Sailing, record edition of the International Sailing Week in Livorno

The Naval Academies Regatta, contested on “Trident 16” class boats, was won by the very strong United States team, which dominated the six heats with four victories, a second and a third place. Behind them the Naval Academy crew, who preceded China. The University Sports Center of the University of Trieste came fourth and, as the best non-military crew, won the race valid for the Italian class championship. For sailing at a competitive level, the Naval Academy Regatta (which this year took place “leeward” on the Livorno-Capri route and return) was won by the Atena vessel of the Centro Roma Vela: an “Este 39” hull, with a crew of seven men. The Capitolines finished first both according to the IRC standard and the ORC rules, preceding respectively the French “Figaro II” Tintorel (led by a solitary navigator) and the “X-41” Adrigole II, of the Vernazzolesi sailing club. Third in both Ultravox CVC rankings: an “X-Yacht” hull from the Livorno Nautical Club. The race reserved for the “Mini650s” was instead won by the Spaniards of Marina Rubicon, ahead of Ca del vento and the French Antistene.

The Livorno stage included in the SVI awarded the 2026 Italian Cup of the 420 class, the cumulative ranking of which establishes who will receive the places due to our country for the World Championship and the European Championship scheduled for July, in France and Lithuania respectively. The stage was won by the Italian-Ukrainian crew of the Imperia Yacht Club made up of Slatoslav Madovich and Elena Parlatore, who closed the series with 25 points, five points ahead of Nicolas Margarias and Edoardo Cravero of the Circolo vele Vernazzolesi. In third place, just one point behind, the Slovenian crew of the “JK Pirat sailing club” from Portorose, composed of Filip Valjavec and Lina Sorta. The podium of the 470 class was all tricoloured. The regatta was won by Marcello Miliardi and Emma Maltese, of the Antignano sailing club. Behind them two other mixed crews: silver medal for Livia Ciampinelli and Nicola Brunotti, while Giada Amoroso and Mattia Tognocchi finished third. The other standard classes that took to the water during the International Sailing Week were the Flying Junior, the Fireball, the J24 and the Windsurf.

The third pillar of the International Sailing Week is inclusiveness. During the SVI, the Malupa 5.0 boat was presented for the first time in Tuscany: the most stable in the world, which can be boarded and driven in a wheelchair; can accommodate a mixed crew, made up of several people with physical or intellectual disabilities together with one or two companions. While waiting for its diffusion, the SVI 2026 saw disabled sailors compete on the Hansa 303, 2.4 MR and Martin 16 classes. Again for social purposes, an outing at sea was organized for the “Laviosa” foundation and an event was held to remember the decades-long collaboration between the Rava Foundation and the Navy. There are many collateral initiatives to the regattas open to the public. The Sailing Village at Porta a Mare hosted the inauguration ceremony with the launch of three paratroopers from the Subacquei e Incursori Command, the exhibition of the photos that Carlo Mari took on board the Vespucci ship, an exhibition on the history of submarines, numerous sports tournaments, the awards ceremony for the J-24 class and a meeting with the former raider and now international level paralympic athlete in weightlifting Andrea Quarto.

The Naval Academy, which in eight days open to the public between 25 April and 3 May was visited by over 3,000 people, instead hosted the rally of historic cars, that of the Pisa Ducati motorcycle club and a series of nautical-themed conferences. Of particular importance is that of the commander and boatswain of Vespucci and the one with four current and former members of the Luna Rossa team, winners of the Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup 2024 in the waters of Barcelona, ​​and of the Louis Vuitton Cup 2000 in Auckland, New Zealand. The young athletes Alice Linussi and Rocco Falcone will be part of the crews that will defend the two titles in the Gulf of Naples in 2027, when Luna Rossa will also try to win the historic America’s Cup and bring the Hundred Guinea Cup to Italy for the first time.

The best drawings from the “The sea, the sails” competition, reserved for children and young people from Tuscan schools, were exhibited in the Allievi Gallery. The 20 winners were rewarded with a trip to sea aboard Nave Italia: the longest sailing brig in the world, which the Navy, in collaboration with the “Tender to Nave Italia” foundation, uses for solidarity campaigns in favor of young people and adults made fragile by disabilities or physical, mental or social inconveniences, who on board discover that they have unexpected energies and acquire a new awareness of their value as people. The brig was open to public visits for three days in the Medici port of Livorno.

“This International Sailing Week confirms its global scope, bringing together crews from different nations in Livorno in a context of fair comparison – said the Admiral Commander of the Naval Academy, Alberto Tarabotto, at the end of the awards ceremony, making the appointment for the 2027 edition – For our visitors it represents an important opportunity for growth, both technical and human, in a truly international environment. At the same time, the event strengthens the link with the territory, thanks to the contribution of the institutions and institutions of the Livorno community. A virtuous combination of openness to the world and local roots, which constitutes the true value of this event”.