James Spithill is in
the lead after completion of the round robins of the XIII Roberto
Trombini Challenge Trophy
Paolo Cian against Ian Ainslie in a “Shosholoza derby”
Contestants for the Team Race which will be on Sunday after the
XIII Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy
Second day of the XIII Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy at
Marina di Ravenna magnificent matches during the completion
of the round robins, the first eight skippers have qualified
for the quarter finals.
Another ideal day, warm south easterly winds constant 8-9
knots for the Italian ISAF grade 1 match race event.
James Spithill, helm of Luna Rossa is in the lead, after being
defeated by New Zealander Simon Minoprio during the first
round robins he has not given any space to his opponents,
Spithill has gained 10 victories and one defeat putting him
in first position. Strangely enough Spithill will be racing
in the quarter finals against the young New Zealander Minoprio
who is at eighth position thanks to a positive day.
At second place Italian Paolo Cian helm of Shosholoza with
9 victories and 2 defeats he will be racing a “derby” against
his team mate in the last America’s Cup; South African
Ian Ainslie who finishes the round robins at seventh place
after a not so positive day.
Third position goes to Frenchman Damien Iehl who today gave
a point only in the match against Paolo Cian and closes with
the same number of points as the Italian but he lost the race
against Cian. Iehl will race against Frenchman Bertrand Pace
in the quarter finals.
World ranking number 1, Ian Williams, is at fourth position
and will race against Frenchman Philippe Presti who is known
for his impressive style, tactics and winning by playing the
rules.
At the end of the day the first matches of the quarter finals
were raced, it will be the best of five races (the first to
gain 3 points goes on to the next stage), the first points
go to the teams of: James Spithill, Paolo Cian, Damien Iehl
and Philippe Presti.
Surprisingly, after a good day, the Russian Eugeny Neugodnikov
is out of the finals, along with Italians Matteo Simoncelli
and Jacopo Pasini and the Swiss Eric Monnin.
Tomorrow completion of the quarter finals and the start of
the semifinals.
The teams for the antagonistic Team Race on Sunday will be:
James Spithill, Ian Williams, Philippe Presti against Paolo
Cian Damien Iehl and Bertrand Pace.
The Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy is organized by Progetto Vela,
in collaboration with Circolo Velico Ravennate, and with the support
of numerous sponsors united in the memory of the well known and
enthusiastic champion yachtsman from Ravenna - Roberto Trombini
.
Updates and pictures on the official website: www.matchracetrombini.com
Progetto Vela - ASD - Via Sergio Cavina 5 48100 Ravenna Tel 0544
465556, fax 0544 464408
Communication - Fabio Colivicchi +39 335 5730 361 Fabio.colivicchi@velavela.org
THE ROBERTO TROMBINI CHALLENGE TROPHY
The 2007 edition retains its success formula; conceived by Progetto
Vela, whose President is Andrea Trombini, in collaboration with
Circolo Velico Ravennate and sustained by numerous sponsors in memory
of Roberto Trombini well known yachtsmen from Ravenna. The identical
boats (Tom 28, 9 metres were designed for the event by Giovanni
Ceccarelli from Ravenna)
The matches take place within the inner harbour at Marina di Ravenna
and a grandstand to accommodate over 500 spectators has been erected
on the pier; there will be a running commentary during the races
and interviews with the skippers on the pier followed by pleasant
evenings together with the crews, umpires and guests.
WINNERS’ LIST
Without exception, all the big names in world yachting have taken
part in the Trombini challenges over the years. The winners’
list includes James Spithill (actual helm of Luna Rossa Challenge),
Magnus Holmberg – Swedish _ (team leader and helm of Victory
Challenge) and Peter Holmberg from the U.S. Virgin Islands (one
of the Alinghi helms), all with two victories.
The other winners are Mario Celon, who triumphed in the first edition,
Chris Law (GB), Danes Sten Mohr and Jes Gram-Hansen (start helm
of the Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team), Paolo Cian (helm of Team
Shosholoza), up to the 2006 edition won by Chris Dickson, skipper
and helm of BMW Oracle.
NOTICE FOR THE PRESS
Journalists interested in this event please send an email requesting
authorization, indicating intended dates in Marina di Ravenna during
the Match Race.
