Following the America’s Cup, again in Marina di Ravenna:
from 11th - 15th July
James Spithill (Luna Rossa), Philippe Presti
(Luna Rossa), Paolo Cian (Shosholoza), Ian Ainslie (Shosholoza),
Ian Williams (number
1 in world ranking), Bertrand Pacè (BMW Oracle): the best
of world match racing at the XIII° Roberto Trombini Challenge
Trophy
The best of world match racing, the first return matches after
the America’s Cup, scenes from the grandstand; top class
sailing is preparing to transfer from Valencia to Marina di Ravenna
where the thirteenth Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy event will
be held from 11th to 15th July.
The first ISAF grade 1 match race organized in Italy, it is among
the top events on the International calendar thanks to the high
level of organization by Progetto Vela, in collaboration with Circolo
Velico Ravennate, and the support of numerous sponsors united in
the memory of the well known and enthusiastic champion yachtsman
from Ravenna - Roberto Trombini .
AFTER VALENCIA, MARINA DI RAVENNA
The XIII edition of the Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy follows
a few days after the finals of the XXXII America’s Cup 2007
at Valencia and reintroduces some of the skippers and challenges
with the feel of a return match. It will be a high level Trombini
Challenge 2007 as the champions at the top of the international
match race ranking list will be participating to race for the delight
of the public who, from the pier, can follow the races between
the outer breakwaters at Marina di Ravenna. Spectators can enjoy
the running commentary of the races seen from the grandstand. As
always the boats used for the races are TOM 28 monotype, designed
specifically for this event by Giovanni Ceccarelli from Ravenna
(designer of Mascalzone Latino 2003 and +39 Challenge 2007).
THE SKIPPERS
The name of James Spithill, helm of Luna Rossa is prominent on
the list of skippers, sailing champion from new Zealand and one
of the three skippers to have won the Trombini Challenge twice,
everyone is waiting to see if he will win for a third time. According
to the rules the skipper who wins the event three times becomes
winner of the challenge trophy.
There will be some top skippers in his path starting with Ian
Williams (English) currently number 1 in world ranking and Paolo
Cian (Italian) n. 3 in world ranking helm of Shosholoza; he beat
Spithill during the Louis Vuitton Cup at Valencia. It will be interesting
to watch also Philippe Presti, (Spithill’s sparring partner
for Luna Rossa Challenge), Bertrand Pacè (BMW Oracle), Ian
Ainslie (Shosholoza), another Italian Matteo Simoncelli (n. 14
in the world ). The list of skippers is completed by: Eugeniy Neugodnikov
Russian ( n. 5), Damien Iehl (French) (8), Eric Monnin (Swiss)
(12), the young Italian from Ravenna Jacopo Pasini (36) and Simon
Minoprio (New Zealander) (58).
THE PROGRAMME
Progetto Vela, presided over by Andrea Trombini, is underway in
the organization of the event which, as always, offers an opportunity
for worldwide yachting enthusiasts to meet up. Opening ceremony
Wednesday 11th July when the skippers will take part in a veteran
car rally, there will be a fireworks display to entertain the many
illustrious guests. From Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th July Round
Robins and semi-finals with evening entertainment for the teams,
Sunday 15th July finals and the traditional fleet race followed
by prize giving open to the public.
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.
