46 boats from all over Italy are competing, with offshore sailing championships up for grabs
Everything is ready in Brindisi for the start of the Edison Next 2024 Italian Offshore Sailing Championship, the first of the FIV Flag Regattas, and one of the most important events of the Italian sailing season. Every year, at the end of a selection process, the best crews and the best boats meet to attack the “champion” of the high seas.
Offshore sailing is the specialty that brings together yachts from the Regatta and Cruise/Regatta categories, divided into various classes by size: cabin yachts measuring between 9 and 14 meters in length, an expression of the most modern Italian and international shipbuilding. It is a sailing that involves thousands of enthusiasts, owners and sailors, in a busy calendar of competitions which culminates with the Italian Championship, the most awaited event.
The 2024 Absolute Italian Offshore Sailing Championship is one of the 5 reference FIV regattas of the season (together with the Primavela Cup, Italian Youth Singles and Doubles, Italian Olympic Classes), every year the Federvela assigns it to an organizing committee and to one or more prestigious sailing clubs based on the proposals presented which meet the quality standards of the FIV Regulations.
OPENING CEREMONY
The 2024 edition of the Edison Next Italian Offshore Sailing Championship was awarded by the FIV to the organization of the Brindisi Sailing Club. After completing the registrations and the measurements, the official opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday 25 June from 6.30 pm, which will be attended, among others, by the mayor of Brindisi Giuseppe Marchionna, the President of the Italian Sailing Federation Francesco Ettorre, the President of the Brindisi Sailing Club Gaetano Caso, the Port Authority, the Harbor Master’s Office, other authorities and institutions, the President of the offshore sailing shipowners’ association (UVAI) Fabrizio Gagliardi, and the President of the VIII FIV Zone (Puglia ) Alberto La Tegola.
During the ceremony the boats and their teams will be presented, and as per recent tradition, the oaths of the athlete and the Race Officer will be read and after the opening declaration there will be the raising of the championship flag with the national anthem .
FOUR DAYS OF REGATTAS
Four days of regatta are therefore scheduled from Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th June, in the last of which the event will close with the awards ceremony. During the event, collateral events are also planned for owners, crews and companions.
According to the FIV Offshore Regulations, offshore boats in possession of a valid ORC International tonnage certificate are admitted to the Championship, ranging between ORC Class “A” (the largest) and ORC Class “D” ( the smallest), divided between Classes A, B, C and D Regatta and Cruise/Regatta. Each of these Classes awards the title of Italian Offshore Sailing Champion.
The fleet competing on the Brindisi regatta course is fierce and represents the best of the specialty with arrivals from all over Italy: 46 boats registered (21 in Group 1 which brings together the largest hulls of Classes 0, A and B, and 25 in Group 2 of class C). Among the protagonists, boats and crews, who will liven up the days of racing, there are many reigning Italian champions, confirming the importance of the event.
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast indicates a possible start of the championship with light winds on Wednesday 26th, therefore three days of medium-strong north wind of 15-18 knots, making the action on the Brindisi regatta field spectacular.
