From 23 to 26 May 2024 Santa Margherita Ligure will host the first edition of “OndaClassica – Tigullio, Incontro d’Epoche”, an event dedicated to vintage boating, motor and sailing, and to the whole wonderful world that recalls the image of the carefree Italian Dolce Vita of the 1950s, when Tigullio became the hub of the international jet set.
The event is organized by the Riva Society Tigullio of Santa Margherita Ligure, with the partnership of ASDEC (Vintage and Classic Hulls Association), RHS (Riva Historical Society), and the Lariana Boat Museum. We therefore wanted to ask them, specifically the Presidents of the four associations, what Onda Classica means to them.
We are pleased to also report the words of the Mayor of Santa Margherita Ligure, Paolo Donadoni, thanks to whom the whole event was made possible, of the Port Commander Salvatore Amenta, and of Marco Mazzucchelli, president of the Naval League of Santa Margherita who will host part of the participants’ splendid boats.
Paolo Donadoni, mayor of Santa Margherita: “Nauting is part of our history in which we meet shipwrights, fishermen, navigators, inventors, shipowners. Our widespread Civic Museum of the Sea demonstrates this. And even now, pleasure boats are an important part of the city’s economy. The Onda Classica event blends well with our beauty and elegance, with the collective image that the “Italian Riviera” transmits and harmonizes well with other events related to boating”.
Salvatore Amenta, Commander of the port of Santa Margherita Ligure: “This
event will allow us to further increase maritime culture and awareness
and honor national maritime traditions at the same time. It’s an opportunity to reflect
on the social, cultural and economic importance of our sea, also through
dissemination of environmental education and awareness messages for young people
citizens of the sea.”
Luigi Spaggiari, president of Riva Society Tigullio: “The idea of this event was born from my desire to bring together the most important vintage boat associations by twinning in a single event. And what better scenario to do it in the Gulf of Tigullio! Motoryachts, runabouts, sails and racing hulls will be clearly visible in front of the Sant’Erasmo quay, allowing comparison and exchange of experiences for those who are passionate about maritime culture. The plan is to make it a biennial event, alternating with the Montecarlo Classic Week, without the idea of imitating it but with the desire for it to also become a classic event”.
Piero Maria Gibellini, president of Riva Historical Society: “Onda Classica is the spiritual heir of Viareggio Historic Festival. For the second time in Italy we wanted to recreate the complete panorama of a post-war Italian tourist port, in this case Santa Margherita Ligure, where, alongside splendid motorboats of all brands, mostly in shiny mahogany, there are M /Y and wooden or steel sailboats. Their owners (rulers, princesses, famous actors and important industrialists) at the time livened up the docks and carefree nights of an Italy that was once again believing in the future. I hope that the enthusiasm of those who wanted to bring about the dawn of this project, which has been successful in the Principality of Monaco for years, is matched by the support of the many lovers of historic boats”.
Fabio Malcovati, ASDEC president: “Onda Classica represents a very important moment for vintage boating, and this for various reasons: first of all because it marks the return – after several years – of a gathering dedicated mainly to vintage motoryachts; secondly because, for the first time, vintage motoryachts built in synthetic materials are also invited to participate, as long as they present adequate quality characteristics in terms of construction and design.
To complete the reasons for the importance of the gathering, the place where the boats will sail: the Tigullio, one of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean, will be the splendid setting for the event”.
Ferdinando Zanoletti, president of the Lariana Boat Museum: “We are a living museum and a place where we promote nautical culture and the passion for sailing and vintage motorboats with conferences, themed evenings and events.
We are active with participation in sailing events, we are present with one of our crews, this year all female, in the regatta circuit in the 5.5 International Tonnage class.
Onda Classica is a unique opportunity for us to present our mission in one of the most beautiful contexts in the world, the Gulf of Tigullio, knowing that we are sowing on fertile ground by nature and vocation where enthusiasts, shipowners and lovers of the sea meet meet.”
Marco Mazzucchelli, president of the Naval League of Santa Margherita: “The Italian Naval League was founded in 1897 and has been in Santa Margherita Ligure since 1907. Nautical pleasure has been, for over a century, the social and cultural heritage of our association, therefore collaborating in the creation of an event like “Onda Classica – Tigullio, Incontro d’Epoche”, hosting part of the boats at our facilities, is perfectly in tune with our institutional purposes. The event has the great advantage of bringing together boats that have made the history of pleasure boating, exhibiting them in the heart of the city. We also like to remember that prestigious shipyards such as Spertini with its beautiful fisherman Alalunga and Moltedo with the very classic Pexino gozzi were founded in Santa Margherita Ligure”.
www.rivasocietytigullio.it
Tags: Onda Classica Tigullio Incontro dEpoche organizers speak
