F18 Italian Nats 2018: Vettori & Stella 1st

Christian Vettori and Maurizio Stella were crowned this past weekend as Italian Formula 18  Champions 2018! From August 30th to September 2nd the the Nats took place at Gaeta,  four days of racing for the the Italian Formula 18 Championship.

The town is named as the Gaeta gulf, kissed by weather and sea conditions in the exceptional summer months for regattas and sailing activities. The Nautical Base Flavio Gioia, the Yacht Club Gaeta, the Sailing support staff of the Guardia di Finanza and the Papardò bathing establishment were responsible to outline the event. With the Race Committee always ready for positioning the course.
All the compliments to the Class and to all the participants.

Regattas started on Thursday with the local thermal raising from 9 knots up to 14knots. Three races disputed and immediately highlighted the crews who would compete for the title.
Friday, second day of the race, similar conditions with some higher winds in the sixth race. A succession of first and second among the leaders of the provisional ranking.

Saturday, weather conditions unstable from the early hours of the morning hit by a violent storm. Situation that has not discouraged to running the long distance race scheduled.
Boats started about 13 o’clock and down the coast north of Gaeta to admire the coves and beaches.

Little wind for the race with moments of lulls, a reduction of the course in front of the “Broken Mountain” , the promontory on which stands medieval Gaeta.

 Sunday, the last day of the regatta ,  morning winds on 18 knots from the east. The Committee calls the boats on the water and start for the 8th race, not even the time to reach the windward mark that suddenly falls and the thermal rotation starts. Follow me on boat Committee and repositioning the field with the typical SW on 10 knots up to 15 for the race 10.

This last race has decreed the Italian Champion. Suspense, tactics and strategy for the two leaders who will close on equal points. Italian Champions, Vettori-Stella graduate once more repeating the success of last year.

Silver for Mazzucchi-Lisignoli, who until the end were in the title fight. Third position of the podium for the tuscan Radman-Cioni. And as per tradition Vaccari-Meoli quarters and to close the placements from Fantasia-Recalcati awards.

We close the report by quoting the two very young crews who entered in the Formula 18 Class, becoming passionate and having fun with the certainty of bringing for a long time the passion for fast sailing with them: Luca Di Nisio-Bianca Appignani and Lorenzo Amelii-Mattia Schipani.

On the website www.formula18.it all the news and lots of photos.

Formula18 will close the season with the regatta at Sunset di Calambrone the first weekend in October.
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