From 26 to the 28 may yes and’ held in Messina the 2nd STAGE of ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP SLALOM AICW absolute and youth FIN and FOIL.
After 5 tests held in the Strait the U20 rankings both Foil and Pinna and absolute foil are won by Michele Laurenza.
The U15-U17 ranking on fin is won by Matteo Della Fiorentina.
The U20 ranking on fin is won by Matteo Righetti.
The U15-U17 classification on foil is won by Federico Calcaterra.
The overall fin classification is won by Max Brunetti.
II Stage Italian Youth and Absolute Championship FIV / AICW
26-28 May 2023 – Windsurf Club Messina
In the weekend just passed, in the waters of the Strait, north of Messina, guests of the Windsurf Club Messina, was held the second stage of the Italian Youth Slalom Championship and absolute AICW, Foil and Fin, a weekend, in which the conditions not very favorable on Friday and Saturday, made them fear for the outcome of the stage, Really light wind for Friday, only one Foil regatta held on Saturday, in marginal conditions and with problems of positioning buoys path, and four Foil regattas and a Fin, played on Sunday.
The Windsurf Club Messina, an institution of the Straits, welcomed about fifty members to the second stage of the Italian Youth and Absolute FIV / AICW Championship, A definitely suggestive location that was the setting for three days in which the winds, from Grecale termico and Scirocco, typical of this area, have given way to currents from NNW, more inconstant, however, allowing the development of five Foil tests and the only Fin disputed.
About thirty young and very young people in the race, A concrete sign of a growing sport. Definitely, The advent of foil, with the possibility of gliding with less wind, his speed and the introduction of the discipline in the Olympic panorama, has stimulated more and more young people to approach the windsurfing world.
The second stage was scheduled over three days, from Friday to Saturday, as already mentioned, The weather conditions were not the usual ones and we had to wait until Sunday to be able to race all day, completing four tests for each Foil category and one for each Fin category. Field positioning issues on Fridays and Saturdays, Instead, they conditioned the first two days of racing, with meandering discontent among the athletes, Only one validated test, not without problems, and with a large number of DNFs, on Saturday.
Grande, anyway, enthusiasm, especially of the very young, ready to confront the most experienced to improve regatta after race.
And it is precisely to the youngest that we asked for an opinion on this experience, A small assessment of their race, with an eye already to the near future, Participation, for many of them, at the IFCA Junior World Championship regattas, scheduled in Calasetta next week and the third stage of the Italian Slalom Fin Championship & FIV/AICW foil in Talamone at TWKC from 30 June to 2 July.
Italian Championship Slalom Finna FIV / AICW, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Massimiliano Brunetti, ITA 95, master
2. Matthew Righetti, ITA 885, Under 20
3. Giulio Millanelli, ITA 206, senior
Italian Absolute Slalom Foil Championship FIV/AICW, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Alessandro Ristori, ITA 451, senior
2. Giulio Millanelli, ITA 206, senior
3. Carmine Navarra, ITA 881, senior
Italian Slalom Under Championship 20 Fin, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Michele Laurenza, ITA 9114
2. Matthew Righetti, ITA 885
3. Gabriele Prosperi, ITA 278
In the women's field Elena de Fazi, ITA 747, is in eleventh position in the general classification under 20.
Italian Slalom Under Championship 20 Foil, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Michele Laurenza, ITA 9114
2. Gabriele Prosperi, ITA 278
3. Roberto Ferrari, ITA 407
In the women's field Elena de Fazi, ITA 747, is in eighth position in the general classification under 20.
Italian Youth Slalom Championship Finna Under 17, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Matteo of Fiorentina, ITA 315
2. Davide Arena, ITA 122 – Giovanni Landi, ITA 7116
3. Diana Vicari, ITA 820
Italian Youth Slalom Championship Foil Under 17, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Federico Calcaterra, ITA 819
2. Leonardo Bertugelli, ITA 153
3. Gabriele Rosa, ITA 178
In the women's field Martina Focante, ITA 948, is in sixth position in the general classification under 17.
Italian Youth Slalom Championship Finna Under 15, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Michele Bonsanto, ITA 2811 – Arturo Schininà, ITA 818 – Matteo Landi, ITA 7117
2. Ginevra Giunti, ITA 321
Italian Youth Slalom Championship Foil Under 15, Provisional podium after two stages:
1. Arturo Schininà, ITA 818 – Matteo Landi, ITA 7117
2. Ginevra Giunti, ITA 321
3. Michele Bonsanto, ITA 2811
For complete rankings: http://www.aicw.it/index.php/classifiche-2023/
Ginevra Giunti, ITA 321, under 15
"I am so happy to have come to the second stage of the Italian youth slalom championship fin e foil. I 13 years recently and I started this class, and the foil, only this year, So I'm the least experienced of all and what I like here is that, Regatta after Regatta, I can appreciate the improvements, learning from the older ones and their experience. Messina and the strait are beautiful, although the weather conditions did not help us to bring home many races. In the end only four foil tests on Sunday and none for me, but still satisfied for being able to keep up with the most experienced. Thanks Windsurf Club Messina for the welcome! See you for sure at the stage of Talamone, in the hope that many girls will be added to this beautiful circuit because the women's ranking is still too short and it's a shame, Because the fun is so much!”
