1-2 for Italian customs

Chris McLaughlin reports on the J/24 Tropheo Academia Navale regatta

After three days of tight racing in light winds, warm air and sunny skies, the Tropheo Academia Navale regatta at Livorno, Italy was poised for a tight close. Just three points separated first from second and six points stood between the overnight leader and third.

Series leader and past Italian and European Champion and current Farr 45 circuit helm, Andrea Casale on Fiamma Gialla. Casale and his crew are all employed by the Sports Division of the Italian Customs Authoritiy.

In second, by just three points, was another past Italian champion and world class J/24 sailor, Luigi Ravioli. Sailing his new boat, Fiamma Gialla, also for the Sports Division of the Italian Customs Authority, he will be another contender at the forthcoming World Championship.

In third, saiiling his first event since winning the 2007 European Championship, was Ian Southworth at the helm of Inmarsat Hedgehog. .

Due to light unstable winds, just two races had been possible on Saturday , the race officer resorting to Black flag starts and subsequent abandonments.

During one start, Casale bore down into Southworth, but the start was abandoned.

The final day proved frustrating for all three crews as they waitied four hours in a virtual mill pond. But an inversion over the city held back the expected breeze and at 2pm, as set in the Sailing Instructions, the race officer had no choice but to abandon the day.

The three crews will renew the competition at the Italian National Championship in Cannigione, Sardinia from 25 May in the run-up to the World Championship on 5 June.