Saturday 27 April, the gulf of Tigullio was filled with boats, of every size and shape, arriving at Marina di Chiavari Calata Ovest to participate in the VELA Cup Liguria. While Italy was being bitten by a winter cold, with freezing temperatures, rain (and snow), over 40 crews, on board boats from 7 to 24 metres, took part in the first stage of the most fun regatta circuit there is. Line Honors for Azzurro, the splendid Swan 78 by Bruno Veronesi, who crossed the finish line first after a long head-to-head with Goose, Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz’s ICE 52RS with Beppe Cavalieri at the helm and ICE Yachts administrator Marco Malgara on board.All the stages of the VELA Cup 2024
The charge of 40 at the VELA Cup Liguria
In the background the snow-capped peaks of the Ligurian Apennines, in the foreground over 40 crewsand related vessels, arrived from all over northern Italy to participate in this strange winter event out of season. The weather forecast did not at all discourage the VELA Cup people, who arrived in Chiavari for this start of the season. Thus, some with family and some with friends, having put on their oilskins and cast off their moorings, shortly before midday the competitors’ boats set sail for Portofino.
Although the wind was light, around 4/5 knots, in the Gulf of Tigullio there was a long wave due to the storm that hit the center of the Ligurian Sea. It didn’t take long Swan 78 by Bruno Veronesi, Light Blueto gain ground on the rest of the fleet, breaking away immediately from smaller boats with only Goose, Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz’s ICE 52RS, following him at a distance.
Adrenaline moments on board Cheyenne, the Rodman 42 jv of Luca and Tommaso OrianiAnd Arly, the Vismara 43 by Salvatore Sarpero, who cross each other at the mean, narrowly touching each other. In the meantime the wind has increased a little and so on Aia de Ma, Luca Olivari’s home-built Pinguin 38reaches the Portofino promontory with the gunwale in the water.
The Portofino medal was shot, also thanks to Goose’s use of code0, distances have shortened – Azzurro had signed up for the Cruising class, with white sails – until arriving in front of the Marina di Chiavari Calata Ovest. Azzurro finishes in first positioncrossing the finish line with a few minutes advantage over Goose. Cheyenne will follow in third place.
The weather conditions gave the VELA Cup crews no respite, forcing some to withdraw after the wind had dropped to almost zero. Worthy of effort Andrea Venturelli, alone and in his first race aboard Centometers, a Sun Odyssey 26. He will cross the finish line last, without ever giving up.
The protagonists of the VELA Cup Liguria
What reigned supreme at the VELA Cup Liguria, even more than the crazy weather, was the genuine and relaxed spirit of the VELA Cup which in this Ligurian stage he saw racing side by side boats of all types and the most diverse crews. The only common element is the passion for sailing and the desire to have fun!
First of all the crew of Nonna Lucia, the ICE 54 with Andrea Nocentini’s family on boardsailor and friend who sadly passed away a few months ago to whom this regatta was dedicated, also valid as the first stage of the ICE Cup.
Precisely because the VELA Cup is a regatta for everyone, there were not only maxi and racing boats on the starting line, but also cruise boats and Classic Boats (boats at least 25 years old). Among these for example Mirit by Lucio Ruocco, a 1985 Grand Soleil 39 designed by the legendary Alain Jezequel, Little girl by Paolo Ponsicchia 1980 Stag 32 which finished in twentieth position, Adrenaline, the trimaran Massimo Morandini’s 1993 F27, Celestina 3, Francesco Campodonico’s 1996 Este 24, and Hellcat, Leporatti – Valerio’s 1997 Farr 31 came in fourth place.
Honorable mention for Mä Vista by Bruno L. Covathe last boat that Cesare Sangermani, Cesarino’s father who passed away in 1976, designed and built for himself, a true Stradivarius of rare beauty.
And the winners
The Farr 31 of Leporatti – Valerio wins the first stage of the VELA Cup Liguria Hellcat – a Classic Boat – Half Tonner from the IOR era, one of the first boats that planed with relative ease. Line Honors for Azzurro, Bruno Veronesi’s Swan 78, also first among Cruising Boats since he was racing with white sails. In the end second overall but first among the Sport Boats is Goose, the ICE 52RS owned by Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz.
After Chiavari the VELA Cup awaits you in Tuscany
After the great success of last year, the VELA Cup returns to Marina Cala de’ Medici on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May, in the heart of the Etruscan Coast and in front of the splendid Tuscan Archipelago. A second edition that hits the mark and doubles, or rather triples! In the weekend preceding the 151 Miglia, in addition to being there second stage of the VELA Cupthe regatta circuit open to all boats and all sailors (athletes and otherwise), on Saturday, after the awards ceremony, the champions of Italian sailing will take to the stage, with the awarding of the Sailor of the Year awardthe Oscar of Italian sailing.
Sign up now for the VELA Cup Toscana
We eat, drink and dance and if on Sunday you still have energy and the desire to go sailing, there is the Triton Cup – Natura 2000 Regatta. Two regattas, for a weekend to remember, among the scents and flavors of Tuscany and the crystal clear waters of Castiglioncello!
VELA Cup Liguria – All photos
Now, as promised, it’s time to relive the regatta (organized in collaboration with Marina di Chiavari Calata Ovest) for images. By clicking on the link below you will access the official VELA Cup gallery where we will upload all the photos in the next few days!
Look at all the photos of the VELA Cup Liguria
Feel free to download and share them! Now let’s take a look at the winners and the final rankings.
