Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Perth International Regatta - RS-X Open Up Top, Down Under

by Shauna McGee Kinney on 21 Nov 2010
Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) and Marcelien Bos de Koning (NED) share their stories - 2010 Perth International Regatta Sail-World.com /AUS http://www.sail-world.com
RS:X Sailors from the Northern Hemisphere make a trip from up top to down under.

The event – the 2010 Perth International Regatta is the lead-in to the Perth 2011 Olympic qualifiers. Several international teams took the chance to get some experience with the Perth courses.

The RS:X sailors from Europe shared their stories while waiting for the Perth wind to fill-in.

Flavia Tartaglini (ITA) and Marcelien Bos de Koning (NED) were two of the RS:X Open sailors waiting for wind at Bathers Beach in Fremantle Western Australia.



Flavia started sailing the Optimist at 6 years old, like most of the sailors here for competition in Perth. She was competing around Europe in fencing when at 15 years old she took up windsurfing for fun. Her home beach is Ostia, part of Rome Italy. She’s an only child and misses her mom back in Italy. They talk every day, but Flavia was quite insistent that she’s committed to being a full-time sailor.

She moved into full-time competition when she was 18 years old. Flavia and other Italian sailors are part of the Italian Army, though she is the only Itaian woman competing in the RSX. Her modest salary and pension provide a means for Flavia to race, including world competition in Brazil last year and previous events in Sydney and Melbourne.

Italy gets down to around 5-10 C during the winter and she was looking forward to Perth – the windy, sailors’ paradise. She’s been a bit disappointed that the predictable 15-20 kts of wind called the 'Fremantle Doctor' hasn’t arrived at 1 PM every day like it did the week before the competition. Flavia will be going next to Sydney to train with a couple of the Australian sailors and return to Italy in March.


Marcelien Bos de Koning (NED) blushed as she explained she is at the back of the fleet. She had been a 470 sailor for 8 years and won the silver medal in Beijing in the 470 fleet. She moved to the RS:X because she wanted the excitement. This is her first year racing the RS:X in international competition starting with Worlds in Miami last year.

She spoke of the irony of craving 20 kts on the 470, but finding the 20kts to be a bit difficult while developing new skills Her family sails and she’s been on sailboats since she was born. By the age of 12 years old she won the Optimist Championships in France.





By Saturday 20 November, Marina Alabau (ESP) from Cadiz Spain was the leader of the RSX Open fleet. Marina spent only one year in the Optimist at the age of 8 and always wanting to windsurf. At 11 years old Marina got her start and found her obsession. By the age of 13 years old, she was competing at the Worlds in Martinque France.

She’s a full time sailor and studying tourism on the side. She was first place at the 2009 Worlds in Weymouth Great Britain and seventh place at 2010 Worlds in Kerteminde Denmark held in September.




There were only 10 women in the RSX Open competition this year – the lead up event to Perth 2011 Olympic qualifiers. The competitors at this year’s event are hoping for 80 RSX Open athletes at the major 2011 event.




The weather in Perth has been atypically light. In fact, the weather was so light that the RS:X and Bathers Beach spectators watched the 49ers being towed back to Fremantle Sailing Club around 1 PM in the afternoon.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]

Allen Dynamic 40 FooterMaritimo M75Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Marine Auctions: Two Online Auctions in July
Also Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region Marine Auctions are proud to announce that Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region in South Australia. Jacob is a local Commerical Fisherman.
Posted today at 2:43 am
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta 2025 Preview
The fourth stop of the five series Sailing Grand Slam circuit Over 200 elite athletes from 42 nations have converged on Long Beach to test their skills on the same waters that will host sailing events during the LA2028 Olympic Games as they compete in the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta July 12-20
Posted today at 12:11 am
Best Buddies from Germany win the AEGEAN 600 2025
The second wave of finishers benefit from last night's steadier breezes Behind the first wave of finishers yesterday morning, yesterday and last night's steadier breezes helped sweep in another wave of Monohull and Multihull finishers to the race finish at Cape Sounion.
Posted on 11 Jul
Tough conditions test Morris
As iQFOiL World Championships wrap up The iQFOiL World Championships have drawn to a close in Aarhus, Denmark, following a week of light and unpredictable wind that tested both race officials and athletes to the limit.
Posted on 11 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 4
Balanger dominates qualifying, storm cuts Gold fleet racing short Day four of the 2025 Moth World Championship opened at dawn with another early start for the 137 athletes from 25 nations competing on Lake Garda.
Posted on 11 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds in Aarhus overall
Thrilling Medal Series closes out a spectacular week of high-stakes foiling in Denmark The 2025 iQFOiL World Championship wrapped up in Aarhus with a spectacular Medal Series showdown that saw Emma Wilson (GBR 7) and Andy Brown (GBR 360) rise to the top and secure World Championship titles.
Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Three preview
This has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Posted on 11 Jul
Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore!
Posted on 11 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted on 11 Jul