The wait is almost over: while on the quay of the Versilia Nautical Club the crews are completing the preparations on the boats, in the Regatta Village everything is ready in view of the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday 25th with which the III Viareggio-Bastia-Bastia will begin. Viareggio – Angelo Moratti Trophy, the sailing event between Sustainability and Innovation scheduled until Friday 28 June and organized by the Club Nautico Versilia with the Municipality of Viareggio and Navigo, under the aegis of the Fiv, the patronage of the Tuscany Region and the Province of Lucca , of the Municipalities of Viareggio and Bastia, of the Navy and of the Marevivo Association, the collaboration with UVAI and the support of the Port Authority of Viareggio.
Among the boats that will be protagonists of this 2024 edition are the 100′ ARCA SGR with Furio Benussi and the Fast and Furio Sailing Team – holders of the regatta record (18 hours 24m 13s) for the second consecutive year -, the Vismara MOMI 80 of AngeloMario Moratti and Nicola Minardi who with Filippo Terzani and the Club Nautico Versilia thought of reviving the VBV, the 65′ Edimetra – designed by Frers and built by Cookson in New Zealand, ex Rrose Selavy, who returned to the world of regattas thanks to the passion of new Owner -, the winner of the first edition in IRC and ORC (which last year had to withdraw due to a failure at the start) the GS 56′ Axa Paolisssima of the CNV owners Luca Poli and Paola Poggi who with his Agencies AXA is also a Partner of the event, the 50′ K9 of the owner Gianluca Giurlani – built by Vismara Marine and designed jointly between Alessandro Vismara and Guido Spadolini -, the Swan 45 Thetis of Luca Locatelli, the XP 44 Orizzonte of the member CNV Paolo Bertazzoni – entered in the Double Handed category and helmed by Fabrizio Marianelli with bowman Giorgio Iacconi -, and two institutional boats: the flagship of the Guardia di Finanza sailing fleet Grifone III present for the first time at the VBV on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the GdF and the Navy vessel Gemini.
The Race Committee will be composed of the President Riccardo Incerti Vecchi with the 1st Member Alessandra Virdis, Matteo Chimenti, Ubaldo Sgherri, Alessandro Beppi and Jacopo Morelli.
While at sea the Maxi (over 60′) and the boats over 42′ (12.80 m) will compete in full respect of the ecosystem of the stretch of sea involved on the traditional route between Versilia and Corsica (route of the epic VBV, the most important offshore powerboat race born in July 1962 a few years after the foundation of the Viareggio association), an engaging program of social and cultural events organized in the Regatta Village and numerous guests will attract the attention not only of sailing enthusiasts but of many tourists , residents or simply curious people who will be protagonists of one of the most glamorous events of the Viareggio summer.
The traditional and engaging Opening Ceremony (Tuesday 25th, 7pm) will officially kick off the III VBV – Angelo Moratti Trophy 2024 and will be followed (7.30pm) by the meeting “How to prepare a Long Regatta. Free chat between two sailors.” and (8pm) the Welcome cocktail & DJ Set.”
The following day, after the Skipper Briefing (11.30 am), the regatta will start (2 pm) and should finish within 40 hours. In the afternoon (4-6 pm) it will be the turn of the workshop open to all “La Robotica Marina” organized by Navigo and the Robotics Festival. A cocktail will be held at 6.30pm.
On Thursday 27 June, while awaiting the arrival of the boats, the “La Robotica Marina” workshop will continue (10-12.30 am), while in the afternoon two unmissable meetings are scheduled: the first (6.30 pm) on “Sustainable Finance” by Azimut Investimenti with the participation of Marevivo and to follow, Rosalba Giugni, President and Founder of Marevivo, will tell her story and that of Marevivo, in an interview with Fabio Pozzo. In the evening the Azimut Investimenti Cocktail.
And finally, in the late afternoon of Friday 28th (6.30 pm) the President of Sanlorenzo SpA, Massimo Perotti, interviewed by Fabio Pozzo, will talk about Innovation and Sustainability in the world of Nautical. The evocative Gala Dinner on the quay in front of the Nautical Club and the Awards Ceremony will conclude the evening and this 2024 edition.
“All this would not be possible without the important support of the Partners who accompany us in this exciting adventure, in particular the institutional ones such as the Municipality of Viareggio which reiterates the sensitivity and attention towards the promotion of Sport and the relaunch of the Versilia town and the investee iCARE – Viareggio Porto 2020.” The Sports Director of the CNV Muzio Scacciati explained that he is following every single detail of this event: “They are joined by non-institutional partners such as Next Yacht Group – enthusiastic to participate in this event with its prestigious brands Maiora and AB Yachts, excellences of the international luxury yachting – and Azimut Capital Management – a company of the Azimut Group, an independent and global company in asset management, wealth management, investment banking and fintech, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange -, the Frati Group, the Codecasa shipyard , Axa Assicurazioni (agencies in Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and Pisa), the Banca del Monte Foundation which shares the values of innovation and sustainability of the event as well as Corepla present as Green Partner and Eurven as technical partner, both committed to promote sustainability and environmental innovation. Also very important is the presence of Marevivo, the environmental association that has been working for the protection of the Sea and the Environment since 1985, the patronage of the Tuscany Region which further raises the cultural and sporting profile of the event, without forgetting the local partners Galliano and Vannucci Plants.”
The VBV therefore promises to once again leave an indelible mark among participants and spectators.
