October 17, 2022

The seventeenth edition of the Vele Storiche Viareggio, Association, organized from 13 to 16 October 2022, by the association and the Versilia Nautical Club, respectively under the command of Gianni Fernandes and Roberto Brunetti, ended in Viareggio, with the participation of 58 boats.

The Numbers of the 17th Vele Storiche Viareggio

Four days with 58 boats competing in ten homogeneous groups, two regattas raced with light breezes, three pictorial and photographic exhibitions of the artists Emanuela Tenti, Marco Trainotti and Davide Besana, one visit guided to the restorations in progress at the Del Carlo shipyard which, after the pandemic, returned to host the big crew dinner on Saturday evening at the headquarters in Darsena Italia. These are the numbers of the seventeenth edition of the Vele Storiche Viareggio.

The Regattas

The Vele Storiche Viareggio Trophy was awarded to the ketch Pilgrim of 1971, who arrived from Naples under the command of the young Emmanuele Dalla Vecchia, son of the legendary Pippo for 23 years president of the Royal Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, which thus keeps alive the sailing tradition of family. These are the winners of the individual categories: Rainbow (1972), also winner of the Trophy named after Admiral Florindo Cerri, Margaret (1926), Oenone (1935), Alcyone (1952), Onfale (1962), Dragonera (1961), Malteba ( 1979), Nonnopio (1971), Kaloni(1979). In the rankings with CIM measurement certificate, edited by the AIVE (Italian Association of Vintage Sails), Alcyone among the ‘Yachts Epoca’ and Onfale among the ‘Classic Yachts’ won, which also won the Challenge Trophy reserved for hulls launched by the Ligurian shipyard Sangermani.

Seven hulls of the 5.50 Meters International Tonnage class, former Olympic class born in 1949, competed in a single test on a course dedicated to them. The victory went to Manuela V (1961 – YCRC) of Milanese Guido Tommasi, reigning Italian champion, followed by Whisper (1983 – CVMV) of Richard Leupold and Violetta IVby Giangiacomo Stefanon (1957 – CVC). In the ‘Classics’ classification, Violetta IV and Twins X (1960 – AVEV) were placed behind Manuela V. The other 5.50 present in Viareggio were Grifone (1963 – Navy), Twins IX Enterprise (1958 – Barone / Lombardi) and Rabicano (1967 – Museo della Barca Lariana). Among the boats, which participated for the first time in the rally, Lisa of La Tour (1958) designed at the age of 17 by German Frers and the designs of Carlo Sciarrelli Freya (1981) and Kalua (2001). 1937 Bermudian cutter based in Olbia, Vistona by Gianbattista Borea d’Olmo was the boat that came from farthest.

To untangle the organizational and logistical complexities of the most attended event in the Tyrrhenian Sea, VSV vice president Riccardo Valeriani, the CNV sporting director Muzio Scacciati and the house master of the club Roberto Fini, also owner of the Magim jury boat.

The Long Season of Barbara and Crivizza

The double success in the seasonal cups of Barbara (1923) of the Florentine Roberto Olivieri, under the command of Vincenzo Zaccagni, was the result of the more than 1500 miles of sea traveled by this yacht to participate in all the meetings of the Tyrrhenian Sea central and northern (Livorno, Le Grazie, Archipelago Sail Rally, Argentario Sailing Week, Naples, Gaeta, Imperia, Mariperman La Spezia, Viareggio), alternating on board over 50 crew members. A prelude to the great celebrations that will take place in 2023, the year of the centenary. Barbara was also awarded the “Sustainability Award”, offered by Daphné Sanremo for her social commitment through the Re-inspiration project, aimed at cystic fibrosis patients. First time in Viareggio forCrivizza from 1966 by Ariella Cattai and Gigi Rolandi. Returning this year to the vintage racing circuit, the boat has collected one podium after another and will soon pass under the care of Cantiere Del Carlo for a series of works in view of the next season.

Initiatives on Land

Like every year, it was possible to follow the regattas from the sea on board the Pandora schooner of the “Vela Traditional” association and on the Artiglio motorsailer of the Vela Scuba Diving Club of the same name. Also present in Viareggio were about twenty students of the master’s degree course in Nautical Naval Design and Nautical Engineer of the Polo Marconi university campus in La Spezia to whom Francesco Foppiano, vice president of CIM, described the world of vintage boats. At the Del Carlo shipyard, the VSV Commodore Enrico Zaccagni and the consultant Emiliano Parenti illustrated to the competitors the ongoing restoration of the 1928 Portola motoryacht, used on the set of the film Some like it hotwith Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis and Star Sapphire, a 1957 22m long ketch by Laurent Giles that will return to sea next season. For the sake of navigation safety, each day of regatta was always preceded by consulting the forecasts prepared by Lamma Meteo and by setting up the Navionics application which made it possible to know in real time the position at sea of ​​each boat on the race course.

Vele Storiche Viareggio Rankings Viareggio 2022.

