Prizes awarded, but Maxis miss out

A race, a second one which had to be cancelled, kept the Maxis on the water until 7 p.m., missing out on the prize giving ceremony for the Tre Golfi Regatta, despite it having been postponed. The Organizing Committee therefore decided to present the prizes to all of the classes except the largest, who will receive their Tre Golfi awards during the ceremony for the Maxi European Championship on Friday 20th. 

Owners and crews in the ORC and Classic classes gathered at the Antico Cantiere del Legno Aprea, whose origins date back to 1760. Amidst wooden boats, simple yet very current tools, models and works of maritime art, the historic trophies of the Circolo Italia gleamed - the organizer of all 67 editions of this traditional offshore regatta. A striking yet perfectly fitting juxtaposition of the culture and tradition of the shipyard and the technology of the modern yachts competing. The hospitality of the hosts, the entire Mastro Cataldo Aprea family, was much appreciated by everyone present, who enjoyed a meal based on authentic and simple dishes of yesteryear. 

Yesterday's racing started late, with the boats waiting until 3.16 in the afternoon for sufficient breeze to set off on one windward and one leeward leg, for a total of 2.1 miles. A beautiful and hard-fought race that the first boats completed in around an hour and the last 40 minutes later.

At 5 p.m. the Committee prepared the course for a second race, but at the start a wind shift to the east of about 30 degrees meant all marks had to be reset. With the new race course ready, the long-awaited north-easterly "grecale" blew in at a good 16 to 18 knot.

Unfortunately, the breeze was too unstable to allow another race to go ahead. The fleet returned to the docks, therefore, with just one race under their belts.

After choosing exactly the right position for a fast and unencumbered start Shirlaf, an elegant Swan 65 designed by Sparkman&Stephens in the early 1970s, performed masterfully to take first place in her class in compensated time. She now finds herself third overall ahead of Wallyño and Fra Diavolo, two highly successful and much younger boats.

How is this possible? With a boat optimised over the years by veteran sailor Paolo Cian, a passionate owner like Peppe Puttini at the helm, and Gabrielle Bruni calling tactics - coach of the national Nacra team, as well as brother of Francesco, co-helm of Luna Rossa.
Today the Maxis are racing on a coastal course, which was announced 30 minutes prior to the start. 

Today racing will also get underway for the ORC boats, both those competing in the Mediterranean Championship (combined ranking of the Tre Golfi Regatta and three days of windward-leewards) and those vying for the National Tyrrhenian Championship (where only the races around the marks are valid).

They will race on a windward-leeward course and it will be interesting to see whether the reigning champion TP 52 XIO will replicate her success in the Tre Golfi Regatta.