The Star Class returns to Naples. The International Star Class Yacht Racing Association, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia and Flotta di Capri, in collaboration with Sezione Velica Marina Militare Napoli, Circolo Remo e Vela Italia and Circolo Canottieri Napoli and under the patronage of the Italian Sailing Federation, are organizing from Wednesday, April 27th to Sunday, May 1st 2022 the Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship 2022.
Some of the most illustrious names in the sailing world will be in Naples, such as Enrico Chieffi, 1996 Star World Champion and 2021 European Champion, and Diego Negri, 2021 Star World Champion and 2011 European Champion. A total of about 50 teams will be on the starting line of the event, representing 12 nations. The program includes four days of racing, from Thursday, April 28th to Sunday, May 1st (race start scheduled at noon). There will be two races per day for a total of eight races. On Wednesday, April 27th, the opening ceremony will take place before the practice race and the crew party on the dock. The prize-giving ceremony on the terrace of the Circolo Savoia will close the event on Sunday.
Diego Negri, European Vice President of the International Star Class Yachting Racing Association, established in New York in 1911, says: "It will certainly be a beautiful sporting event, the RYCC Savoia has worked with great commitment in the past few months. The races will take place in the beautiful Gulf of Naples, in front of many people who will watch the races from the seafront. We are also satisfied with the number of participants, 50 teams confirm the excellent health of the Star Class. I'll be on the water too, I hope to confirm myself at the top after last year's World title".
The Star Class has been missing in the Gulf since 2006, when Circolo Savoia, then chaired by Pippo Dalla Vecchia, organized the same event, which attracted competitors from Europe and the USA. A very strong relationship between the fleet and Naples, a city that has written unrepeatable pages of international sailing through the action of a great member, Admiral Agostino Straulino (four world titles and ten European ones). The RYCC Savoia won a European Star in 1934 in Marseilles with members Fritz Giannini and Mario Malfitano on Orsa, a boat built in Posillipo by Basilio Postiglione's shipyard. In the 1950s, it was Nino Cosentino who gave the association success in international waters. In 1986, the then FIV president, Carlo Rolandi, a great Star sailor, organized the World Championship in Capri, which ended with the silver medal of Picchio Milone and Roberto Mottola of CRV Italia.
"The idea of bringing the Star class back to Naples was born in the fall of 2020 together with the unforgettable Pippo Dalla Vecchia just to remember Carlo Rolandi, who had passed away a few weeks earlier," says Fabrizio Cattaneo della Volta, RYCC Savoia president. "The logo of the event shows in the center the picture of Rolandi on his Star, Caprice. The initial intention was to propose, together with the Capri Fleet, the "Classic of May", for years a reference regatta on the international scene. The International Star Class did not want to miss the opportunity to join the project by assigning the Eastern Championship to Naples. I want to thank the entire Board for the commitment and the work done, first of all the Sport vice-president Enrico Milano and the Sailing advisor, Nello Oliviero".
The event has the patronage of the City of Naples and Coni Campania. Main Partner is Porsche. Official Sponsors: Synlab SDN; Slam; Reby - K City; Saces; Gennaro Regina; Ferrarelle; Coop; Leopoldo; Mammina; Macchia Mediterranea; Fram and Villa Oliviero.