Geweldige slotrace Barcolana

Na 4 dagen voorwedstrijden eindigde gisteren de Barcolana met een sensationele regatta. Ruim 1900 schepen  van zeer uiteenlopende groottes en kwaliteiten verschenen om 10.00 uur aan de start.

Ongelooflijk hoe we met elkaar probeerden op het startsignaal door de startlijn te komen. Sensationeel. Uiteraard waren de super maxi's zoals de Esimit Europe van eigenaar Igor Simcic met Alberto Bolzan aan het roer, direct vertrokken, een groot spelersveld achter zich latend.

Wij, op de La Fenice , met een 18-man sterke crew, gingen goed van start en behielden onze positie redelijk. We eindigden in de Maxi klasse op de 11e plaats en overal op de 174e. Een prima resultaat!

 Een aantal quotes van de officiele site van Barcolana.it:

A wonderful Barcolana
It was a beautiful day, nothing was missing: a sparkling sunshine and a nice breeze created the ideal conditions for a wonderful Barcolana”. This is the comment by Gastone Novelli, President of Svbg, at the end of the race. “We had really many entrants this year, proving that the Barcolana is a great international event and the record set by Esimit Europa 2 was the happy ending”.

Great success for the Barcolana Village
Great success for the Barcolana Village stretching for over one kilometre along the waterfront with 160 stands, a green area for kids, and a large area dedicated to seafaring books with Lovat book-shop and publishing house Mursia. Over 300 thousand people visited the stands in these 4 days of Barcolana. Those who wanted to reach 100 thousand professional contacts hit the target in only 3 days.

Quotes: Igor Simcic, Esimit Europa 2 owner
“We have just ended a season full of successes and records. This Barcolana has been fantastic from all points of view, and the greatest satisfaction is that of having beaten Alfa Romeo's record in lighter wind conditions. This means that the crew has worked perfectly in preparing the boat and upgrading the hull. This project will continue to give us great satisfaction”.

Quotes: Alberto Bolzan, helmsman of Esimit Europa 2
“We have been able to use all tricks to make this boat go at its best. Until the last leg we did not think we would set a new record but, as soon as we rounded the last mark and thanks to the constant speed of 15 kts, we have started to believe in it and we made it. We have a boat that won everything in all seas and the fact that we are doing better proves that the project is good and the crew is excellent”.

Ourdream eighth despite an unlucky event
For Ourdream, who came in eighth, the victory was to get to the start line on time. Yesterday during training a stay wire broke and the crew had to work non-stop until 2.30 in the morning torepair it.

Vento del Nord
“Vento del Nord” crossed the finish line at 13.48, with a satisfying result in Barcolana. The boat of the Lega party was helmed by vice Minister for Infrastructures Roberto Castelli. Other guests were MP Massimiliano Fedriga and Regional councillor Federica Seganti, who commented: “We are happy about the race and we had great fun even if it has been a true odessy.

Fabulous Montenegro Wild Beauty: 9th overall in Barcolana
A very successfull debut for Montenegro Wild Beauty, the supermaxi Farr80 whose mission in the next years is to promote the beauties of Montenegro with a deep awareness that the cultural and natural environment of the young Republic must be respected. Just 24 hours after Minister for Tourism of Montenegro Predrag Nenezić lauched Montenegro Wild Beauty, the boat was able to clinch a spectacular 9th place overall at the 42nd Barcolana