Awarded at the Under 25 Campionato Italiano delle Zone FIV which just concluded in Desenzano del Garda, the Zone I team, led by our Tommaso Cilli, at the helm, which brought together several athletes from the clubs of the Riviera: Michele Casano trimmer and Filippo Calvi bowman, both from YC Imperia, Matilde Garaventa from YC Italiano as tactician, Valerio Mugnano , also from our club, at the mainsail.
After 22 tests and 3 final races on the Dolphin one-design boats among the eleven teams representing the FIV Zones from almost all of Italy, our crew finished in third place, behind Zone II and Zone IV, winners of the trophy.
“This project is a valuable opportunity for growth in our journey. Valerio and I had the opportunity to compete with top-notch U25 racers from all over Italy. The unstable conditions and the refereed racing format put us to the test, but thanks to the experience we’ve gained over the years at our Yacht Club Sanremo, we managed to win the bronze medal,” Tommaso commented. “None of this would have been possible without the rest of the crew: Michele Casano, Filippo Calvi, and Matilde Garaventa, supported by coach Andrea Boscolo and Zone I president Alessandro Pezzoli.”
“It was a great event for all of us,” added Valerio. “Not only was there a lot of technique and passion, but it was also a true team effort because we found ourselves on board together among athletes who usually compete against each other.”
The team was trained and accompanied by Andrea Boscolo , ACADEMY representative for Zone I and member of the Zonal Technical Management, together with Alessandro Pezzoli , President of the Zone I Committee.
“These were challenging days that put the boys to the test, requiring great adaptability. They always responded well and demonstrated an excellent level that we can build on in the future to improve further,” commented Boscolo. “Thanks again to Tommaso Cilli for choosing his teammates and for working so hard in the preparation phase of this very important regatta.”
“This regatta is crucial because it represents a challenge between the Zones and unites, aboard a one-design, young people from different clubs and who have often been opponents,” Pezzoli commented. “Once again, it has proven that together we can win. A huge thank you goes to Tommaso and all the guys, as well as Andrea. I would also like to thank the Yacht Club Sanremo, the Yacht Club Imperia, and the Yacht Club Italiano for contributing their technical staff to train these young people, who have proven they can race and compete at the highest levels in Italy.”
For the Zonal Technical Directorate, the result confirms the project of developing one-design sailing with regattas referred on the water, ensuring continuity and development for athletes coming from the youth classes – all five members of the Zonal I crew are in fact university students successfully engaged in their studies.