Windsurfing Fremantle – Revisited

by Shauna McGee Kinney on 22 Nov 2010 Vincenzo Baglione, 0ne of the top windsurfers from the 1985 World Windsurfing Championships in Fremantle returns 25 years later as one of the official Perth International Regatta photographers. He's at Fremantle this year with his son Marcantonio Baglione (ITA) – one of the top RS:X Youth and Men’s athletes from Italy.

The 2010 Perth International Regatta is Vincenzo’s first time back to Perth and Fremantle since he raced in the 1985 Windsurfing Championships. Back in the day, Coca Cola sponsored the event. The event provided the boards and sails to over 400 entrants in the competition. Pictures from the Italian event show an undeveloped and mostly natural landscape, much different from the built-up waterfront of Fremantle today.

Vincenzo was passionate about participating as the official class photographer at this event and talked his son Marcantonio into taking some time off from his university studies in Economy (Economics). Marcantonio travels with his dad often and said sometimes traveling as a family is 'a little yes and a little no', or sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s bad.

Vincenzo appears in the front row, first athlete on the left of the 1985 Italian team photo. Vincenzo hasn’t been able to windsurf for the last ten years. His neck was injured near the c5 and c6 vertebrae during a chiropractic treatment. The injury left him unable to put a load on his trapezius muscles. He loves al types of sports and finds it difficult to not be active since his injury. The photography helps fulfill his passion for the sport.

Marcantonio Baglione (ITA) is one of the top youth windsurfers from Italy and has been competing both in youth and adult competitions. He’s just finishing his university studies and can now dedicate more time to training and an international campaign. His next events include Sail Brisbane in a few days and Sydney in December.

Both Marcantonio and Vincenzo think that the number of competitors in future RS:X international events will stay about the same. Vincenzo commented that the boards are expensive and so is the travel. The cost is a deterrent to having a large number of people getting into the class. Vincenzo mentioned the new boards are very technical and can be harder to sail. The sail area and power alone is a challenge, with the men's class working 9.5 square meters of sail, the women and youth handling 8.5 square meters of sail.

Marcantonio added that the top of the fleet is very good and newer sailors may be discouraged because placing in the top of the fleet takes a lot of work. He has been one of the youngest competitors in amongst the top Italian finishers in European and national races and looks forward to the events leading up to 2012 and the 2012 London Olympics.

Vincenzo’s event photos can be viewed at

http://www.albaria.com/1pagina/1pagina2010/immagini_2010/foto_perth_2010/