The 32nd edition of the “Trofeo Marco Rizzotti” International Optimist Class team race is over. The event, organized by the Compagnia della Vela and Diporto Velico Veneziano under the aegis of the FIV – Italian Sailing Federation and the AICO – Italian Optimist Class Association, took part from 8 to 10 June in Venice, Italy.

Nineteen teams from fifteen countries took part in the Trophy. Ninety-five were the young competitors who came from all over the world to win the Cup, brought back by Lauderdale Yacht Club, winner of 2017. A total of 171 matches were disputed in three days, a complete round robin. Thailand, at its first participation in the trophy, came out unbeaten with eighteen victories and therefore an absolute winner with a percentage of 100%. In second place Italy with seventeen win out of eighteen matches disputed (94%), while Circolo Velico Ravennate (14 wins – 78%) took the third place. In the Italian team there was the 2017 Optimist World Champion Marco Gradoni.

Massimo Scarpa, Italian national judge and member of the Race Committee, commented on the event, underlining how: “The regattas were held in the context of maximum sportiness and fairness by all comptetitors. Thanks to that, and obviously with the help of good weather conditions, we managed to complete 171 races in 3 days.”

The General Manager of the organizing committee, Elio Camozzi underlined the importance of the role of volunteer members of the Diporto Velico Veneziano and Compagnia della Vela for the organization of the event, thanking them for their passionate work.

During the award ceremony held in Camping Village Marina di Venezia, the ‘Fair Play’ awards for the best behaviour afloat and ashore, donated by Venice Panathlon Club, were given to the British and the Irish team, respectively. Finally, the Memorial Giorgio Lauro award, for the youngest competitor, was awarded to Ali Demirhan Katianci of Turkey 1.

The event took place outside the port of Lido and was hosted at the nautical base “Ottavio Ghetti” of the Compagnia della Vela in Punta Sabbioni. All the teams were housed in equipped bungalows in Camping Village Marina di Venezia, thus creating a mini-Olympic village that offered young sailors the chance to socialize with each other once on the ground.

The XXXII edition of the International Optimist Class Team Race “Trofeo Marco Rizzotti” was supported by CONI and the Region of Veneto. Institutional partners were: the Italian Navy, the Italian Sailing Federation, the Italian Optimist Class Association, the Port Authority of Venice, the Metropolitan City of Venice, the Municipality of Cavallino – Treporti and the Venice Panathlon Club.

Sponsors of the event were: Despar, Ragazzi Murano, Camping Village Marina di Venezia, APVInvestimenti, Alilaguna Lines, Nautilus Maritime Works and Industrial Diving, GP Pellegrini, GENERALI Agenzia di Venezia San Marco, INGEMAR, ATVO, Officina11 and ekologica.