Nacra 17 Towards Tokyo: Tita & Banti selected to represent Italy

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  • Ready Steady Tokio Sailing 2019. ©PEDRO MARTINEZ/SAILING ENERGY/WORLD SAILING 19 August, 2019.

Photos: Pedro Martinez / Sailing Energy & Kiel Week Media –

Italy Nacra 17 Internal Qualy:

In on of the most competitive internal selections we’ve seen Ruggero Tita & Caterina Banti were the chosen crew to represent Italy in coming Olympic Games.

With Bissaro & Frascari winning the 2019 Worlds and 5th on the 2020 ones held.s two weeks apart last year the scenario was pretty close and only past week the Italian Sailing Federation announced Tita & Banti are going to Tokyo.

In the end the level of both crews was elevated and forced to the max, and hopefully it will pay in the Games. Still a tough decision, while Tita & Banti dominated past years they become somehow inconsistent later on, big aspect is that when they are on the zone, they are simply untouchable and that might have weighted in the end for the officials taking the final decision.

Also Tita left a spot to crew on board Luna Rossa, showing a great commitment to be in the next Olympic Games. On the matter I spoke here in San Isidro with Santi Lange two weeks ago and he was confident on a secure green light for Tokyo.

In the end Italy will have a strong dominating team in the Nacra 17 Class, and we congrats our friend Vittorio Bissaro & Maelle Frascari for pushing to the very limit , winning the 2019 Worlds was an epic achievement considering the scenario.
Still many cycles left Vitto, told you were top notch level and along Maelle both show it winning the World Title.

Below Ruggero Tita comments published in his Fb page:

“@catebanti and I are going to represent Italy at the Olympics.To the effort of having made it, of having believed in it and having succeeded.It was a long, hard selection that taught us a lot from every point of view.Honor to Bissaro-Frascari.I’d like to thank Italian Sailing Team, our coach @gangabruni for being a constant point of reference and all the people who over the years have done something to give value added to our project.When I told you about the qualification for Rio 2016 I had considered it a point of arrival, but this is only a necessary step to be able to bring back to Italy a medal that is missing since Beijing 2008. 💪🇮🇹 “

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