With a stunning performance, the Naples Navy crew on LA SUPERBA, skippered by Ignazio Bonnano and crew of Simone Recivo, Alfredo Branciforte, Picaro Francesco and Luigi Ravioli, won all six races to win the first of seven stages of the Italian J/24 Championship. The event was perfectly organized by Neptune Yacht Club, in collaboration with the Italian Navy League section of Anzio, the Sailing Club of Rome, the Royal Rowing Club Tevere Remo, the Marina di Nettuno and the support of the Italian J/24 Class. The presence of the best sailors in the 24-boat fleet made the event exciting and for close competition—at least for the balance of the top ten. Among those competitors were Ignazio Bonnano (European Champion in 2012 in Cannigione), Luigi Ravioli (Italian champion in 2013), Massimo Mariotti (Italian champion in 2009 in Cagliari), Litkey Farkas (Hungarian champion in 2014 and current Soling World Champion), the James Black (current Italian J/24 National champion) and Italian Massimo Peter Noons (former champion of the Italian Laser class). With six wins on the six races, LA SUPERBA was firmly in command of the regatta beginning at the first of racing. They finished the regatta 10 points ahead of JAMAICA, sailed by the President of Italian J/24 Class, Pietro Diamanti, who sailed to a 6-2-2-2-10-4 record for 16 points. Taking third on the podium was JUMPIN JACK FLASH helmed this year by the Hungarian Farkas Litkey (including crew Erica Manauzzi, Federico Miccio, Alessio Carvellin, Giorgio Caprini). Their record was a reasonably consistent 8-6-4-3-2-7 for 22 points. Fourth place, just one point from the podium, was LILY PAD skippered by the young Giacomo Del Nero (owner/crew was Massimiliano Biagini), with a record of OCS-7-5-4-5-2 for 23 points. Fifth was JULIUS CEASAR skippered by Peter Max Noons with 25 points. “For the three days of racing, the PRO chose the bay to the north, an area not often sailed by the local fleet so as to make the competition fairer for crews from the other fleets,” said Federico Miccio. “Adding to the complexity of the sailing area was also the weather conditions: light wind from the south for the two races on Friday, a little more intense but from the same direction on Saturday (three races), and a light northeast wind Sunday for the only race completed before the wind fell below two knots.” Pietro Diamanti commented, “As President and as a sailor, I am extremely satisfied with this first leg of our circuit, thanks to great racing and a fun fleet to sail against; this confirms the strength of our Class in Italy and the excellent camaraderie of our crews.” Thanks for the contribution from Paola Zanoni, Italian J/24 Class Press Officer. For more Trofeo Nettuno sailing information, visit http://www.nettunoyachtclub.it/en/.
International Class Association
