sailing enthusiast and expert, Absolute Italian Offshore Sailing Champion 2023, winner of the Punta Sendardo Trophy 2024 and of the Riva di Traiano Winter Championship 23-24, as well as runner-up of the 2023 ORC Mediterranean Championship; And GAP 5 by Giovanni Stecconi (SEF Stamura), winner of the Conero regatta in 2023 in the Regatta class and in 2022 and 2021 for the Cruise class, and of the Stecconi ORC Trophy 2021.
They will arrive in the waters of Trani between 9.98 Sarchiapone Fuoriserie by Gianluigi Dubbini (YC Sanremo), winner of the Punta Stendardo Trophy, of the West Liguria 23 – 24 and 2020 Winter Championship, of the Alassio Sailing Week 2019 and of the 2022 Overall and Regatta; Unpopergame by Niki Vescia (LNI Trani), winner of the Don Ferdinando Capece Minutolo trophy 2023 and of the Zonale di Altura 2023 championship; of the Scellerata Regatta in the Overall class in 2022, second at the Brindisi Corfù in 2021 and third at the 2021 Champions Cup; Lady Day by Corrado Annis (YC Adriaco) winner of the UVAI Shipowner of the Year 2023 title, of the International Sailing Week Trophy, of the Orc World Championship in Corinthian class in 2022, of the Tre Golfi – Sorrento Regatta in Class C and of the Caorle per Tutti regatta 2021. Still among the 998, very faithful to the Regatta dei Due Golfi, it will also arrive in Trani Giulia by Rudolf Vrestal from the Czech Republic (YC LodnÍ Sporty Brno) and with her Ecclevì by Gasira Yachting.
In addition to the Italia Yachts fleet there will be 12 other great Italian champions who will arrive in Trani for the Champions Cup. Let’s talk about the Peterson 42 IOR class – Doctor Faustus by Cesare Filograna with Giuseppe Miglietta at the helm (CV Gallipoli), an aluminum boat from the same shipyard that created Azzurra which, after a complex restyling, is ready to compete on national and international regatta fields to give its opponents a hard time; of the Beneteau – First 36.7 Canopus (SVMM) armed by Cosimo Bottiglione under the banner of the Taranto Navy Sailing Section which obtained second place at the Jonio Offshore Sailing Winter Championship – city of Taranto; of the Grand Soleil 43 R – Reve de Vie by Ermanno Galeati with Angelo Davide Galeati (CNSBT) at the helm, already European champion in Malta in the Orc Corinthian category and with a hard-fought fourth place in the Orc 2 category at the Copa del Rey Mapfre sailing, from Palma de Mallorca; and its “younger brother” Grand Soleil – GS 40 Grace by Nicola Turi (CV Bari) who, as overall winner for offshore racing at the XXIV City of Bari Winter Offshore Sailing Championship, enters the Champions Cup fleet with full sails. The Swan 42 cannot be missing – Morgan V by Nicola de Gemmis (CC Barion) with Mario Zaetta at the helm who, after the brilliant second place at the ORC Mediterranean Championship, is now aiming for the podium of the Champions Cup; nor the already three-time champion of the event (in 2018, 2019 and 2022) as well as bronze at the Italian Absolute Championship in Marina di Massa Trottolina Bellikosa Race X Yacht X-35 by Saverio Trotta (YC Marina del Gargano), accompanied by the Heuristics 2 by Siro Casolo (CN Bari), winner in 2023 of the Indeco Trophy which celebrates the union between the excellence of Italian industry and the values of high-level sport, returns to the water to defend his title. And again, the Cobra Marine Cori 53 Moonshine by Leonardo Cappeluti (LNI Bisceglie), the Comet 36 sport Hydra by Valerio Savino (CN Bari), Salona 37 Duo of the owner Raffaella Savini with Emanuele De Martinis Terra (CV Ventoforte) of Pescara at the helm, the Bavaria 35 Match Biba by Giacomo Scalera (Cus Bari) first place in the Radicci Sailing Cup 4th Autumn Cup City of Bari, and finally L’M37 The Eighth Sin by Marco Mucci with Francesco Manno at the helm (LNI Trani).
The City of Trani, excellent ambassador of the territory, with its important artistic and architectural heritage that dominates the port, epicenter of the city and of the event, offers a perfect setting for the regatta, allowing owners, crews and enthusiasts to experience an unmissable experience . Of great importance are the partnerships created in the area such as the one with the Urban Commercial District of Trani to offer a program of services aimed at the crews participating in the regatta, the families and guests who will arrive in Trani to follow the sporting event. The commercial operators participating in the initiative, in fact, will offer agreements and facilities reserved for shipowners and teams participating in the race, as well as their guests. Thanks to a perfect synergy with the commercial activities, participants will simply need to present their personal pass to access the agreements. This is an example of excellent cooperation between local organizations and activities, for the best success of events. The list of activities participating in the agreement with related facilities can be consulted on the DUC Trani website www.ductrani.it and on the 2024 Offshore Sailing Champions Cup www.coppacampioniattivazonafiv.it/
And that’s not all. During the Champions Cup the passion for the sea is also combined with culture with an initiative promoted by Susanna Vitulanowhich fits perfectly into the atmosphere of the regatta. Friday 31 May at 6.30 pm the Terrazza Lega Navale Trani will host the presentation of the book “Help me watch” by Nando Nunziante, an off-the-schedule appointment of the cultural event Conversazioni dal Mare. The meeting is open to the public and offers sailing enthusiasts and lovers of good reading an opportunity to learn more with the author. The book, published by Gelsorosso and written by Nando Nunziante, well-known RAI journalist and face of TGR Puglia, recounts the emotional meeting between two young people against the backdrop of an oceanic island, where the sea and nature reign supreme. Leading the conversation with the author will be Marilena Farinola, a journalist who will be able to lead the debate with questions and insights.
For Sunday 2 Junein conjunction with the awards ceremony, a moment of celebration. The Duc Trani will have an artistic/trophy cake created at the Puglia Cake festival to add to the prizes for the participants and will offer the cake to celebrate with the winners after the official awards ceremony.
Reached yours 6th editionthe Champions Cup – Italia Yachts Trophy is among the most important sailing events in Italy and the Mediterranean, and enjoys the patronage of Puglia region, Municipality of Trani, UVAI, Port Authority, Confesercenti Barletta – Andria – Trani, Urban District of Commerce Trani, Confcommercio Bari and Bat, Itst. The event is also valid as the National Championship of the Adriatic East Ionian Area and for the purposes of the Shipowner of the Year Trophy 2024 – UVAI ranking, as well as qualification for the 2024 Italian Absolute Offshore Championship which will be held in Brindisi on 24 June and is valid finally, also for the 30th edition of the Puglia Altura Zonal Championship.
Main sponsors of the event Italia Yachts and Indeco, in addition to Intempra, Happy network, Centro Diagnostico Coratino, Proprodotti di Manduria, Unipolsai Assicurazioni di Cortellino Assicurazioni, Villa Schinosa and Dai Optical Industries; technical sponsor Objective Mare. Sports Partner, Saily.it, Publitalia Sport and Gadget, Puglia Cake Festival.
Info and details on: Champions Cup VIII FIV Zone – Altura Zonal Championship (coppacampioniattivazonafiv.it).
