DSK-Comifin wins Giorgio Falck Swan 45 Regatta

by Event media on 27 Mar 2008
The II Memorial Giorgio Falck Swan 45 wrapped up with DSK-Comifin winning the regatta. Danilo Salsi and Pietro D’Alì conquered the victory closely followed by Jeroboam (Codecasa, Benussi) and Vertigo (Salvi, Vascotto). 25 knot winds and rough seas ensure spectacular racing in the seas of Maremma in Tuscany.

Maremma, Scarlino, 26 March - The II Memorial Giorgio Falck Trophy reserved to the Swan 45 Class wrapped up on Monday at Scarlino in Maremma Tuscany with three spectacular races. Winds had been building since the previous day and at the start gun rough seas and 25 knots from the west swept the bay of Follonica. 13 Swan 45s from Italy, Finland, Holland, France, England, Germany, and Belgium faced off to conquer the final victory.

DSK-Comifin,, 2006 Italian boat of the year, won the Regatta with Danilo Salsi at the helm and Pietro D’Alì calling the shots. 'It was a good regatta for us. We always had good boat speed, strong starts and were consistently on the right side of the course' stated D’Alì, winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre at the end of the day.

Jeroboam was helmed by Codecasa, president of the Swan 45 Class, with Gabriele Benussi as a tactician secured the second place. Marco Salvi’s Vertigo , with Vasco Vascotto tactician, ranked third.

Over the Easter weekend great names of the international sailing world lined the docks at La Marina di Scarlino.

Canadian Olympic medal Bill Abbott, tactician on board Finnish Blue Nights, stated 'This is really a perfect setup with the Marina, the boatyard and the Yacht Club all working together, I was really impressed by the Committee and how they managed the entire event . A beautiful place and we should have more events here!'

Italian Tommaso Chieffi, tactician on board Dutch No Limits and former tactician on Team Shosholoza: 'The regatta was really good. It was a very exciting week, a bit cold but a good strong breeze. I enjoyed the sailing very much. It was a friendly bunch, great competition. I was in Scarlino a couple of weeks ago for the Etruria Cup Melges 24 and once again I had a good time.'

American Tom Burnham on board DSK-Comifin and veteran of America’s Cup team Luna Rossa. 'It was a hard day today, really shifty (30-40 degrees at times), with winds ranging from 8 to 25 knots, plus waves. Danilo did a great job keeping the boat going – he kept us fast. There were big potholes on the race course. The team has sailed a lot of miles in this boat. It’s experience that counts – Danilo and these guys have that.'

Vasco Vascotto on Vertigo and former skipper on Mascalzone Latino: 'At the end of the week I am really happy with everything. It was a very high level of competition that I think will be very helpful for the team in the next regatta. It was really good fun and I am sure I will come back.'

Finnish Tea Ekengren, owner and helmsman of Blue Nights: 'We worked really well and the regatta in February was absolutely very helpful and great practice. We will be back'.

II Memorial Giorgio Falck after 9 races, 2 discards

1.Dsk Comifin, Danilo Salsi (Italy), 4-2-8-3-1-3-2-5-2 points 17
2.Jeroboam, Vittorio Codecasa (Italy), 12-7-1-2-3-6-3-6-1 points 22
3.Vertigo, Marco Salvi (Italy), 1-3-5-5-12-4-1-4-4 points 22
4.Wisc, Glynn Williams (Great Britain), 2-5-3-9-4-1-4-7-5 points 24
5.Atlantica Racing, Carlo Perrone (Italy), 9-4-12-13-7-2-5-1-3 points 31
6.Blu Nights, Tea Ekengren (Finland) 3-1-2-10-2-8-8-8-dnf points 32
7.No Limits, Rw Bol (Holland), 8-6-4-4-5-5-6-3-7 points 33
8.Fantastikinaa, Lanfranco Cirillo (Italy), 7-8-6-1-8-9-dnc-dnc-dnc points 53
9.Early Bird, Christian Nogel (Germany), 13-10-7-6-dnf-12-9-2-8 points 54
10.Axelle S, Hubert Wargny (France), 5-12-9-8-10-7-12-11-9 points 59
11.Charisma, Nico Poons (Holland), 6-9-11-11-11-10-7-10-6 points 59
12.Swanted, Stefano Piccolo (Italy), 10-11-13-7-6-13-10-12-dnf points 69
13.Bellerose Duvel, Patrick Van Heureck (Belgium), 11-13-10-12-9-11-11-9-10 points 71

This event is dedicated to the memory of Giorgio Falk, a great Italian navigator and magnate, world renowned for having brought Italian sailing in round-the-world racing. A dedication to the organization of increasingly important events reflects the vocation to the sport of the Marina di Scarlino and the commitment to nautical knowledge and sailing of the Club Nautico Scarlino.

'Our idea is that of an open harbor:' states Anichini 'sailing competitions will be showcased to strengthen our ties with the surrounding territory and Maremma.' To that end the Club Nautico Scarlino is promoting a sailing program in local schools with the Optimist dinghies donated by Nautor’s Swan.

The most important event planned this year is the European Finn Championship. This is a very physical Olympic class in which some of the greatest champions of the world have raced.

The competition will take place in Tuscan waters from the 2nd to the 10th of May 2008 with at least 100 athletes from over 30 nations facing off. All this just a few weeks before the Olympic Games start in Beijing.

Another pivotal regatta scheduled for 2008 is the Soling World Championship with at least 60 crews from 15 nations participating.