VSV Group 0: 1st Rainbow – 2nd Chaplin – 3rd Polar Star
VSV Group 1: 1st Margaret – 2nd Patience – 3rd Kipawa (DNS)
VSV Group 2: 1st Oenone – 2nd Vistona – 3rd Arctic II
Group VSV 3: 1st Alcyone – 2nd Sula – 3rd Mä Vista
Group VSV 4: 1st Onfale – 2nd Midva – 3rd Crivizza
Group VSV 5: 1st Dragonera – 2nd Freya – 3 ° Kalua
VSV Group 6: 1 ° Malteba – 2 ° Gioconda – 3 ° Millenium Falcon
VSV Group 7: 1 ° Nonnopio – 2 ° Scilla – 3 ° Predator
VSV Group 8: 1 ° Kaloni – 2 ° Good Girl – 3 ° Marie Anne
Class 5.5 : 1st Manuela V – 2nd Whisper – 3rd Marie Anne
AIVE CLASSIFICATIONS AND SEASONAL WINNERS
AIVE Yachts Epoca classification (9 registered in Viareggio): 1st Alcyone – 2nd Vistona – 3rd Oenone
AIVE Yachts Classici (12 registered in Viareggio): 1st Onfale – 2nd Crivizza – 3rd Ojalà II
Artiglio Trophy 2022 “Epoca”: 1st Barbara – 2nd Alcyone – 3rd Margaret
Artiglio Trophy 2022 “Classics”: 1st Crivizza – 2nd Ojalà II – 3rd Onfale
AIVE Cup of the Tyrrhenian 2022 “Epoca”: 1st Barbara – 2nd Olympian – 3rd Alcyone
AIVE Cup of the Tirreno 2022 “Classics”: 1st Crivizza – 2nd Ojalà II – 3rd Grifone
Barbara and Crivizza were also both winners of the Artiglio 2022 Challenge Trophy.

Vele Storiche Viareggio Association (VSV) was established October 8th 2005, in northern Tuscany as guardian to the rich maritime and shipbuilding traditions along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Association awards owners and crews who have been able to enhance and communicate the historical and cultural heritage of their boats, projects, materials used, restorations performed, regattas in which they participated and of the seas in which they sailed.

Since its first edition, the Viareggio has successfully launched the “Welcome aboard” initiative, through participation by owners and crews who welcome enthusiasts onboard to learn more about the history record of competing vessels.

Since 2009, on the occasion of the IV edition of the VDV Rally, a time-compensated ranking has been established dedicated to IOR boats and, starting from the 10th edition, a CIM-time ranking by AIVE has also been introduced.

To underline the philosophy of its corporate purpose, the Vele Storiche Viareggio Association maintains strong collaborative relationships with other associations in the sector or similar in purpose. With this spirit he brought to port a project promoted by the partner Roberto Giacinti during the VSV Gathering in 2006, establishing with other important associations representing vintage and historical boats, the Italian Federation of Historic Boats-FIBaS, with the aim of contributing strongly , and together with the support of the sector. owners and crews who have been able to enhance and communicate the historical and cultural heritage of their boats, projects, materials used, restorations performed, regattas in which they participated and of the seas in which they sailed.

The 17th edition of the Vele Storiche Viareggio, will be held from the 13th to 16th of October 2022.

The docks overlooking the Harbor Master’s Office are preparing to welcome a fleet of vintage, classic, and traditional sailing vessels divided into groups of homogeneity that will run in real time. In addition the 5.5 Meters class will race on a course dedicated to them with a special race committee. The event is reserved for boats in possession of a current CIM (International Committee of the Mediterranean) measurement certificate. Three races are scheduled, from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 October, followed by the award ceremony. The XVII Vele Storiche Viareggio is sponsored by AIVE (Italian Association of Vintage Sails) and by FIV (Italian Sailing Federation).

Racing Towards Viareggio with the “Multipartance” Formula

Vele Storiche Viareggio together with the Versilia Nautical Club, invite all historic sailing vessels to reach the Tuscan city with the “multi-start” formula. Among the novelties of this year is the approach stage to Viareggio. A multi-start formula, already successfully tested at the recent second edition of the Capraia Sail Rally. On Thursday 13 October 2022, at a set time and for 4 hours of navigation, the participating boats will be able to leave from any port in the Upper Tyrrhenian Sea (La Spezia, Pisa, Livorno, etc.) and register the start & stop on the application Navionics Boating which will memorize the coordinates and the track necessary to draw up the final classification of what will be the connecting race. The Lamma Meteo Consortium will provide all participants with wind and sea forecasts for the day.

The Seasonal Trophies

All the boats registered will compete for the awarding of the Vele Storiche Viareggio Trophy, while the hulls built by the well-known Ligurian shipyard Sangermani will compete for the prestigious Challenge Trophy reserved for them. Also up for grabs is the Admiral Florindo Cerri Challenge Trophy, awarded to those who have crossed the first mark during the first regatta, the third edition of the reborn Tirrenia II Cup , to the boat that during the year will have carried out the most intense navigation activity and the Centenauriche Trophy, reserved for boats over 100 years old since launch. In Viareggio the most important seasonal trophies are also traditionally awarded: the Artiglio Trophy, this year made up of 6 stages, the AIVE del Tirreno Cup and The Olin Stephens II Centennial Cup.