D-One dinghies sail in Bracciano for second round of Volvo Cup

by Pierre Orphanidis on 19 May 2011
Thirty D-One dinghies will gather in Bracciano on Saturday and Sunday for the second leg of the Volvo Cup. Six boats with the smaller 9.5 rig will be taking part, four of which helmed by women. Sailing Team Bracciano is the regatta organizer.

After Alassio it’s the turn of Bracciano Sailing Team to be the host of the second leg of the 2011 Volvo Cup D-One. Next Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, thirty sailors will gather on the green banks of the Bracciano lake on the outskirts of Rome, to battle it out in the usual four races (the last one carrying double points) that count towards the classification of the leg.

Among the 30-strong fleet there are six yachts sporting the smaller rig of 9.5 square meters, particularly suitable for lighter sailors and women. Indeed, among them there are four women skippers, including Natalie Testa from Liguria and Francesca Cinque from Rome. The reduced rig, in fact, allows sailors weighing just 60 kg to be competitive. The typical weather conditions of Lake Bracciano, with a thermal breeze of 10-14 knots in the afternoon, will highlight the performance of these single-handed dinghies with wings, mainsail and spinnaker whose philosophy is precisely based on being a fun boat to sail.

This is how Nathalie Testa describes the wait until the next regatta: 'After the first regatta in Alassio where I was the only woman in the race, in Bracciano I will have the opportunity to measure myself on equal terms against other women. Surely we will have a lot of fun because the spirit of the D-One is the right one both on the water and ashore.'

Argentina’s Agustin Zabalua, winner of the D-One Gold Cup 2010, will be challenged by the large Roman fleet, with Alberto Ferrari being the most prominent skipper. Riccardo Pontremoli from Genoa will also be one of the contestants to take into account, especially after his good performance in Alassio.

The Volvo Cup D-One, after the onset of Alassio and Bracciano (20-22 May), will proceed to Cattolica (10-12 June), Riva del Garda (27-29 July), Marina di Scarlino in conjunction with the National Championship (16-18 September) and the Barcolina of Trieste (1-2 October).