The Edison Next Italian Offshore Sailing Championship in Brindisi 2024 kicked off with a long day at sea for the 46 boats competing. Having left the Brindisi Marina at 10.30am, the crews returned to port only after 6.30pm: eight very variable hours at sea, which produced two tests and the first official rankings.
These were two very different regattas. The first race started around 1pm, when an east wind between 6 and 8 knots allowed the Race Committee to give the start. With calm seas and light, changeable air, the race was interesting and offered technical ideas for helmsmen, tacticians, bowmen and riggers. The concentration for the entire test was decisive for the result.
A completely different scenario for the second regatta, which started with difficulty: after two general warnings for early departure for a large part of the fleet, a 180° wind shift brought a strong Libeccio wind with gusts of around 18 knots, which then stabilized at 15-16 knots. Having redesigned the race course with a windward mark towards the port of Brindisi, the race finally started around 5pm. The set-up of sails and weights on board was completely different from the first race, close crossings and some problems when maneuvering with spinnakers and gennakers.
THE TOP RANKINGS
In Group 1 (Classes A and B, Regatta and Cruise divisions), in the lead after two races is a boat with an Estonian flag (out of the rankings for the Italian title), Sugar 3, Italia Yachts 11.98 of the owner Otto Kikkas with a on board the Italian tactician Sandro Montefusco (1-1 the two placings of the day), second place (first of the Italians) for Sideracordis, X41 of Pier Vettor Grimani (5-2) on equal points with Guardamago III, another Italia Yachts 11.98 of Massimo Romeo Piparo (4-3). Fourth and third of the Italians is Reve de Vie, Grand Soleil 43 by Ermanno Galeati and Angelo Davide, 3 points behind (3-7).
In Group 2 (Class C, Cruise and Regatta divisions), Sarchiapone Fuoriserie is first in the standings, Italia Yachts 9.98 of the Ligurian Gianluigi Dubbini (his debut placings 3-1), with Lorenzo Bodini and Roberto Dubbini on board, with 2 points margin over the second, Take Five Jr, another Italia Yachts 9.98 by Roberto Distefano (1-5). Further behind in third place is South Kensington, First 35 by Massimo D’Andrea Licata.
The Italian offshore sailing event Edison Next in Brindisi 2024 has started off on a high note and promises exciting regattas and close rankings. Strong winds from the north of between 15 and 20 knots are expected in the next few days. Many big names in sailing are competing, names like Tommaso Chieffi, on board Claudio Terrieri’s Swan 45 Blue Sky (in seventh place after two races), Mauro Pelaschier (on WB Eight, Gianclaudio Bassetti’s XP50), Gabriele Bruni, on To Be , Italia Yachts 11.98 by Stefano Rusconi, to name just a few.
The FVillage, with many stands and a stage equipped with a large screen, is the heart of the championship in the Marina di Brindisi square: in the morning at 10 am the skipper briefing is well attended, while after the regatta there is the unmissable pasta- party, which on the first day, given the time the boats returned, became a dinner!
 on the first day of the Italian Offshore Sailing Championship){kind=link}