PRESS RELEASE 09 JULY 2001

Russell Coutts, Francesco de Angelis, Dean Barker and Paolo Cian; all at Ravenna for the 7° Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy, The Match Race of Italy.
12 contestants, 9 teams representing the America's Cup, starting 12th July.

The most famous yachtsmen in the world return to Italy: Russell Coutts, (winner of the last two editions of America's Cup), Francesco di Angelis (helsmen of Luna Rossa), Dean Barker (the new skipper of Black Magic), Paolo Cian (helmsman of Mascalzone Latino, the boat of the second Italian Challenge), and many others, practically all the best specialists of the world match race circuit, are presently arriving in Marina di Ravenna where the 7° Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy will take place.
The event, which has for the last 6 years been awarded grade one (the most important) by the International Sailing Federation in world match racing events, will take place from 11th to 15th July for the seventh time and for the second year it will be part of the prestigious Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour which unites the top 8 events of the circuit in the five continents.
The Trombini Trophy 2001 arrives at a hectic moment of the great sailing season; at Marstrand in Sweden another meeting of the Swedish Match circuit has just finished. There were at least 30,000 spectators at the finals, Russell Coutts beat 3-1 the Frenchman Luc Pillot (who in the semi-final had beat the idol Magnus Holmberg) .
Coutts, suffering from food poisoning and the beginnings of dehydration, showed yet again the class of the world's number one.
For the two finalists at Marstrand the Trombini Trophy could be the occasion for an equaliser, Pillot is also on the list of the exceptional contestants of the event which uses class Tom 28 boats and can been seen by the public from a grandstand on the pier in the port of Marina di Ravenna.
Organised as usual by Progetto Vela in collaboration with Circolo Velico Ravennate, thanks to the many sponsors and the desire to honour the memory of Roberto Trombini, the 2001 edition presents itself as the best match race event ever to take place in Italy. Of the 12 helmsmen competing 8 are in the first 20 of the ranking list (the international classification of this speciality) and there are 9 teams of the nest America's Cup ( 8 challengers and the New Zealand defender).

Here are the contestants of the most popular match race in Italy.

- Peter Holmberg (U.S. Virgin Islands) n. 8 in the world and in the San Franciscan Oracle Racing challenge.
- Francesco di Angelis (Italy) n. 85 in the ranking list but everyone knows him as the helmsman of Luna Rossa the fist Italian at the helm in the finals of the America's Cup.
- Nicola Celon (Italy) n. 28 in the ranking list, among the best Italians in this speciality,
at the Sydney Olympics he sailed in the Soling class.
- Russell Coutts (Switzerland) n. 75 in the ranking list but absolutely the best, winner of the last 2 editions
America's Cup, skipper of the Swiss Alinghi challenger.
- Andy Green (Great Britain) n. 11 in the ranking list and part of the English syndicate for the next America's Cup.
- Magnus Holmberg (Sweden) n. 3 in the ranking list and represents the Swedish team in the America's Cup.
- Dean Barker (New Zealand) n. 10 in rank, this young helmsman of Black Magic will be the head the kiwi defenders in 2003.
- James Spithill (Australia) n. 6 in rank, he has a natural talent, he will be with 'One World' of Seattle.
- Paolo Cian (Italy) n. 16 in rank and the best Italian, he will be helmsman of Mascalzone Latino in the America's Cup.
- Luc Pillot ( France) n. 9 in rank, one of the few not yet among the in the teams of America's Cup:
- Federico Strocchi (Italia) the young helmsman from Ravenna with many local fans.
- Morten Henriksen (Denmark) n. 20 in rank and part of the German challengers of Illbruck.

The Roberto Trombini Trophy races will take place as usual in monotype craft Tom 28 class designed by Giovanni Ceccarelli especially for the match race. There will also be the spectacular finale of the programme with the fleet regatta arriving in the canal of Marina di Ravenna. The public can follow the races from the grandstand viewing the race area; with speaker and experts giving running commentary .
Wednesday 11th opening ceremony, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th Round Robin, Saturday 14th semi-finals and Sunday 15th finals and prize giving.