Marco Nannini named Italian Sailor of the Year

by www.marconannini.com on 30 Jan 2012 Marco Nannini, currently racing the double handed Global Ocean Race (GOR) 2011/2012, has been crowned Italian Sailor of the year by 'Il Giornale della Vela', the most established italian sailing magazine.

The prestigious award was first established in 1991 and has recognised talent over the years including sailors such as Alessandra Sensini, Giovanni Soldini and Francesco Deangelis. Marco Nannini, now aged 33, had not competed in an offshore race until 2006 but has since quickly built a strong offshore sailing curriculum with a class victory in the 2009 OSTAR, a second overall in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland race in 2010 with co-skipper Paul Peggs and a participation in the single-handed Route du Rhum 2010 followed by his entry in the Global Ocean Race.

Marco shares his passion for offshore sailing through his unconventional and often humorous blog that has attracted a following of sailors and non-sailors alike who have given him strong support during his round the world yacht race campaign renamed 'Financial Crisis' after failing to find a title sponsor for the race in the current tough economic climate.

'It is a great honour to win this award, I have faced many challenges to be on the start line of this race and I am not sure I would have carried on without the tremendous support I received from my family, my girlfriend Ella, my friends and the public so I wish to thank everyone who has been behind me so far' commented Marco Nannini.

Marco started the third leg of the Global Ocean Race on Sunday 29th of January with co-skipper Hugo Ramon. The fleet is sailing from Wellington in New Zealand to Punta del Este in Uruguay rounding the dreaded Cape Horn, the Everest of every sailor's career.

Marco Nannini website