Italian Fleet & Volvo Cup Update

As I write the 2006 Italian Volvo Cup's first regatta is underway, although sadly the weather is not co-operating right now and racing is postponed for lack of wind; forunately this year Alassio is offering lots more places to hang around and enjoy the pasta at the end of the day, with the new "CasAlassio", a large tent, actually one of those modern structures, placed inside the marina. 52 have Melges24s entered including several "foreign" crew - although we are so well acquainted with some of them, it feels awkward to call them foreign. Maybe "extended italian fleet" would be more appropriate!

The Italian fleets news is that 47 boats have already entered the class, and with those running late, we will be over 60 this year again. Some teams have bought new boats. The "glorious" ITA 139, winner of last years VolvoCup, has been replaced with a brand new Devoti Boat: AleAli ITA 643. Ezio Amadori, the owner, told us: "We were racing with a very old boat and winning, we will now be racing with a brand new Devoti, and we are sure the European boats are just as fast as the American ones. Our tactician and sailmaker Dede Deluca will not be racing with us this year, but he will still be our sail supplier and partner with Uk Halsey. We thus had to change our crew as well." ITA 139 has not retired: with e new keel (the old one is peacefully resting in the Sardinian waters) she will be raced by the Pavesio brothers, longtime winners in the Beneteau 25 class, and one of them will be helming the boat.

Again, the Melges24 is not just about professional sailors, although most of the big names in Italian sailing will be with us this year.
Come join us!
Natasa Avlijas - Italian Class Secrtary