Gold Cup 2010 Reports

Tuesday
 
The X-Yachts Gold Cup kicked off today at Marina di Scarlino in Maremma Tuscany with the first day of racing of the X-35 World Championship and the X-41 European Championship, the X-Yachts Gold Cup organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with X-Yachts Italia and in partnership with Steiner.
 
After the skippers’ briefing the X-35 and x-41 fleets headed out to sea under blue skies with a 10-12 knot breeze blowing from the south-west.
 
A total of six races, three for each championship, were completed thanks to perfect weather conditions and excellent management of the courses by the Race Committee, chaired by Giuliano Tosi. The gun for the first race was fired at 12.20 p.m. and the last race ended shortly after 5 p.m.
 
In the evening participants hailing from Croatia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Italy gathered in La Piazzetta at the Marina for the Steiner X-Yachts Gold Cup Inauguration Ceremony, an “aperitivo” and live entertainment.
 
X-35 World Championship
The 34 crews completed three races: each one saw a change of lead in the scoreboard as the yachts sailed with the Island of Elba on the right hand side of the course and the Island of Montecristo aligned with mark 1. Lelagain with tactician Branco Bricin won the first race, Tixelio with Ganga Bruni won the second and Karma with Benussi in the afterguard the third.
 
At the end of Day 1 Spirit of Nerina owned by Viganò leads the provisional scoreboard, followed by Karma owner Pegoraro with Benussi calling tactics in second place and Margherita, owner Mazzucato with tactician Vascotto on board in third position. Swedish Matrisen is 5th , Finnish X.O. is 6th, Dutch Who’s Next is 13th, Spanish Xacobeo is 17th, British X on the Beach is 18th. The full results are attached in PDF format. Protests are pending.
 
X-41 European Championship
Once again three races were completed in the crystal blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The X-41 fleet course was set closer to the shore and to the pristine hills of Maremma’s natural park. Sideracordis owned by Tedesco with Cassinari calling tactics is first in the provisional scoreboard with 1-1-4. Raffica , tactician Semeraro, follows in second place and Le Coq Hardi with De Angelis on board is third. The Estonian crew Techno Nicol is 7th. Protest are pending that may change the scoreboard substantially.
 
X-Yachts Gold Cup
The X-Yachts Gold Cup begins tomorrow. Participants are divided into three groups; Sport, Family and Over 50’. The larger yachts will be racing offshore with the Islands on the Gulf of Follonica serving as natural buoys.
 
La Marina di Scarlino is the first integrated yachting project in Italy (800 berths, max length 36 meters, max. draft 4.5 meters).
 
An ideal location for an unforgettable stay in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma and at the centre of the Tuscan Archipelago, combining luxurious hospitality, exclusive services reserved for its guests, a prestigious residential complex with apartments ranging from 80 to 120 square meters overlooking the Marina with a view of the Island of Elba. Restaurants, bars and shopping are also available.
 
Marina Management has been entrusted with the centralized management of all services, thereby ensuring seamless coordination. The Marina, the Yacht Service, the Residences and the Yacht Club work jointly to meet the needs of all sea lovers. All sporting activity is managed by the Club Nautico Scarlino, a reference point in major international sailing events thanks to the ideal weather conditions in Maremma and thanks to its organizational skills. www.lamarinadiscarlino.it
 
La X-Yachts Gold cup 2010 comprenderà un numero di eventi prestigiosi, dando vita ad un vero e proprio spettacolo sull'acqua. Gli eventi sono:
 









Wednesday

Another day of great racing at the X-Yachts Gold Cup kicked off today at Marina di Scarlino in Maremma Tuscany organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with X-Yachts Italia and in partnership with Steiner.
 
Sails literally covered the gulf between Scarlino and the Island of Elba as three separate race courses were set up for the X-35 World Championship, the X-41 European Championship, the first day of the X-Yachts Gold Cup divided into three groups; Sport, Family and Over 50’.
 
A total of 9 races were completed with a south-westerly breeze of about 10-12 knots: 3 in the X-35 class, 3 in the X-41, 2 in the X-Yachts Gold Cup and one offshore race for the Over 50’s with the fleet rounding the small Island of Cerboli, just off the Island of Elba.
 
In the evening sailors enjoyed a “Pasta Party” on the docks followed by lie music in the Piazzetta. To celebrate the first edition of the Over 50’ Invitational, owners enjoyed a candlelight dinner at Cala Felice, a natural terrace overlooking Elba with a glimpse of Corsica at sunset.
 
X-35 World Championship
Three races on Thursday for the competitive and aggressive X-35 fleet: two general recalls, a black flag start, and adrenaline-pumping mark roundings. British X On The Beach owned by Ingo Dietrich with tactician Jochem Visser on board had a great day winning the first race of the day and cutting the finish line in 2nd in the last. Spirit of Nerina won the second race and Karma the third.
 
After a total of six races with one discard Lelagain with tactician Branco Bricin is in the lead with 16 points. Karma with Benussi in the afterguard is second and Spirit of Nerina with Viganò at the helm is third, both with 18 points
 
X-41 European Championship
Once again the X-41 fleet sailed three races. Raffica , with tactician Semeraro, and Le Coq Hardi with De Angelis on board, in the first race faced off from the get go in what seemed to be a private match race. Good result for the Estonian crew Techno Nicol who cut the finish line in third and in first position and is now 6th overall. Victory for Raffica in the first race, Malafemmena with Ivaldi calling tactics in the second and for Techno Nicol (EST) in the third.
 
