Italy 2 win the RS Aero Youth Team Race European Championships

After three splendid days of variable, but mostly sunny weather and wind always between 15 and 20 knots, the third edition of the RS Aero Youth Team Race European Championship, held in the waters of Su Siccu in Cagliari and organised by the Società Canottieri Ichnusa and the Lega Navale del Sulcis by delegation of the Italian Sailing Federation, ended with an extraordinary victory for Italy 2. The Italian team, made up of Alice Sussarello and Filippo Vincis, athletes of the Lega Navale del Sulcis, in the lead after the round robin concluded on Saturday, had to face the semifinals on Sunday to try to reach the finals and aim for victory. Fortunately the weather, which vented during the night in a heavy thunderstorm, on Sunday morning still reserved sunshine and perfect wind conditions of 10-15 knots, allowing the Race Committee to quickly continue with the programme, which was completed.

Sussarello and Vincis first won the semi-final against Belgium (2-0), and then dominated the final againstUkraine, overcoming them with a dry 3-0 win in three splendid races. Belgium (Anouck De Ripainsel, Joppe Pattyn) took third place, while Lithuania 2 (Marius Antanavicius, Ruta Mazunaviciute), the country that won the last edition, placed fourth. The final classification was completed with Estonia (Mia Marin Lilienthal, Ott Richard Haal) in fifth place, followed by Great Britain 1 (6th, Edward Day, Jemima Day), Italy 1 (7th, Chiara Sussarello, LNI Sulcis-Francesco Columbano, Nox Oceani Porto Rotondo), Great Britain 2 (8th, Ed Rolleston, Arwen Fflur), Argentina (9th), Ireland(10th), Lithuania 1 (11th) and Germany (12th).

Sussarello and Vincis thus won the precious trophy made by goldsmith Franco Zedda: a reproduction of a Nuragic bronze ship, handmade using the lost-wax casting method. This symbol is intended to honour Sardinia's culture and history, raising awareness among participants from all over Europe about the island's millenary heritage and inviting them to discover its deep roots and welcoming spirit, as emphasised by Sara Olla representing the Sardinian Tourism, Trade and Crafts Department and Corrado Fara, President of the Italian Sailing Federation Sardinia Region, the latter referring to the ideal sailing conditions that all of Sardinia offers.

Roberta Righetti, President of the FIV Race Committee, who together with 5 fellow Race Officials managed no less than 82 starts and finishes, said:"After the first two days, in which the round robin was completed with 66 matches, helped by a good wind between 15 and 20 knots, on the final day on Sunday the semi-finals and finals were held for the first four classified, together with the “King of the Castle”, a system that decides from fifth to twelfth position and which brought some changes in the ranking. With stable winds of around 15 knots, the programme was fully adhered to.

All under-25 participants of the 12 teams in the regatta, together with coaches and accompanying persons, expressed gratitude for the welcome and the opportunity to get to know the beauty of Sardinia up close. The team racing format, which especially on the last day with semi-finals and finals was at its best, focuses not only on speed, but above all on strategy and coordination between teammates. The aim is to obtain a combination of placings that gives as few points as possible, in order to beat the other team. The races are fast (7 minutes on average) and intense, with match racing techniques that include defence and attack tactics, as well as covering and marking techniques, requiring a thorough knowledge of the rules of the race, precision in manoeuvres, collaboration between crews and a keen tactical vision to quickly change strategy and protect one's own team and the end result. The end result is that it makes the most hard-fought matches very interesting for those watching, but above all very entertaining for the sailors involved in the Team Race matches.

Thanks to the invaluable support of local institutions, such as the Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Cagliari, and a technical organisation that was attentive to the needs of the Race Committee, it was possible to conclude a championship that highlighted the growing level of preparation in team racing on the part of all participants.