For information please call +39 335 5730 361
ISAF –
INTERNATIONAL SAILING FEDERATION (100 years in 2007)
ISAF is the world sailing federation, founded in Paris in 1907 known
as the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) in 1996 the IYRU
changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
The organization is composed of the various national sailing federations,
the main aim of IYRU was to develop a uniform set of rules and measurement
standards for racing sailors to allow boats of different weight
and length to race against each other. Before 1870 the development
of such rules was left to the individual yacht clubs who were also
guarantors for the application of said rules. The increase in the
number of regattas between boats from different clubs caused the
downfall of this system thus a central coordination was required.
At the time of establishment in 1907 the IYRU comprised only 12
countries:
Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Italy, Norway, Holland and Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Representatives from the North American Yacht Racing Union were
admitted in 1929. In 1960 a totally universal code of racing rules
was agreed and implemented, these rules are valid today (with four-yearly
modifications required by the world sailing federation committee).
From 1906 to 1946 a chairman was elected from time to time to coordinate
the annual meetings. In 1946 Sir Ralph Gore was elected the first
President and since then the ISAF has had five presidents: Sir Peter
Scott, English (1955-1969), Beppe Croce, Italian (1969-1986), Peter
Tallberg, Finnish (1986-1994), Paul Henderson, Canadian (1994-2004
and Goran Petersson, Swedish the actual president, elected in November
2004. The vice presidents include Italian Nucci Novi Ceppellini.
ISAF is officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee
as the governing authority for sailing world-wide. ISAF, with headquarters
in UK, currently consists of over 114 member nations engaged in
promoting sailing among youngsters worldwide, training Judges and
Umpires and, in particular, management of Olympic Class regattas.
There are currently over 80 ISAF recognized Yacht classes from the
smallest Optimist Dinghy to the largest Maxi one-design. Furthermore
ISAF has exemplified a series of international events and classifications
ranging from the Olympic Class to the World Sailing Games and the
Youth Sailing World Championships, World Match Race Olympic Sailing
Squad, World Ranking List.
FIV – FEDERAZIONE
ITALIANA VELA (80 years in 2007)
The Federazione Italiana Vela presides over the entire
sailing activities in Italy. Established in Genoa on 13th April
1927 under the name “Regia Federazione Italiana Vela”
FIV celebrated its 80th anniversary on Friday 13th April 2007 during
an evening at the “Salone d’Onore” in Rome, CONI
presented the sailing Oscars.
Currently FIV has about 85,000 members but after a series of promotional
campaigns the number is expected to increase to over 100,000. FIV
has 630 affiliated associations and 450 sailing schools teaching
the basics of sailing to over 35,000, mainly young, and very young,
pupils. Among the institutional obligations are the organization
of competitions at all levels (there are over 80 recognized sailing
classes), marginal organization (15 area committees), team management
of national teams at major world sailing events and the Youth Sailing
Olympics. Preparations for the Olympics is one of the FIV’s
main activities, which as part of CONI, prepare the best teams to
compete for medals every four years. To this end the technical managers
start by developing youngsters in the classes of provincial interest.
Italy is among the few countries in the world that presents a complete
team in all the classes both at the Olympic Games and ISAF World
Championships and at the important ISAF Youth World Championships.
The ISAF Youth World Championship trophy, which is awarded to the
best national youth sailing team, was won by the Italian team in
Great Britain last year. There is powerful promotional activity
of the sport, especially towards youngsters ; from 2007 FIV, in
collaboration with certain ministries, has launched the programme
VelAscuola to introduce sailing in Italian schools all over Italy.
The first president of RFIV was Luigi Amedeo di Savoia Duca degli
Abruzzi from 1927 to 1933. From 1933 to 1941 he was succeeded by
Baron Alberto Fassini Camossi, and from 1941 to 1945 Captain Antonio
N. Cosulich. In November 1946 the Unione delle Società Veliche
Italiane was established in Florence presided over until 1956 by
marquis Paolo Pallavicino. From 1957 until 1964 Beppe Croce was
president. On 5th December 1964 the USVI became the Federazione
Italiana Vela, member of CONI and IYRU. Croce remained president
until 1980, from 1981 to 1988 Carlo Rolandi was president and he
is currently honorary president. Since 1989 Sergio Gaibisso has
been president of FIV.
