No fewer than 1,858 boats took part in the traditional Coppa d’Autunno, the closing event of the 58th edition of the Barcolana, held on October 12. That number confirms the appeal of what is widely regarded as the best-attended sailing regatta in the world, one that brings together professionals, enthusiasts, and owners every year in a one-of-a-kind event on the international scene. Overall victory in Barcolana 58 once again went to Arca, skippered by Furio Benussi, who scored his fourth consecutive win.
Also among the standouts of the event was Fiamme Gialle-Nice, the boat born of the sports partnership between the Guardia di Finanza and Ice Yachts, the Italian shipyard that handled the yacht’s optimization. The team finished sixth in the overall standings of Barcolana 58 and also took first place in the Mega Yacht Crociera category. It was a notable result, especially considering the weather conditions that marked the race, with a wind that grew progressively lighter and numerous complex tactical situations.
The race for the green-and-yellow crew began in the best possible way, thanks to an effective start and the decision to sail on the side of the course closest to shore. That tactical choice allowed Fiamme Gialle-Nice to stay among the front-runners from the very start, reaching the first mark about 200 meters behind the head of the fleet.
The situation changed, however, as the race went on. The light breeze at the start gradually faded, creating pockets of calm that caused trouble for several boats. After the first mark, moreover, the wind direction shifted to the southwest, forcing crews to make new tactical assessments. For Fiamme Gialle-Nice, the main difficulty was precisely the wind strength, particularly light relative to the boat’s characteristics and the configuration of its sail plan. Even so, the crew managed to keep up a good pace and defend a top position all the way to the finish line.
“We started on the right side of the course, and it would have been hard to do better than that. On the second leg the wind died completely, and we have a boat and a sail plan configuration that aren’t suited to extremely light air. The team sailed a splendid race; we rounded the first mark 200 meters from the leader, showing that the green-and-yellow sailors have skill and team spirit,” said Paolo Emilio Cian, helmsman of Fiamme Gialle-Nice.
The result achieved at Barcolana 58 confirms the potential of Nice, the 79-foot yacht designed to combine the characteristics of a racing boat with those of a cruising yacht. The optimization work carried out by Ice Yachts helped develop its performance, allowing the crew to compete against some of the most competitive boats in the Gulf of Trieste.
The sixth-place overall finish takes on particular significance in light of the conditions encountered during the race. The very light air did penalize Nice’s sail configuration, but without compromising the final result. The win in the Mega Yacht Crociera category also confirms the boat’s competitiveness within its own segment.
Also on board was Marco Malgara, CEO of Ice Yachts, who took part in the race alongside the Guardia di Finanza sailors. The collaboration between the shipyard and the Fiamme Gialle is an example of synergy among technical expertise, sporting experience, and the development of sailing yacht performance.
The result was achieved thanks to the work of a crew made up of sailors with differing skills and experience, coordinated by Captain Francesco Nerone as team leader. Paolo Emilio Cian was at the helm, supported by Pierluigi Fornelli on tactics. Also taking part in the race were Filippo Baldassari, Marco Gallo, Vittorio Rosso, Albino Battelli, Romano Battisti, Santino Giuseppe Brizzi, Francesco Izzo, Fabio Montefusco, Umberto Rossini, Andrea Venezian, and Marco Malgara. The sports project is supported by the Fiamme Gialle Sports Center, led by General Raffaele D’Angelo.
Two special guests were also on board, Generals Antonio Appella and Antonello Maggiore, who three years earlier had helped launch and develop the collaboration between Ice Yachts and the Guardia di Finanza. The joint shore team of Ice Yachts and the Fiamme Gialle also played an important role, providing the technical and organizational support needed to take part in the race.
Taking part in Barcolana 58 is not just a competitive event; it is part of a broader sports project aimed at bringing together offshore and Olympic sailing. The collaboration between Ice Yachts and the Fiamme Gialle in fact aims to offer new growth opportunities to sailors, allowing them to test themselves against competitions, boats, and dynamics different from those of the Olympic classes. It is an experience that can help build technical and tactical skills, as well as crew management skills.
“For the sports component of the Guardia di Finanza, the Barcolana is a continuously growing project, with the goal of involving new young sailors and creating a virtuous union of offshore and Olympic sailing. It is a path that aims to offer new experiences and growth opportunities, fostering a positive interaction that is also useful for Olympic activity, and opening the team to new sailing contexts of great technical and human value,” points out General Antonio Appella.
The presence of Fiamme Gialle-Nice at an international event like the Barcolana therefore makes it possible to highlight not only the sporting results but also the process of training and collaboration developed in recent years.
Barcolana 58 closes with an important result for Fiamme Gialle-Nice, which earned sixth place overall and victory in the Mega Yacht Crociera category in a race made particularly complex by the lack of wind. The performance confirms the competitiveness of the 79-foot yacht optimized by Ice Yachts and highlights the value of a crew that knew how to read the racecourse correctly from the very first moments.
Beyond the standings, the result also marks a new step in the collaboration between the Italian shipyard and the Guardia di Finanza, a project that unites competition, technical development, and sports training. It is a synergy with an eye on the future, aiming to bring in new talent and strengthen the link between offshore and Olympic sailing.
Source | Reference |
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Official press release on Fiamme Gialle-Nice’s participation in the 58th Barcolana, the sporting result, and the collaboration with the Guardia di Finanza Sports Center. | |
Official regatta website, reference for standings, participants, and information about the Coppa d’Autunno. |
The boat took sixth place in the overall standings and won the Mega Yacht Crociera category.
Overall victory went to Arca, skippered by Furio Benussi, who won the event for the fourth consecutive time.
A total of 1,858 boats took part in the October 12 Coppa d’Autunno, confirming the extraordinary turnout that characterizes the regatta held in Trieste.
Nice is a 79-foot sailing yacht in the racer-cruiser segment. Its configuration was optimized by the Italian shipyard Ice Yachts.
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