Three days of sailing in the Gulf of Tigullio, two of which actually took place in very light wind conditions that were certainly too weak for FlyingNikka’s characteristics… this is the summary, broadly speaking, of the Spring Regattas, the first event of the 2023 racing season for the FlyingNikka, fresh from the launch of the partnership with the famous watchmaker TAG Heuer, a partnership which was made official on the eve of the regatta. An event organised by the Yacht Club Italiano, with its logistical base in the beautiful and exclusive location of Portofino, which took place over the weekend of 5, 6 and 7 May, featuring some of the most beautiful boats around.
There was so little wind, as mentioned above, that over three days the Race Committee only managed to complete two races (Friday and Saturday), while on Sunday every effort proved to be futile, given the persistent calm. These conditions were in contrast to those ‘required’ by FlyingNikka to take flight, but which nevertheless rewarded the boat, in the hands of helmsman Roberto Lacorte, joined on board as always by Alessio Razeto, Andrea Fornaro, Enrico Zennaro, Lorenzo Bressani and Lorenzo de Felice. In fact, even if FlyingNikka was not exactly “flying” on Friday, it still managed to finish the race in third place in real time, and the following day, once again without flying, victory came, the result of excellent winter work on optimising the boat, to increase both performance ‘in the air’ and during displacement sailing. With truly remarkable results…
“The conditions we had to deal with were certainly not ones we would have chosen, but we are nevertheless extremely satisfied as FlyingNikka proved to be an all-rounder, at ease even in winds below the minimum required to be able to take off,” explains Roberto Lacorte, Chairman of the Pisa Repubblica Marinara Yacht Club and President of the Yacht Club Punta Ala. “It’s a pity because we would have preferred to have a little more wind, but it’s fine all the same. In this regard, I would like to sincerely thank the Yacht Club Italiano for its magnificent hospitality and our new partner TAG Heuer, with whom we experienced the first of a series of highly prestigious appointments.”
Next step, the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar, scheduled for 1 June with departure from Livorno and arrival in Marina di Pisa. Besides being the ‘home regatta’, it will be the first time for FlyingNikka in an offshore regatta. The anticipation for this event is simply agonizing.
