Barcolana Para Sailing – Eurosaf Inclusive Event: titles awarded

Carmelo Forastieri (LNI Palermo), Alessandra Franchi (YC Punta Ala), Alessandra Cappellu (Veliamoci ASD) – respectively in the men’s, women’s and youth single categories – and Lucia Garay with Maria Cristina Atoni in the double category, are the new European champions of the EUROSAF Inclusive Event.

A total of five races were held over the first two days of competition, during which the 23 crews faced the challenging Bora wind. The home wind made it possible to enjoy exciting and hard-fought races in the Gulf of Trieste. Carmelo Forastieri managed the various races consistently and skilfully, securing the continental title thanks to the discard rule.

Today, the lack of wind prevented further racing, confirming the results achieved on Friday on the water.
“The first two days of racing,” commented Mitja Gialuz, “offered ideal conditions, and the gusty Bora allowed the athletes to enjoy themselves while remaining highly competitive. We witnessed beautiful scenes of fair competition both around the marks and aboard the Hansa 303s. It was an honour for us to organise this European Championship in Trieste together with the STV, and above all, to have an inclusive regatta open the 12 days of events for Barcolana57 presented by Generali.”

Meanwhile, from Trieste, the official bid has been launched by World Sailing to be presented later this year to the Olympic Committee for the reinstatement of Para Sailing as an Olympic discipline.
The initiative was launched during a meeting between athletes; Mitja Gialuz and Dean Bassi representing the SVBG; Marina Simoni, President of the STV; and Hannah Stodel, Para Sailing Manager of World Sailing, in the presence of Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation (Federazione Italiana Vela).

Photocredit: Barcolana