News

Press release 29 June 2004

X° Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy Match Race

· From tomorrow the X Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy Match Race will start in Marina di Ravenna
· Opening ceremony and veteran car rally with the 12 skippers of the best match race in Italy
· On Thursday the 1st of July the Round Robin will start: eyes fixed on James Spithill (Luna Rossa)

Tomorrow (Wednesday 01 July) the X° Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy Match Race will start officially with the opening ceremony. It is considered one of the most prestigious match races in Italy.
As usual the 12 skippers will parade in the veteran car rally through the streets of Marina di Ravenna. The procession of cars will end in Adriatico square at the hospitality village where the presentation of the participating crews will take place.
The evening will close with a fireworks display.

Among the 12 great skippers enrolled at the Trombini Trophy , the eyes will be fixed on James Spithill, the favourite, new comer to the Luna Rossa Challenge, probably future helmsman of the Italian team in the American’s Cup and number four of the world ranking list of this speciality.
Among Spithill’s opposition in Marina di Ravenna, will be the outstanding Englishman, Ian Williams (number 8 in the world ranking list) and Dane Jes Gram-Hansen (number 12). Among the Italians great expectations for Matteo Simoncelli (Itway Match Race Team), the Italian helmsman who conquered the 13th position in the ranking list to a brilliant past season. Recently Simoncelli gained 2 semi-finals in ISAF events, always sailing at great levels, certainly one of the surprises of the season. “ We are getting there because finally we have been able to train and prepare ourselves to our best- says Simoncelli from Ravenna - our work has been rewarding. We hope to make a good impression in our home town.”

The other Italian yachtsman at the Trombini trophy is Flavio Favini, one of the most experienced/expert and skilful Italian helmsmen, appointed to take the helm of the next Mascalzone Latino at the American’s Cup in 2007.
We will see many other champions competing during the race: among the young skippers: Lars NordbJerg, the Russian Eugeny Neogodnikov (both in the top 20th world ranking), the Australian Michael Dunstan (OZBoy pool Challenge of the American’s Cup), Englishman Paul Campbell- Jones, Frenchman Sebastian Col and Dutch champion Roy Heiner, Olympic medallist with extraordinary versatility from the American’s Cup to ocean sailing.

The matches of the Trombini Trophy will take place from Thursday the 1st of July to Sunday the 4th starting with two Round Robins followed by quarter, semi-finals and finals programmed on Saturday and Sunday. The challenges will be held within the inner harbour of the port. The public can enjoy the matches from the grandstand erected on the wide pier at the entrance of the port.

The Trombini Challenge Trophy, 1st grade event in Italy, has became one of the most important international competitions on the calendar, thanks to the high level of the organisation by Progetto Vela in collaboration with the Circolo Velico of Ravenna and International Yacht Club Marinara, and moreover thanks to the support of many sponsors. The event is in the memory of Roberto Trombini well known yachtsman of Ravenna and great lover of the sea.