Italia Yachts Sailing Week: Scugnizza, winner of the first edition

Today was the final day of the first edition of the Italia Yachts Sailing Week organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and by the Italia Yachts boatyard under the patronage of the Italian Sailing Federation, (FIV - Federazione Italiana Vela). Enzo de Blasio's Scugnizza wins the first edition of this event by placing first in the Racer Division, sailing with the Spanish sailor Luis Doreste, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, as tactician. Michele Centemero's Sofima wins the Italia Yachts Challenge Trophy.

The first two days of the event saw the fleet sail along some of the most famous spots of the Costa Smeralda's Arcipelago di La Maddalena like the Passo delle Bisce and the islands Monaci and Mortoriotto. Today the fleet waited patiently on the water for a couple of hours for the breeze to fill in, but in the end the Race Committee hoisted the AP over A flag indicating that there would be no racing for the day.

The overall results saw Enzo De Blasio's IY 11.98 Scugnizza in first place. The same team placed first in the Racer Division too with perfect scores. Giulia, Rudolf Vrestal's IY 9.98 together with Sofima, Michele Centemero's IY 15.98 sailed well throughout followed closely by Giuseppe Gubbini's IY 10.98 Joshua 3. Sailing with Giorgio Saviani, Joshua 3 placed a very respectable fourth. Behind them Andrea G. Busso's IY 13.98 Sakura, Michele Vitulano's IY 14.98, Furia and Gino Rigotti's IY 13.98 Mezzaluna II all finished within three points of each other showing how close the scoreboard was.

The Italia Yachts Challenge Trophy was captured by Michele Centemero's Sofima, first in the Cruiser Division, the most numerous division on the water. Second and third in this division were Furia and Mezzaluna II.

The Garmin Special Award went to the Arcidiacono family's Reginella. With this being their regatta debut, they really captured the spirit of the occasion by sailing as a family and living aboard during the event. Alberto Salatti aboard the IY 13.98 È Mia III and Andrea Busso aboard the IY 13.98 Sakura, both of whom placed fourth in their respective Cruiser and Racer Divisions, won prizes awarded by Quantum Sails.

One of the best-loved moments of the Italia Yachts Sailing Week was the Barbecue Party held on the YCCS terrace. Here owners enjoyed a sunset dinner over looking the Porto Cervo harbour. Edoardo Recchi, the YCCS Secretary General, and Daniele De Tullio, CEO of Italia Yachts, thanked all of the owners and their teams for participating at this first Italia Yachts event.

Michael Illbruck, YCCS Commodore, had these words: "We had some lovely days of sun, breeze and racing in the Arcipelago. A familiar and convivial spirit characterised this first edition of the Italia Yachts Sailing Week, and we are happy that owners and their crews enjoyed this event along with their families and friends."

Daniele De Tullio, CEO of Italia Yachts said: "We really hit our mark of wanting to enjoy some good times with our owners, even those who haven't raced their boats before. We really got everyone in to the spirit of our boatyard which is to enjoy sailing aboard boats that can give real pleasure on the water whether you're racing in a Championship, competing with a crew of friends, or just enjoying a cruise with your family. The fact that we held this first Italia Yachts Sailing Week in such a stunning spot also helped us get this message to our owners!"

Luis Doreste, tactician aboard Scugnizza said: "These past days have been fantastic. We had two excellent coastal races and the feeling both aboard and ashore was great. The organisation was perfect, we felt like we were at home. This is the second time that I have sailed with this crew and I'm very happy to have taken part in this first edition of the Italia Yachts Sailing Week!"

Overall Scoreboard: 1. Scugnizza - Enzo De Blasio (2 p.); 2. Giulia – Rudolph Vrestal (4 p.); 3. Sofima - Michele Centemero (6 p.) . Racer: 1. Scugnizza – Enzo De Blasio (2 p.) 2. Giulia – Rudolph Vrestal (4 p.); 3. Joshua 3 – Giuseppe Gubbini (9 p.). Cruiser: 1. Sofima – Michele Centemero (6 p.); 2. Furia - Mauro Vitulano (13 p.); 3. Mezzaluna II – Gino Rigotti (14 p.).

The next event at the YCCS will be the ORC World Championship scheduled to be held from June 22nd to 30th in Porto Cervo.