Sardinia Challenge, the winners of the Optimist Italia Kinder Joy Of Moving Trophy – Touring Cup and the WingFoil Italian Cup
Villasimius – The brilliant blue sea of the Villasimius Marina welcomed the last day of regattas of the Sardinia Challenge with the great success of the Optimist Italia Kinder Joy of Moving Trophy – Touring Cup and the Wing Foil Italian Cup.
Over 250 children with their families reached Villasimius and the Marina, spending a weekend of great sport, fun and relaxation, thus opening the 2024 summer season.
The first departure was that of the Gold fleet, then it was the Cadets’ turn and finally the Silver fleet. The wind remained stable between 6 and 7 knots.
In the Cadet category (division B) the OverAll ranking sees Matteo Faraoni (LNI Ostia) victorious, followed by Andrea Bonvicini (Cv Ravennate), whilst Giosuè Cannavò (Circolo del Tennis e della Vela) from Messina remains firmly on the third step of the podium. Among the girls, the three who achieved the best results were awarded: Francesca Watt (Fraglia Vela Riva), Vittoria Panicucci (Cn Castiglioncello) and Clarissa Montagnoli (Club Vela Portocivitanova).
The trophy for best helmsman of the 2015 class was awarded to Vittoria Pagani (Fraglia Vela Malcesine).
In the Junior category (division A), the first overall were Pietro Lucchesi (LNI Ostia), Andrea Tramontano (Rycc Savoia), Alessandro Menghini (Cv Trasimeno), Anna Chiara Merlo (Lni Mandello Del Lario), Emanuele Napolitano (Rycc Savoia) . The top 5 ranked athletes were also rewarded. They are Anna Chiara Merlo (Lni Mandello Del Lario), Sara Anzelotti (Lni Ostia), Elisa Bombana (Cv Torbole Scsd), Giorgia Tumbarello (Cv Sferracavallo), Mia Paoletti (Club Vela Portocivitanova).
The title of best helmsman of the 2013 class was awarded to Marco De Nicolò (Cv Bari).
The Touring Cup, up for grabs by the Optimist Class since 2000, was awarded to Matteo Faraoni (LNI Ostia).
On the last day no further regattas could take place due to little wind for the Class. The title of the sixth stage of the Italian Wing Foil Cup went to Marco Rebeggiani who prevailed over his opponents in the regattas held yesterday. Also on the podium were the very young Jan Orlowski and Gioele Incani. Special mentions for Krzysztof Orlowski and Riccardo Piana.
For the organizers of the Sardinia Challenge it was an exciting experience and the intent is to repeat it next year.
“They were three unforgettable days – comments Sergio Ghiani, the president of LNI Villasimius – being able to count on the presence of the children, the future sailing champions, is a source of great joy and pride for us. We opened the tourist season of Villasimius with the Sardinia Challenge, an opportunity also for tourists to fully experience the beauty of our Marine Protected Area in the month of May, in the low season.”
“It is an experience that has left its mark – explains Amedeo Ferrigno, the director of the Villasimius Marina – We are applying to repeat the event again next year, we wish to once again host the Optimist Italia Kinder Joy of Moving Trophy – Touring Cup . Our Navy was invaded by the joy of these very young athletes, their smiles were a source of joy for us and we are proud to have seen their commitment and their competitive spirit”.
“Our boys put themselves to the test – comments Walter Cavallucci, president of the Optimist Italia Class – they all demonstrated what each of them can do. Among the objectives that the Class pursues is the promotion of our sport with particular attention to the protection of the sea, the environment in which our children and young people grow, learn, play and have fun. Our thanks go to all the main players, bodies and institutions, who contributed to the holding of the event, to those who dreamed with us three years ago of this great event which then became reality. For us it is an extremely positive experience, in Villasimius the families of our athletes were welcomed with an excellent tourist offer and promotion of the area.”
“The organization was perfect – comments Corrado Fara, the president of the III FIV Zone – thanks to the great hospitality of the Lega Navale Section of Villasimius and the involvement of the administration is a tangible sign that the Municipality is pleased to host events of this type and we as a Federation will promote these and other initiatives”.
“The Sardinia Challenge is an event that we strongly wanted as an administration – comments Michele Cireddu, councilor for tourism and culture of the Municipality of Villasimius – the families of 250 children and teenagers were able to get to know our territory in a low season but splendid period from a meteorological point of view.”
The most represented regions in this first three days of the Sardinia Challenge are Liguria, with 36 participants, followed by Sardinia which has 35 and Lazio with 31 participants. To these are added Trentino, Lombardy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, Campania, Calabria and Sicily.
The Sardinia Challenge promotes a series of events linked to the world of sailing which begin in May with the Optimist Italia Kinder Joy of Moving Trophy – Touring Cup and the Italian WingFoil Cup, continuing towards the 1st international stage Swan 28 scheduled at the end of October.
The Kinder Joy of Moving project is an international Social Responsibility project of the Ferrero Group, designed to encourage children’s natural predisposition to move and play in the belief that a positive attitude towards movement and sport can make today’s children adults better tomorrow. The project is active in 33 countries around the world and involves 2.6 million children in the practice of numerous sports.
The organization of the Sardinia Challenge bears the signatures of the Italian Naval League Section of Villasimius, with the collaboration of the Villasimius Yacht Club, the Villasimius Marina, the Italian Sailing Federation, the III Zone FIV, with the fundamental support of the Optimist Italia Class, which worked hard for the national candidacy of Villasimius, and the Ferrero Group with the Kinder Joy Of Moving project.
The event is sponsored by the Municipality of Villasimius and the Marine Protected Area of Capo Carbonara. The event is promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Department of Tourism, Crafts and Commerce.
