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XI° Roberto Trombini
Challenge Trophy Match Race 2005

PRESS REALEASE 18 th May 2005

PRESS REALEASE 12 th June 2005

PRESS RELEASE 28 th June 2005

PRESS RELEASE 05 th May 2005

From 29 th June to 3 rd July the eleventh edition of the Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy
The sailing show returns to the Adriatic coast with the first Grade 1 ISAF event in Italy
Starting with the best experts of the world ranking lists
Derby James Spithill (Luna Rossa) and Flavio Favini (Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team)

The Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy returns to Marina di Ravenna from 29th June to
3 rd July with the eleventh edition of this 1st grade ISAF event. It has become one of the most important international competitions on the calendar thanks to the high level of organization from Progetto Vela in collaboration with Circolo Velico Ravennate and International Yacht Club Marinara, also thanks to the support of many sponsors united in the memory of Roberto Trombini, well known yachtsman of Ravenna and great lover of the sea.

In a season rich with great match race events and preliminaries to the America’s Cup the XI Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy is an important part of the programme with its own characteristics; top level competition and technical coverage. The public can follow the races taking place within the inner harbour of the Port of Marina di Ravenna. As usual the 10 boats are identical, Tom 28, designed specially for the event by Giovanni Ceccarelli of Ravenna.

Also this year the success formula with be evident; the participation of 12 world level skippers with some of the big names from the America’s Cup. The chance to follow the races from the grandstand on the pier at Marina di Ravenna port, the hospitality village and other related attractions. The typical festive spirit, and numerous occasions to meet at Marina di Ravenna, make the Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy one of the events not to be missed on the calendar of great sailing events in Italy.

The duels between the two skippers of the Italian America’s Cup entries Luna Rossa (James Spithill) and Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team (Flavio Favini) will be of particular interest. Also a number 1 world yachtsmen the English “golden boy” Ben Ainslie makes his debut on the Adriatic coast, Ainslie races for the Emirates Team New Zealand consortium. Not to be missed will be the matches between the two Italian experts Paolo Cian and Matteo Simoncelli numbers 11 and 15 respectively in world ranking).

Preliminary list of 9 skippers already enrolled for the Roberto Trombini Match Races 2005:

James Spithill (AU 3)
Ian Williams (GB 6)
Paolo Cian (IT 11)
Bjorn Hansen (SWE 16)
Sebastien Col (FR 14)
Matteo Simoncelli (IT 15)
Flavio Favini (IT)
Luis Doreste (ES)
Ben Ainslie (GB)

Progetto Vela - Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica -
Via S.Cavina n.5 , 48100 Ravenna
Tel 0544 465556, fax 0544 464408
Comunicazione/Communication - Fabio Colivicchi +39 335 5730 361 – fabcol@tin.it

America’s Cup,
the birthof Match Racing - a bit of history

It all started in 1851 around the Isle of Wight; it was a race open to all nations but only one American yacht, named simply America, challenged 16 English boats for a solid silver cup weighing over 4 kg known as the “One Hundred Guinea Cup” . America won and from that day it has been known as the “America’s Cup”. The Americans were reigning champions until 1983 when the cup finally changed hands, won by an Australian team with the Australia II; in that same year Italy joined the challenge for the first time with the unforgettable Azzurra. Il Moro di Venezia was the first Italian challenger ever to reach the finals racing against America 3 in 1992. Over the centuries the rules have been modified, the boats have become highly technical but the team spirit, the will to win and the challenge remain the same.

Technical data of TOM 28

Tom 28 was thought-out and accomplished by Ravenna designer, Giovanni Ceccarelli, for the Trombini Match Race. For the realization of this monotype the designer sought the collaboration of the technical directors of the Ravenna event and some of the most well-known yachtsmen. The eight and a half metres long Tom 28 is the most advanced monotype for Match Racing in the world.
A guarantee of greater performance: light and with very ample sails, exceptional manoeuvrability even with light wind, the Tom 28 represents yet another reason to attend the'Trombini'regattas.