X-Yachts Gold Cup at La Marina di Scarlino, in Maremma Tuscany

by Ufficio Stampa Club Nautico Scarlino on 10 Aug 2010 Steiner X-Yachts Gold Cup will kick off on August 30th at La Marina di Scarlino, in the heart of Maremma, Tuscany with the Island of Elba and of Montecristo providing a breathtaking natural backdrop. The international sailing regatta will consist of four events for Danish built X-Yachts and is organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with X-Yachts Italia and in partnership with Steiner.

The X-35 World Championship, the X-41 European Championship, the X-Yachts Gold Cup and the first edition of the X-Yachts Over 50' Invitational, have attracted a large number of sailboats to the crystal blue waters of Marina di Scarlino: 80 yachts have entered so far hailing from 12 countries: Croatia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and of course Italy.

The Program
Registration and measurement begins on Sunday August 29th for the X-35 World Championship and for the X-41 European Championship. Measurement operations will be carried out until Tuesday August 31st: in order to ensure a level playing field, all yachts are weighed before racing, sails are thoroughly checked to make sure they comply with class regulations and even crew members must step on the scale.

Racing will kick off on Wednesday September 1st talking place every day until Saturday the fourth. Sunday August 5th has been set aside as a reserve day should it not be possible to complete four races to assign the titles. A maximum of three races per day on a windward leeward course are scheduled.

X-Yachts Gold Cup competitors are divided in three groups; Sport, Family and Over 50’. Racing will get underway on Thursday September 2nd and wraps up on Saturday the fourth. Once again Sunday the fifth is a reserve day. The larger yachts will be racing offshore with the Islands on the Gulf of Follonica serving as natural buoys.

The X-35
The X-35 is the Danish shipyard X-Yachts’ One Design which made its debut on the market in 2005 and won the award of Boat of the Year in the United States in 2007. The X-35 is an exciting yacht to race around the buoys, no matter what the conditions and is also perfect for short cruises. Class rules are stringent: the boats are all identical (except for the sail material, where every owner has discretion in choosing the loft), the number of professional sailors allowed on board is limited to two per crew and the owner must always be the helmsman.

2009 World Champion, Lelagain owner Alexander Solero, will be in Scarlino defending the title. Last year in Kiel, with his son Franco at the helm, Solero dominated the 34 teams from 11 countries after 9 exciting races held in windy conditions.

In the 2010 edition contenders include the current Italian champion Sberressa owned by Paolo Bonavolontà with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics; Tixelio, owner Carlo Brenca with tactician Gabriele Bruni in the cockpit; 2009 Italian Champion Karma, owner Vladimir Pegoraro with Gabriele Benussi calling tactics, and, last but not least, the best rookie of the year Margherita owned by Roberto Mazzucato with tactician Vasco Vascotto.

The X-41
The X-41 is the Danish shipyard X-Yachts’ One Design which made its debut on the market in 2006 following the great success of the X-35. Just like her 'younger sister' she is a high performance vessel. Class rules are stringent even for the X-41: all the boats are the same with the exception of the sail loft that can be chosen by the owner.

The number of professional sailors (ISAF group 3) allowed on board while racing is restricted to four to ensure a level playing field. The helmsman must be the owner or a substitute who ranks ISAF group 1.

The X-41 Class is young but full of enthusiasm with high level owner-helmsmen. All eyes will be on the current Italian Champion WB Five owned by Gianclaudio Bassetti with Alberto Signorini at the helm; class winner at the a Rolex Capri Sailing Week, on Raffica owner Pasquale Orofino with Paolo Semeraro calling tactics and on Sideracordis owned by Pier Vettor Grimani who won the European Championship last year at La Marina di Scarlino.

Event Partners
Steiner-Optik, the German world market leader for professional marine binoculars, makes its official debut in the world of International Racing. Steiner, well known for the Commander XP, the first binocular with a fitted integrated compass relied upon by the US Navy, is the Main Sponsor of the Steiner X-Yachts Gold Cup, taking place at La Marina di Scarlino, Maremma, Tuscany in Italy from the 29th of August until the fifth of September.

Steiner was established in 1947 in Bayreuth by Karl Steiner. In 2008 the company became a part of the Italian Beretta Group, making its worldwide leadership and presence even stronger, with a presence in over 70 countries.

Franco Cernigliaro, Marketing Director of the Beretta Holding Group explains: 'Today, together with our German partners and thanks to Beretta’s knowhow, we resolved to take a closer look at our Steiner customers thereby deciding to tie our Brand to top racing fleet like that of X-Yachts. We share similar values: both brands are top-of-the-line in performance and excel in the fields of design and technology.

Taking part in this event hosted by La Marina di Scarlino and organized by X-Yachts Italia, the Yacht Club Italiano and the Club Nautico Scarlino, represents a significant entry in the nautical world which may in turn lead Beretta to develop new products for this sector.'

This is the first time that the company led by Ugo Gussalli Beretta ties its name to a non hunting or recreational shooting event.

La Marina di Scarlino is the first integrated yachting project in Italy (800 berths, max length 36 meters, max. draft 4.5 meters)

An ideal location for an unforgettable stay in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma and at the centre of the Tuscan Archipelago, combining luxurious hospitality, exclusive services reserved for its guests, a prestigious residential complex with apartments ranging from 80 to 120 square meters overlooking the Marina with a view of the Island of Elba. Restaurants, bars and shopping are also available.

Marina Management has been entrusted with the centralized management of all services, thereby ensuring seamless coordination. The Marina, the Yacht Service, the Residences and the Yacht Club work jointly to meet the needs of all sea lovers. All sporting activity is managed by the Club Nautico Scarlino, a reference point in major international sailing events thanks to the ideal weather conditions in Maremma and thanks to its organizational skills.

www.lamarinadiscarlino.it