Even stephens

Wild Oats and Alfa Romeo drawn after day one of Ermenegildo Zegna Trophy

A relatively unstable south wind which never exceeded 10 knots characterised the first day of the Ermenegildo Zegna Trophy-Spring 2006 Regattas. There were two races: the 'small' Swan 45, the fast one design Nautor craft drew great attention, particularly at the outset when there were many protests mostly due to collisions. The first regatta was won by Cuordileone, followed by Francesco Martino’s T…Too and Lorenzo Bortolotti’s Swantastic which in finishing first and second in the trials is first in the general standings for this Class followed by Cuordileone and Stefano Polti’s Mintaka with Roberto Spata at the helm.

In the IMS ORC Club category, Edimetra is in first place after two heats and just two points ahead of Carlo Puri Negri’s Atalanta II with Gabrio Zandona at the helm followed by Loro Piana’s My Song. There was great rivalry between the two big boats in the category, Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats XI, which raced on their own in what was a true match race and has, so far, ended in a draw.

Among the Wallys, Tango, Carlo Sama’s 80 footer made waves in the first regatta with two clear-cut first places. Figaro singlehanded sailor and former Prada crewman Pietro d’Alì was on board Marco Tronchetti Provera’s Kauris III which only placed sixth.

Today the sports events also saw the running of the Zegna Bmw Match Race Cup, where Simone Ferrarese and Luca Dubbini, pupils of the Genoa sailing school, raced against two first-class tacticians, Russell Coutts and Mauro Pelaschier. For the record, the race was won by Simone Ferrarese.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Trophy – Spring 2006 Regattas rganized by the Italian Yacht Club, continues tomorrow Saturday 13 May with another series of races. In the evening, during the traditional dinner at the Brown Castle in honour of the owners, the 'Una vita per la vela' (A life for sailing) award will be presented (press release follows). In the square, the festivities will continue with a live concert by the Gipsy Kings.