Golden moment forViareggio Historical Sails Associationwhich after an exciting sixth edition of the Coppa Ponte Vecchio in Florence, reserved for the historic dinghies of the 12′ Dinghy class, successfully concluded the fourth edition of the Capraia Sail Rallywhich took place on the Tuscan island from 6 to 8 June 2024.
About twenty vintage, classic and historic boats participated, which gave life to a real Floating Museum moored along the docks of the port, with signs describing their history.
If we add that recently also the correspondent of “Striscia la Notizia” Davide Rampello has sung the praises of the island in his column Countries and Landscapes and that the municipal administration, in the person of the mayor of Capraia Lorenzo Renziwanted to establish a special trophy dedicated to sails, it is confirmed that what was strongly desired by the Viareggio Historical Sails Association, chaired by the Florentine Gianni Fernandeshas achieved the objective of enhancing the timeless charm of these boats in a unique landscape context.
The Capraia Sail Rally, again this year characterized by great conviviality and friendship between the crews, was organized with the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the Province of Livorno, the Municipality of Capraia Isola, the FIV Italian Sailing Federation, the Coast Guard, the AIVE Italian Association of Vintage Sails and the Noble Maritime Order of the Knights of Capraia.
Thursday 6 June the boats arrived in Capraia until late in the evening due to the lack of wind along the route. The day’s rankings were drawn up by the Florentine team Frisbi natural energya company that supplies only renewable electricity, which has made Barbara of 1923 its “operational base” to analyze the traces Navionics of the path of all hulls after the “multistart” occurred from various ports in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The fleet was awaited by a convivial welcome cocktail held at the Casa del Noble Maritime Order of the Knights of Capraia. Friday 7 June the first coastal regatta took place between two buoys placed respectively in front of the sixteenth century Fort San Giorgio and in front of Antsrocks emerging near Punta della Teglia, off the northern coast of Capraia.
Despite light breezes, up to 5 knots of intensityit was possible to conclude the test with Mariska of 1908 always leading the competition. In the afternoon, the historic cars taking part in the “Isola di Capraia” Competition of Elegance disembarked from the ferry, combining vintage cars and boats.
The event, organized by the member Vele Storiche Viareggio Roberto Giacinti in partnership with Scuderia Automobilistica Clemente Biondetti of Florence, saw model boats from Alfa Romeo, Triumph, Mercedes, Austin, Porsche, Fiat and Morgan parading and stopping in front of them. In the evening, at the Hypogean Hallthe day’s awards ceremony and crew dinner took place.
“The Capraia Sail Rally” said Mayor Renzi, “it must become an unmissable event and our community thanks Le Vele Storiche Viareggio. Also for this reason I announce the establishment starting this year of a Challenge Trophy to be awarded to the winner of Saturday’s regatta”.
On the day of Saturday 8 June the second and final coastal test took place, defined as “reverse race”. In this competition, with sirocco wind a 15 knots of intensity, each boat started at a time established based on the handicap assigned by the organization, with the aim of allowing multiple boats to cross the finishing line almost simultaneously. Crivizza of 1966, after having won the day before Knights of Capraia Challenge Trophythe new one also won Isola di Capraia Classic Challenge Trophy. Second and third place of the day were Ojala II of 1973 and the splendid Fife Mariella of 1938.
“Harmonious appreciation of the emotion produced by the combination of the car with the vintage boat”. This is the motivation with which Roberto Giacinti announced the victory of Best of Show to Mariska of 1908 and one Triumph TR3 from 1958 from Prato Mauro Bini crewed with Vittorio Mascaleros. If the first is the twin of the 15 Meter International Tonnage Tuiga (1909) del Prince Albert II of Monacoan identical model of this Triumph belonged to the movie star Marcello Mastroianni. Mariska raced representing the Real Club Nautico of Barcelona and won both in the 1st VSV Grouping and among the CIM Vintage Yachts.
In the special car-boat ranking, second place went to the pairing Crivizza from 1966 with one Austin Healey 100/6 bn4 of 1959, followed by Vistona of 1937 with another Austin Healey Frog Eye from 1960. Present at the event with his Mercedes 500 SL from 1990 too Stefano Biondettigreat-grandson and vice president of the Florentine Automobile Scuderia of the same name founded in 1957 and named after Clemente Biondetti, famous road driver who died in 1957 at the age of 55, winner of 2 Targhe Florio and 4 Mille Miglia. To underline the car-sail relationship, the fact that Biondetti is also the owner of the Class ‘A’ Queensplendid vintage dinghy based in Versilia.
MACCIONE PHOTO
