Stunning days of sun and wind welcomed the 33 crews from yacht clubs from Italy and abroad who came to Venice June 15-18 to participate in the Marblehead Trophy, organized by the Compagnia della Vela. The most important international regatta of dragons was won by Dane Jens Christensen together with Kim Andersen and Anders Bagger aboard Out Of Bounce representing the Royal Danish Yacht Club, confirming the excellent start that had seen him in the lead on the first day of trials. There had tried reigning winner Klaus Diederichs of CDV to defend the trophy, overtaking the Danes and excelling on the second day along with Diego Negri and Jamie Lea on Fever. On the final day, however, the Danish team scored the supremacy and by a whisker Klaus finished third, behind Britain’s Grant Gordon who on Louise Racing along with Luke patience, James Williamson and Faye Chatterton of the Royal Yacht Squadron won second place.
Sunday night at the Sailing Company’s nautical base on the island of St. George the awards ceremony in the presence of President Giuseppe Duca, board member and Marblehead organizer Luigi Nonino and vice president Lamberto Dehò.
“It was a great race,” commented winner Jens Christensen with satisfaction “with the best race course conditions I have ever found and next year it will be difficult to match the level of organization and hospitality found here.”
But two more prizes were up for grabs. Following the Marblehead was also held in the afternoon the Venice Harbour Race, with a course in the lagoon from the front of Sant’Andrea to the canal dell’Orfano and back in front of the island of San Servolo. Winning this regatta thus winning the Gran Teatro la Fenice Prize, Giuseppe Duca for CDV on Yanez together with Federico and Ferdinando Colaninno, received at the hands of the Superintendent Ferdinando Ortombrina. Next came Belgian Xavier Vanneste of the Royal North Sea Yacht Club and in third place was England’s Grant Gordon on Louse Racing.
Gordon’s team took home yet another award, that of the Boat Show of Venice for the oldest club, the Royal Yacht Squadron was founded in 1815. The award in Murano art glass is by Alberto and Nicola Moretti for Consorzio Promovetro and was presented for Vela Spa by Director Fabrizio D’Oria and Events Manager Nicola Catullo.
“The organization was complex in logistics given the specificity of Venice,” commented Compagnia della Vela President Giuseppe Duca -and I was afraid that it would not be appreciated by the teams. Instead, I was surprised by how much the participants expressed satisfaction with the reception and the places where we were, from the Arsenal where the boats were moored to sailing in the canals between Venice and the Lido. The Marblehead regatta went very well, 7 races sailed out of the 8 scheduled and two days of nice robust wind, Venice in this period hardly disappoints. In the Venice Harbour Race there were variables particular to the lagoon, starting with the current and so I am happy to have beaten my friends Gustavo Lima and Pedro De Andrade! Finally, I am very pleased with the organizational skills of the Compagnia della Vela that was able to manage an event of the highest level.”
“Everything went well,” commented organizer Luigi Nonino, “and it was with pleasure that I caught the excitement of the crews during the Harbour Race in performing a navigation unique of its kind.”
We thank for support of the event: the Venice Boat Show, Barovier&Toso which provided valuable prizes made of Murano glass, the Gran Teatro La Fenice which dedicated the Venice Harbor Race Trophy, Alilaguna, Hendricks Gin and artist Luca Ferron for the beautiful works as prizes.
MARBLE FINAL RANKING OF THE TOP 10. THE COMPLETE ONE ATTACHED
1. JENS CHRISTENSEN – OUT OF BOUNCE (ROYAL DANISH YACHT CLUB – DEN)
2. GRANT GORDON – LOUISE RACING (ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON – GBR)
3. KLAUS DIEDERICHS – FEVER (CDV – GBR)
4. WOLF WASCHKUHN – 1QUICK1 (ROYAL SOUTHERN YC – SUI)
5. IVAN BRADBURY – BLUE HAZE (HELLERUP SEJLKLUB – GBR)
6. PETER CUNNINGHAM – POWERPLAY (ROYAL BURNHAM YC – CAY)
7. DIRK OLDEMBURG – FREE (SKE SEGEL KLUAB ENNETBUER – SUI)
8. WOLFGANG BAYS – CASAAR (YC RUHRLAND ESSEN – GER)
9. NICOLA FRIESEN – KHALEESI (DIESSNER SEGEL CLUB – GER)
10. OLAF STERNEL – RUNNING DUCK (HSC HAMBURGER SEGEL CLUB – GER)
attached the two rancking and some images