Matthew Righetti, ITA 885, under 20
"The race weekend begins with a skipper meeting at 12:00 on Fridays, where it was explained how the race committee would have wanted to face the day to make the most of the "windy" hours. We were immediately called into the water with the foils to try to race, although the wind was very weak and gusty, Unfortunately we were not able to complete even one test in the day due to the current and wind holes that did not allow the smooth running of the races, in which I had also managed to start well at the head of the group.
On the following day the situation remained almost the same except for two tests, a by category, Dates valid by the Committee, despite wind holes and changes of direction, that made the slalom route traverso/lasco, a path upwind walls to starboard and stern walls to the left.
The morning of the last day, Oddly enough, There was no skipper meeting, but only a departure notice at 11:00. this time, unlike previous days, the wind from NNO allowed us to carry out four foil tests in all categories and three fin tests (a by category, ndr).
About my race, on the fin, apart from a wind hole at the start in the U20 test and a plastic bag at the last buoy of the absolute, I am fully satisfied with the pace and trim that I was able to bring to the race, but regarding the competitive results I was not entirely brilliant, especially in the discipline of foil where, for one reason or another, I've always found myself chasing, making a few mistakes too many. I return to Rome with a greater awareness of my abilities and the points I have to work on to be the athlete to chase..."
Michele Laurenza, ITA 9114, Under 20
"The second stage of the Italian youth championship and absolute fin and foil slalom has just taken place in Messina. Sicily gives us as always fantastic conditions to race, Sun, wind and flat water. On the first day the wind direction was not constant, So the committee decided to put the regatta field with two buoys, An eight-way course with three jibes, but they weren't able to even give a start, thus wasting the whole day. On the second day the wind direction and intensity seemed to be much better., with a maximum peak of 15 nodes. All 13.30 They called us into the water with the hope of racing, this time with a down wind field composed of four jibes, but unfortunately the race committee was not able to put the buoys in the correct position, After a five-hour wait in the water they gave the first start to the Under 20 and absolutes, I participated in both, concluding in the first position.
On the last day the judges tried to make up for the time lost in the previous days, being found with the field mounted correctly, already in the morning, we went out at 12.00 with a wind from 10 to 13 knots that he held all day making us finish four tests in foil, and for the under 20 and for the absolute, In conclusion, in both categories, to the first position. Having reached the maximum daily tests in foil, The Race Committee decided to call us in the water in fin, with a wind in my opinion too weak for discipline, but despite this they made us do a test by category, in the absolute, Unfortunately, I couldn't make a good placement because of the weak wind, while in the youth ranking I managed to place myself in the first position.
In General, I conclude the event satisfied with my performance and the placements obtained, It's been a long time since I felt like this’ fit and confident with my equipment! I thank the Windsurf Club Messina for the hospitality and for the wonderful organization, now I will continue with the hard training to get even better at the slalom world championship until it will be held in Sardinia in a few days."
Matteo Della Fiorentina, ITA 315, under 17
"The regatta was very well organized by the club and they were all very hospitable., The jury, on the other hand, had many difficulties in managing the regatta, buoys always poorly positioned and compliance with the regulation at the limit. I, Unfortunately, I was unlucky due to a problem with the foil the day before the race, and I could not participate in the foil rehearsals, who saved the regatta, given the very light wind, The only fin test we did I ended with the first place, I am satisfied, But at the next stage of the championship I will also be operational in foil, we hope in good condition!”
Michele Bonsanto, ITA 2811, under 15
"The second stage of the Italian championship fin e foil in Messina has just ended, It was a nice stop even if the wind, The first two days, penalized us. On the last day we started with the foil waiting for the wind to increase, The whole foil board has been concluded, I waited for the Pinna regattas to start because I don't participate in the foil.
In the fin, Instead, only one regatta was made, in which I placed 1st in the U15. It was a nice stop, some problems for the technical organization, especially on the positioning of the race course, For this reason, there has been some confusion and discontent among the racers who have discussed this point at length.. Eventually, I took home the result pinna, Now all concentration is at maximum, in view of the IFCA JUNIOR World Championship in Calasetta and for the other stages of the Italian championship."
Max Brunetti, ITA 95, master and AICW advisor:
"The organization of the race was good, The club has shown itself attentive to the needs of the athletes, many small attentions have been noticed, not discounted, water, pasta, carpet for equipment, shade for the same, are details that do not escape, especially to those who, like me, does many regattas during the year, and they are things, sincerely, highly appreciated.
Another positive point, definitely, was that of the presence of many young people in the race, many more than last year, An important goal that we hoped to achieve this year.
Good spot, worked discreetly, although it was not his condition, giving us wind a couple of hours a day, for two days out of three. A shame the management of the technical part of the regatta, Some choices created discontent on Saturday, with a disputed and validated foil regatta, despite major errors in the positioning of the buoys.
If I had to give votes, I would say between the 7 and 8 for the organizing club and a 5 to the technical part in water. As AICW we will strive to organize training courses, in synergy with IVF, to create competent judges for our disciplines."
Text by Ginevra Giunti, Matthew Righetti, Michele Laurenza, Matteo Della Fiorentina, Michele Bonsanto, Max Brunetti, Roberta Shovel
photo by Bruna Ferracane for Michele Laurenza, Nicoletta Losi and Courtesy Windsurf Club Messina
During the event, our collaborator RIWmag was able to interview Giovanni Landi
Michele Laurenza
Alexander Garcia
Michele Bonsanto
Matthew Righetti
Arturo Scirinnà
video: Fabio Righetti 4 www.RIWmag.com
