Sport
The union of the two continents, the European and the African, through the love of the sea and sailing, to strengthen the values of friendship and peace between the two shores of the Mediterranean. This is the objective of the “EurAfrica Cup – Sails without Borders”, the sailing event, promoted by the Naval League of Mazara del Vallo in synergy with Port Yasmine Hammamet and sponsored by the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism, the Italian Embassy in Tunis, the Municipality of Mazara del Vallo, and by FIV.
This morning at the Lega Navale in Mazara del Vallo the presentation conference of the event took place, the fifth edition of which will take place from 19 to 30 June. Present were the president of the local LNI section, Giampiero Tilotta, the mayor of the city Salvatore Quinci, the designated councilor Vito Billardello, the state police inspector Giovanni Accurso Tagano and the president of the “Val di Mazara” Mario Tumbiolo (see cover photo taken by us).
Tilotta thanked those present, including several representatives of participating crews, the Italian and Tunisian authorities, and the sponsors in various capacities, and those who also worked behind the scenes in organizing the event. You then illustrated the program of the event which will start on the morning of June 19th with the departure of 14 boats, which will stop in Pantelleria before reaching the “Yasmine” Marina in Hammamet. During the days of stay in Tunisia, various institutional and promotional activities, convivial moments and excursions are planned, including a sail in the bay of Hammamet. The return is scheduled for Tuesday 25 June which will see 34 Tunisian crews and more joining the 14 Italian crews.
“For this reason I want to thank – added Tilotta – the State Police for their availability in guaranteeing here, upon the arrival of the boats, the border police, the Port Authority and the Customs Authority”. From 27 to 30 January various visits are planned for guests: from the Kasbah of Mazara del Vallo to the CNR of Torretta Granitola, to the Lega Navale of Sciacca, a Mazara-Sciacca sailing trip, and finally, on 30 June a gala dinner at the LNI of Mazara del Vallo. “Our city – said Mayor Quinci – is proud to be able to sponsor this event.
We want Mazara del Vallo to become the ‘north’ of the Mediterranean area and, like the North Star for sailors, can contribute together with all of Sicily to becoming a reference for the full and substantial development of the entire area. Europe and Africa, divided by a few miles of sea, will ideally be united by a symbolic bridge, using sport as an extraordinary tool to carry forward messages of peace, cooperation and brotherhood. This year the organization of the event coincided with the electoral campaign, I assure concrete participation for the next edition, also including the event in the calendar of events”. Mario Tumbiolo instead highlighted the participation of the “Val di Mazara” Wine and Flavor Route in the event in order to convey and promote the food and wine excellences of the area; Tumbiolo has renewed the partnership, already started in recent years, with the Mazara section of the LNI also on the occasion of the summer event “Stelle sul Mazaro” which takes place in the month of August.
Silvio Abate, together with Samir Chalfouh, coordinator of the event, provided technical and logistical details to the participants. Finally, President Tilotta, supported in the translation into Arabic by Mrs. Anissa Ben Sada, read a message addressed to the authorities of the two countries, concluding: “…I thank you very much for making this great moment of intercultural sharing possible. Crews prepare to hoist the sails. Good wind”.
Francesco Mezzapelle