After six races and one discard Sideracordis is firmly in the lead with 9 points, followed by Raffica (14 pt) and in third position by Le Coq Hardi (16 pt).
 
X-Yachts Gold Cup
The X-Yachts Gold Cup kicked off on Thursday. The Over 50’ yachts raced offshore rounding the island of Cerboli just in front of Elba Island. Participants in the Sport, Family groups raced on a triangle course off the coast of Maremma’s natural park.
 
La Marina di Scarlino is the first integrated yachting project in Italy (800 berths, max length 36 meters, max. draft 4.5 meters).
 
An ideal location for an unforgettable stay in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma and at the centre of the Tuscan Archipelago, combining luxurious hospitality, exclusive services reserved for its guests, a prestigious residential complex with apartments ranging from 80 to 120 square meters overlooking the Marina with a view of the Island of Elba. Restaurants, bars and shopping are also available.
 
Marina Management has been entrusted with the centralized management of all services, thereby ensuring seamless coordination. The Marina, the Yacht Service, the Residences and the Yacht Club work jointly to meet the needs of all sea lovers. All sporting activity is managed by the Club Nautico Scarlino, a reference point in major international sailing events thanks to the ideal weather conditions in Maremma and thanks to its organizational skills.
 
 
Thursday
 
Third day of racing at the X-Yachts Gold Cup today at Marina di Scarlino in Maremma Tuscany an event organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with X-Yachts Italia and in partnership with Steiner.
 
10 races were completed with a north-westerly breeze of about 10-12 knots under sunny skies and calm seas: 3 in the X-35 class, 3 in the X-41, 3 in the X-Yachts Gold Cup and one offshore race for the Over 50’s with the fleet rounding the Island of Palmaiola, just off the Island of Elba.
 
The leaderboard is tight at the top, especially in the X-35 World Championship and all will be decided on Saturday in the final race. Many protests have been lodged and are still being discussed concerning both the X-41 European Championship and the X-35 World Championship.
 
In the evening crews and owners enjoyed a Tuscan delicacy buffet dinner hosted by the shipyard Marina di Scarlino Yacht Service and danced their way well into the night. Funds were raised for Nave Italia, a 61 meter tall ship that belongs to the Foundation Tender to Nave Italia: an association that promotes awareness and inclusion of mentally and physically challenged youngsters through sailing.
 
The association was created by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Italian Navy. www.tendertonaveitalia.com
 
X-35 World Championship
Three races were completed on Friday with the first one kicking off at 1 p.m. Tixelio owner Carlo Brenco with Gabriele Bruni calling tactics led the fleet around the marks cutting the finish line first, followed by Lelagain owned by Franco Solerio with tactician Branco Brcin and in third position Finnish X.O. owner Annsi Lyden. The second race was won once again by Tixelio with Swedish Matrisen owned by Bjorn Osterbergand British X On the Beach owned by Ingo Dietrich placing second and third. The excellent weather conditions allowed for a third race, the ninth in three days: first on the finishing line Spirit of Nerina owner Alberto Fusco, second Blue Sky owner Claudio Terrieri, and third Margherita owner Roberto Mazzucato.
 
Provisional scoreboard after 9 races and 1 discard (protests pending): 1. Lelagain (ITA) – 2. Spirit of Nerina (ITA) – 3. Karma (ITA) – 4. Tixelio (ITA) – 5. Margherita (ITA).
 
X-41 European Championship
Even the X-41 fleet sailed three races on Friday bringing the total to 9 from the beginning of the Championship. Malafemmena owner Giovanni Di Lorenzo with Matteo Ivaldi on board won the first race, second Raffica owned by Pasquale Orofino with Paolo Semeraro as a tactician and third Le Coq Hardi owner Maurizio Pavesi, tactician Francesco De Angelis. In the second race at the end of the first beat Spanish Iberostar ownerJavier Dominguez, tactician Luis Doreste incurr in a port –starboard penalty and lose ground offloading it. Estonian Techno Nicol owner Mati Sepp wins the race follone by Raffica, and Le Coq Hardi. The third race of the day saw the victory of WB Five owner Gianclaudio Bassetti, followed by Sideracordis owner Pier Vettor Grimani and by Malafemmena owner Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
 
Provisional scoreboard after 9 races and 1 discard (protests pending): 1. Sideracordis (ITA) – 2. Raffica (ITA) – 3. Le Coq Hardi (ITA) – 4. Malafemmena (ITA) – 5. WB Five (ITA).
 
Over 50’ Invitational
The Over 50’ fleet raced on an offshore course using the Island of Palmaiola, just off the Island of Elba, as a natural buoy.
 
Leaderboard: 1. Karuba 5 owner Goranko Fizulic - 2. Capricciricci owner Gian Luigi Dubbini - 3. Trota owner Martino Montanarini.
 
X-Yachts Gold Cup
The X-Yachts Gold Cup completed three races. Two for the Sport division on a windward-leeward course and one for the Family division on a triangle course.