SAILING Cup Liguria – Rankings
Total boats registered: 41
Total boats arrived: 23
LEG WINNER
Special prize Veneziani Yachting with Speedy Carbonium antifouling and Adherpox primer
HellcatLeporatti – Valerio, Farr 31
WINNER OVERALL CRUISING BOAT AND LINE HONORS
Sky blueBruno Veronesi, Swan 78
OVERALL SPORT BOAT WINNER
GooseMaria Ingrid Torres Munoz, ICE 52RS
1 Goose, Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz, ICE 52RS; 2 Grandma Lucia, Nocentini, ICE 54; 3 VeniliaICE 60 Gran Comfort
1 Girl, Paolo Ponsicchi, Perotto Stag 32 of 1980; 2 Mirit, Lucio Ruocco, Grand Soleil 39 of 1985; 3 AdrenalineMassimo Morandini, 1993 Corsair Marine F27
CLASS 1 (up to 9 m)
1 Adrenaline, Massimo Morandini, Corsair F 27; 2 Celestina 3, Francesco Campodonico, Este 24; DNF Gared, Antonio Cogni, Saffier SE 27 Leisure; DNS TabuJMaria Laura Raimondo, J/80
CLASS 2 (9.01 to 10 m)
1 Hellcat, Leporatti – Valerio, Farr 31; 2 Pomella J, Nicola Vivanet, J/92S; 3 Loon II, Alessandro Savasta Fiore. Azuree 33; 4 Girl, Paolo Ponsicchi, Perotto Stag 32; DNF JLab, Alessandro Garibotto, J99; DNF First… very first, Fabio Montale, Beneteau First 34.7; DNF MelaniaRiccardo Bergamasco, Elan 333
CLASS 3 (from 11.01 to 12 m)
1 Cheyenne, Luca and Tommaso Oriani, Rodman 42 jv; 2 Aia De Ma, Luca Olivari, Pinguin 38; 3 Shide, Simone Ronchini, Beneteau First 36.7; DNS BellatrixDaniela Allodi Fiorentini, Italia Yachts 11.98
CLASS 4 (from 12.01 to 13 m)
1 Catherine, Massimo Bonfante, X-Yachts X-40; 2 Grace, Alessandro Agosta, Latitude 46 Tofinou 12; 3 TridentStefano Trifiro, Grand Soleil 39
CLASS 5 (from 13.01 to 15 m)
1 Arly, Salvatore Sarpero, Vismara 43; 2 Alebi, Massimo Arrighi, Advanced Yacht A44; DNS AnnaMassimo Franchini Beneteau Oceanis
CLASS 6 (over 15.01 m)
1 Goose, Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz, ICE 52RS; 2 Grandma Lucia, Nocentini, ICE 54; 3 Venilia, ICE 60 Gran Comfort; DNS Black SamuraiGiuseppe Porro, Carbonline The Fifty
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CRUISING BOAT RANKINGS
CLASS 1 (up to 11 m)
1 CentimetersAndrea Venturelli, Sun Odyssey 26, DNF Mä Vista, Bruno L. Cova, Sangermani one-off; NDF Will be, Stefano Perini, SIBMA EM/24 Roof Cabin; DNF Kiti Munina, Andrea Righini, Rustler 36; DNS GetawayNicola Bosisio, Oceanis 37
CLASS 2 (from 11.01 to 12 m)
DNF Ephram, Massimiliano Poli, Dufour 412 GL; DNF Zerag IV, Vincenzo Romeo, Elan 37; DNS Blue Witch, Carlo Roso and Walter Zunino, Baltic 39; DNS FrappoFilippo Zabban, Bavaria C42
CLASS 3 (from 12.01 to 13 m)
1 Zoe II, Marco Laboccetta, Grand Soleil 43 BC; 2 Mirit, Lucio Ruocco, Grand Soleil 39; DNS GianinPietro Supparo, Hallberg-Rassy 41 Ketch
CLASS 4 (from 13.01 to 14 m)
1 Filiblù, Luigi Polenghi, Grand Soleil LG 42; 2 Yoshi, Emanuele Fiore, Sun Odyssey 43; DNF Freto’sVincenzo Lodi, Elan Impression 434
MAXI CLASS (over 14 m)
1 Sky blueBruno Veronesi, Swan 78
The special prizes
Grazia by Alessandro Agosta, a Tofinou 12 from the Latitude 46 shipyard, wins Elegant Boat award reserved for the most beautiful and elegant boat of each stage, regardless of the result.
Last but not least, Centometers by Andrea Venturellia Sun Odyssey 26, wins the special prize for the last classified in real time, demonstrating tenacity and determination in completing the journey to the end.
VELA Cup Liguria – Prizes drawn
Anyone who knows the VELA Cup knows: there are a lot of prizes up for grabs. The portable GPS Garmin GPSMAP® 86s was won by Emanuele Fiore while the multipurpose knife Leatherman Skeletool CX was won by Massimiliano Poli. There Nocentini family you take it home YachtIngBond sailing jacket and Maria Ingrid Torres Munoz the HiNelson backpack. The ACSI Vela sailing instructor course was won by Andrea Venturelliit discount by 40% up Moby Return trip Livorno – Olbia from Stefano PeriniL’subscription for 3 years “Paper + Digital” at the Giornale della Vela by Stefano Trifiro and the life jacket Plastimo Pilot 165N by Bruno Veronesi. Finally they win the IBSA Paolo Ponsicchi Wellness Box and the outboard motor BF2.3 by Honda Massimo Bonfante.
Photo by Giovanni Mitolo
Giacomo Barbaro
