Sardinia Sailing Cup, si chiude uno straordinario 2024
Victory in the waters of Su Siccu aboard the Hansa 303 goes to France, with Brill Gauthier securing the lead in the rankings.
Italy climbs onto the Inclusive Development Programme podium with Andrea Quarta and Davide Di Maria. The women’s podium is an all-Italian aair with Nina Corbetta, Alessandra Franchi, and Alessandra Cappellu. The Inclusive Development Programme concludes the packed schedule of the Sardinia Sailing Cup, an event that in September, October, and November drew over 1,000 participants, including athletes, teams, and organizers.
Italy, Austria, Great Britain, France, Sweden, and Singapore competed from November 24 to 26 for the coveted trophy as part of a program aimed at promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the sailing world. The initiative combined training and racing sessions. Moreover, the Cagliari event served as a strategic platform for the Italian national para sailing team to prepare for the Hansa 303 World Championship, set for March 2025 in Australia. Data collected during the Cagliari IDP event will also contribute to eorts to reinstate sailing in the Paralympic Games, with a view toward Brisbane 2032. During the event in Cagliari, the 2025 Sardinia Sailing Cup schedule was unveiled, as conrmed during the recent World Sailing global conference held in Singapore.
"Sardinia and Cagliari will once again take center stage from September 23 to October 18, 2025," remarked Mirco Babini, coordinator of the Sardinia Sailing Cup. "During this period, the 49er World Championship, 49FX World Championship, Nacra 17 World Championship, the Absolute Formula Kite World Championship, and the Absolute Formula Wing World Championship will take place. Additional events may further enrich the Sardinia Sailing Cup in the coming months. This is the result of the work initiated in 2023, when the Sardinia Sailing Cup was conceived with the forward-thinking goal of hosting a variety of major events under its umbrella," Babini added. "The Sardinia Sailing Cup is an adventurous, thrilling, wonderful, and rewarding journey," commented Corrado Fara, President of the FIV’s III Zone. "We have brought to Cagliari and Sardinia the biggest sailing events held in Italy. This city and island are fearless and capable of hosting any kind of event with exceptional participation.
Closing with an international Para Sailing event is an honor, and we are condent that the future will bring us more events of this caliber. I thank President Ettorre for his trust in our Zone, particularly in Cagliari, allowing us to grow in organizing large-scale events. Special thanks to Mirco Babini, whose organizational expertise has enabled us to execute complex events awlessly. My gratitude also extends to World Sailing, especially to Hannah Stolden, for choosing Cagliari for the second consecutive year. We hope this event will also take place in 2025."
"It is with great enthusiasm and profound gratitude that we conclude this second edition of the Inclusive Development Programme," commented Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV). "We have experienced intense and emotional days that have shown us once again how sailing can truly be a sport for everyone, without barriers. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the participants—the athletes, coaches, organizers, and everyone who made this event possible. Your passion, dedication, and energy turned Cagliari into a hub of inclusion and sporting values. Sporting activity and technical insights were the two pillars of a dense, structured program.
This event aims to become a tradition, a xed point in a calendar that the Italian Sailing Federation intends to increasingly dedicate to inclusion and Para Sailing. It is worth emphasizing the global para sailing hub we are advancing in collaboration with World Sailing. The growth of the Para Sailing Academy in recent years is a source of pride and a starting point for building an even more inclusive and accessible future for all. Thank you for believing in this project and sharing this unique experience with us. We look forward to meeting again next year to write another chapter of this extraordinary story." "Closing this second edition of the Inclusive Development Programme lls us with pride and satisfaction. In recent years, we have witnessed not only a growing number of participants but also increased awareness and enthusiasm for Para Sailing as an extraordinary example of boundless sport," said Fabio Colella, FIV National Advisor for Para Sailing.
"I want to thank everyone present, particularly the athletes, who once again showed us that sport is an inclusive force capable of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities. Special thanks also go to the coaches, organizers, and everyone who worked with dedication to ensure the event’s success. The Italian Sailing Federation's commitment to promoting inclusion does not stop here. Para Sailing will remain a priority, and we are already working on new projects and consolidating events like this one. The next event will be in Rome on December 2–3, where we will review our Academy. The Inclusive Development Programme is not just a sporting event but embodies a clear message: sailing is for everyone. Together, we can continue to prove it.
" On stage with coordinator Mirco Babini and III Zone FIV President Corrado Fara, several guests participated, including Rear Admiral of the Italian Navy Enrico Pacioni, Hannah Stolden of World Sailing, Fabio Colella representing FIV Para Sailing, Bruno Perra, President of the Sardinian Olympic Committee (CONI), Rossana Podda from the Sardinian Regional Department of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Commerce, Regional Sports Councilor Ilaria Portas, Valeria Mangiarotti, Head of Marketing and Communication for the Cagliari Port Authority, and Marco Benucci, President of the Cagliari City Council.
With the IDP awards ceremony and the conclusion of the Sardinia Sailing Cup, an extraordinary 2024 for Sardinia and Cagliari comes to a close. Over nearly two months, from September to November, six major events were held. Starting on September 25, Marina Piccola hosted the FIV Village and the opening of the Italian Olympic Classes Championship, while Su Siccu simultaneously hosted the Italian Para Sailing Championship. In October, the Poetto beach served as a stunning natural backdrop for the European iQFOiL Championship, the Foil International Academy Trophy, and the WingFoil Racing World Cup. The Sardinia Sailing Cup then moved to Molo Ichnusa and the FIV Olympic Training Center for the Inclusive Development Programme.
The event is promoted by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia – Department of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Commerce. The project results from collaboration between the Italian Sailing Federation, the III Zone FIV, and World Sailing, with support from the Municipality of Cagliari.
