Curtains up on the Valencia matches, the great
sailing attraction, America’s Cup match racing is not going
on holiday, on the contrary it is returning the challenge and
landing in Italy at Marina di Ravenna. Tomorrow is the opening
ceremony of the eleventh edition of the oldest and much celebrated
Italian match race event; the Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy.
From Thursday 30th June to Sunday 3rd July non stop races.
The boats are monotype Tom 28 designed for the races by Giovanni
Ceccarelli, short and intense matches within the inner harbour,
there is a grandstand for the public and running commentary by
the experts. 12 of the top skippers in the world, starting with
number one favourite James Spithill, helmsman of Luna Rossa.
If the Valencia matches have given the syndicates some indications
for the next America’s Cup the Ravenna match races can
offer a back up. This year the Trombini trophy Challenege is
the first event after the 4th and 5th acts of the Louis Vuitton
Cup in Spain.
It is not by chance that teams of 3 Italian syndicates of the
next America’s Cup (Valencia 2007) will be taking part:
+39 with Roberto Ferrarese; Luna Rossa with James Spithill, Mascalzone
Latino Capitalia Team with Flavio Favini.
The Trombini 2005 offers the first direct challenge of the season
between all the Italian Match racing specialists. Paolo Cian
top Italian in the world ranking lists and Matteo Simoncelli
who alternates with him, both in the international top 15, will
be competing against Flavio Favini (helmsman of Mascalzone Latino
Capitalia team) and Roberto Ferrarese (+39) coming from Valencia.
Another star attraction is British champion Ben Ainslie considered
one of the strongest yachtsmen thanks to three gold medals and
world titles in the Laser and Finn classes. He has recently been
signed up by the New Zealand syndicate Emirates Team New Zealand.
Other fierce helmsmen are Englishman, Ian Williams, Sten Mohr
(Danish), Santiago Lopez Vazquez (Spanish) of the new syndicate
El Reto, Bjorn Hansen (Swedish) and Frenchmen Sebastien Col and
Luc Pilot.
The Roberto Trombini Trophy Challenge is organized, as always,
by Progetto Vela (President Andrea Trombini) in collaboration
with Circolo Velico and the support of numerous partners and
sponsors.
This years programme :
Wednesday 29th June
19.00 hrs presentation of the XI Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy
at the Park Hotel
19.30 Skippers departure from the Park Hotel, to Ravenna, in
veteran cars
20.00 hrs dinner at the “Magazzini dello Zolfo Almagià
Thursday 30th June
Around 12.00 1st Round Robin
20.00 Dinner at the “PORTICINO” restaurant
Friday 1st July
Around 12.00 2nd round robin and possible quarter finals
20.00 Dinner at “MOKAMBO” beach restaurant
Saturday 2nd July
Around 12.00 start of finals
20.00 “ MATILDA” nightclub debate ”Comparing enterprise and
sport; the secret of being a winner” in collaboration with the Industrialists’ Association
of Rimini, Cesena and Forli
2100 Gala Dinner party
Sunday 3rdh July
1200 finals followed by fleet race
Cocktails by the waterfront (after the regatta)
20.00 Dinner at the ‘PORTICINO’
Here is the list of skippers enrolled for the Roberto Trombini
Challenge Trophy
2005 (position in international ranking list to date in brackets)
James Spithill (AU 4)
Sebastien Col (FR 7)
Ian Williams (GB 8)
Paolo Cian (IT 11)
Matteo Simoncelli (IT 12)
Bjorn Hansen (SWE 16)
Luc Pillot (FR 43)
Roberto Ferrarese (IT 62)
Sten Mohr (DK 87)
Ben Ainslie (GB 118)
Flavio Favini (IT 220)
Santiago Lopez Vazquez (ES 664)
