Italian Naval Academy Regatta Ran 630, complete triumph for little Lunatika

Crossing the finish line in front of the Italian Naval Academy, Livorno, at 00:54 min. 54 seconds today, April 28, 2023, the Sunfast 3600 Lunatika, double handed by Guido Baroni and Alessandro Miglietti won the Line Honours of the sixth edition of RAN 630 with a total time of 4 days, 13 hours 54 minutes and 54 seconds.

Next, just 27 minutes behind at 1 hour 21 minutes, crossed the finish line Gherardo Maviglia's Amapola II, the first yacht fully crewed, while the third to arrive in Livorno was Audace, which arrived at 2:04 p.m., double handed by Beppe Agliardi and Pasquale Volpi. Lunatika took the lead of the fleet already a few miles after the start of this edition characterized by a particularly intense Mistral, but she was always tailed by Amapola II, which gave her a lot of trouble, almost foreshadowing an overtaking in sight of the finish line. Aboard Lunatika they conducted a race that was not only perfect but in addition, they were able to maintain lucidity, maneuvering to stay in cover of Amapola II at all times, in a sort of offshore match race.

For the Double Handed crew formed by Guido Baroni and Alessandro Miglietti, it was a complete triumph, as they conquered it all: the One Ocean Trophy - reserved for boats that have chosen to adhere to the Onboard Ecology Officer project, designating a crew member to take charge of the boat's adherence to good practices for protecting the sea. All crews have joined the initiative - and the Terra delle Sirene Trophy for the first boat respectively at the Porto Cervo and Capri gates, from this year positioned in front of the Faraglioni rocks; the Naval Academy Challenge Trophy for the first yacht on corrected time in the largest class (in this edition the ORC); first place Double Handed in both ORC and IRC; first place ORC B and first place IRC.

Satisfaction was expressed, as soon as they reached the dock, by skipper and owner, Guido Baroni: "We took part in this regatta for the first time, which turned out to be particularly challenging due to the weather conditions. This increases our satisfaction because the RAN 630 successfully concludes a very concentrated Double Handed offshore sailing campaign, within two weeks we won here and at the Roma per Due race. The Lunatika project with my friend and co-skipper Alessandro Miglietti is going very well and propels us toward an ambitious 2024 transatlantic double-handed sailing program."

Very severe weather conditions in the first 24 hours of the race, with gusts up to 50 knots in the Strait of Bonifacio, pushed many competitors not to challenge the sea beyond their own and the boat's capabilities. By their responsible choice, they were able to acknowledge the sea and the wind for their strength; accepting one's limit is just as honorable an act of seamanship as being able to continue sailing, but only if it is safe. All, upon returning to the Livorno Yacht Club, expressed their desire to return in 2024, recognizing the Naval Academy Regatta as one of the most fascinating offshore trials in the Mediterranean.

"This regatta is growing," says Livorno Yacht Club President Gian Luca Conti, "like a work of art of which we are extremely proud. As with works of art, everyone sees the RAN 630 with their own personal view. So did each of the participants, regardless of whether they finished the test or had the courage to retire. Because courage is awareness. I felt the pride of having taken part in the regatta and the desire to be able to participate again, to be at sea again, a desire like that of continuing to admire a work of art without ever getting tired of the ever-changing emotions it offers."

Still racing are the Navy's two yachts, Antares and Stella Polare, for whom participation in the RAN 630 has first and foremost educational value before competitive value since the crews are made up of cadets from the Naval Academy. The Medaglia d'Oro al Valor Militare Saverio Marotta Trophy is dedicated to them. In addition to the renewed partnership with Officine Gullo, the 2023 edition saw the arrival of Official timekeeper Locman, a watchmaker based on Elba Island, which will offer the winners some of its timepieces customized for the occasion, in particular a Montecristo model will be presented to the winning yacht of the Line Honours, while other models will be the prizes destined for the winners in compensated time in all categories. The MOVM CC Saverio Marotta Trophy is supported by BF SpA under the Le Stagioni d'Italia brand.

As part of its social responsibility initiatives, the Livorno Yacht Club will donate 10 percent of entry fees to the Rava Foundation for the people of Turkey and Syria affected by the recent earthquake. In addition, to promote social reintegration and circular economy, on the eve of the start the competitors received a bag, packed by inmates from the Mammagialla prison in Viterbo, with regenerated Millenium Tech sails.