Giro d’Italia a Vela

The Italian Navy dominates the Tropea-Naples race; foiling spectacle in the Gulf

Arrival in Naples: a triumph for the Italian Navy
Yesterday, July 1st, the Beneteau Figaro 3 fleet competing in the Giro d’Italia a Vela made its triumphant entry into the Gulf of Naples. The first to cross the finish line was the Italian Navy crew, who performed a masterful feat. The Italian Navy sailors took command of the fleet from the very beginning of the leg starting in Tropea, conducting an attacking race and demonstrating impeccable handling.  Theirs was a true test of strength, culminating in a gap of approximately 3-4 hours over their pursuers: a huge gap in a one-design class as competitive as the Figaro 3.

Tactics and Routing: The Key to Dominating the Tyrrhenian Sea
The Navy crew’s masterpiece was a combination of technical skill and routing excellence. During a roughly two-day voyage along the Tyrrhenian coast, the winners perfectly interpreted the weather patterns and the morphology of the coastline. Their in-depth knowledge of these waters allowed them to capitalize on the thermal breezes and navigate key passages (such as the approach to Cape Palinuro and the entrance to the Phlegraean Islands) always in phase with the wind, leaving their opponents no tactical options for recovery.

Weather: Generous thermals contradict the models
The run-up to the leg promised to be complex from a meteorological and tactical perspective, with models predicting very light breezes and dangerous “lulls” typical of the Tyrrhenian Sea in summer. The reality on the race course proved to be decidedly more generous: the fleet benefited from constant pressure that allowed for high average speeds. This favorable scenario upended the estimated sailing plans, allowing all Figaro 3s to complete the course a full 6-7 hours ahead of the ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) predicted by the race committees.

InShore Trials: Waszp and WingFoil Fly at 10 Knots
While the Figaro 3s completed their offshore effort, the spectacle in the Gulf of Naplescontinued close to shore with the InShore classes. The young Waszp athletes (the single-foiling boats derived from the Moth) and the WingFoil riders found ideal flying conditions.  A steady thermal wind of 10 to 11 knots allowed the race committees to put together a tight schedule, bringing home four races for each class. The Gulf waters proved to be a highly technical race course, where the ability to stay high on the foils even in drops in pressure and precision in maneuvers (gybes and tacks in flight) made the real difference in the standings.