The 2021 AIVE regatta calendar for classic yachting in the Mediterranean
by Sandro Bagno 3 Feb 2021 04:39 PST
Margaux © Paolo Maccione
AIVE, Associazione Italiana Vele d'Epoca (the Italian Classic Yacht Association), presents their official regatta calendar for 2021. After the cancellation of almost all events scheduled for 2020 due to Covid concerns, 17 events are scheduled for this year, between April and October, in both the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas. Many other events will be held in France, Spain, Montecarlo, Corsica and Greece.
The four Italian national trophies up this year will be awarded in October. The 2021 calendar is subject to modifications based on the evolution of the worldwide health emergency.
Seven months of classic yacht racing
Chaired by Pier Maria Giusteschi Conti, the Italian Classic Yacht Association is a member of CIM (International Mediterranean Committee), the organization in charge of issuing and supervising the rules that govern classic yacht racing since 1926. The AIVE calendar includes 17 events, all valid for the four annual trophies at stake: the AIVE Tyrrhenian Cup, the AIVE Adriatic Cup, the Artiglio Trophy, and the Olin Stephens II Centennial Cup, provided by the Sparkman & Stephens Association for participating yachts with a valid CIM rating certificate designed by the legendary American naval architect.
Though not valid for the AIVE trophies, there will also be many other independently organized meets and regattas in France, Spain, Montecarlo, Corsica and Greece, for a total of more than 35 events across the Mediterranean dedicated to vintage yachting. Participants in the AIVE events will be divided into three categories: Vintage for yachts launched before 1950, Classic for yachts launched between 1950 and 1975, and Spirit of Tradition for modern yachts with traditional lines. Several hundred historic yachts are expected to participate in this season's events.
Tyrrhenian Regattas
After the season's first three events (the Settimana Velica Internazionale Accademia Navale e Città di Livorno, the Trofeo Ammiraglio G. Francese in Viareggio and the Regata dei Tre Golfi in Naples), where the classic yachts will race in their own category, the gradual descent of the Tyhrrenian begins on June 5th with the third edition of the Vele d'Epoca nel Golfo in La Spezia. Later in June and then July we have the Regata della Capraia, the Argentario Sailing Week in Porto Santo Stefano, the Grandi Vele in Gaeta and Le Vele d'Epoca in Naples.
After the August pause, the second half of the season opens with the Vele d'Epoca di Imperia (from the 2nd to the 5th of September), the historic event first run in 1986, followed by the Trofeo Mariperman, organized by the Italian Navy later in September, and finally the Vele Storiche di Viareggio in October to conclude the season and award the year's trophies.
Adriatic Regattas
Five events, running between June and October 2021, make up the circuit valid for the AIVE Adriatic Cup. Two events will be held in June: the Portopiccolo Classic in Sistiana (near Trieste) and the Trofeo Principato di Monaco in Venice. In September we have the International Hannibal Classic (the only race that actually ran in 2020) in Monfalcone.
The season will close with the October events, the Trofeo Città di Trieste and the Barcolana Classic. These regattas see many yachts typical of the Adriatic Sea participating, like the famous Passere and many designs from the board of a master of classic yacht design, Carlo Sciarrelli.
Regata della Capraia
The Regata della Capraia is a new race with a new format. Starting on Friday, June 11th, participants cast off to sail to the island of Capraia, but from any of three different ports - Leghorn, Viareggio or La Spezia. In Capraia they will have exclusive use of a part of the marina, and, weather permitting, on Saturday the 12th will race either around the island or around the buoys.
At the docks, the yachts may be toured by the public according to the formula "Benvenuti a bordo". On Sunday the 13th participants will sail back to their home ports. The Notice of Race with further details will be published in the next few days by the race organizer, the Associazione Vele Storiche Viareggio.
Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas:
24-25 April | Settimana Velica Internazionale – Livorno (1st event valid for the Trofeo Artiglio) |
8‑9 May | XXV Trofeo Challenge “Ammiraglio G. Francese” – Viareggio (LU) (2nd event Trofeo Artiglio) |
15‑16 May | Regata dei Tre Golfi – Naples |
5‑6 June | III Le Vele d’Epoca nel Golfo – La Spezia (3rd event Trofeo Artiglio) |
11‑13 June | Regata della Capraia (with starts from different ports) |
15‑Jun | Tirrenica Classic Regatta (Civitavecchia – Porto Santo Stefano) |
16‑20 June | XXI Argentario Sailing Week ‑ Porto Santo Stefano (GR) (4th event Trofeo Artiglio) |
25‑27 June | XVIII Grandi Vele a Gaeta – Gaeta (LT) |
2‑4 July | XVII Le Vele d’Epoca a Napoli ‑ Naples |
2‑5 September | XXII Vele d’Epoca di Imperia ‑ Imperia |
18‑19 Sept. | XXXIII Trofeo Mariperman “IX Trofeo CSSN‑ADSP”– La Spezia (5th event Trofeo Artiglio) |
14‑17 October | XVI Vele Storiche Viareggio – Viareggio (LU) (6th event Trofeo Artiglio) |
Adriatic Sea:
5‑6 June | V Portopiccolo Classic – Sistiana (TS) |
25‑27 June | VIII Trofeo Principato di Monaco – Venice |
11‑12 September | V International Hannibal Classic – Monfalcone (GO) |
2‑3 October | XXIV Trofeo “Città di Trieste” – Trieste |
09‑Oct | XV Barcolana Classic ‑ Trieste |
International regattas for classic and vintage yachts:
1‑2 May | IX Les Dames de Saint‑Tropez (Saint‑Tropez) ‑ France |
1‑9 May | XVII Palmavela (Palma di Maiorca) ‑ Spain |
14‑16 May | XII Calanques Classique (Marsiglia) – France |
21‑23 May | Les Voiles des Cassis (Cassis) – France |
25‑29 May | II Régates Napoléon (Ajaccio) ‑ Corsica |
2‑6 June | XXVI Les Voiles d’Antibes (Antibes) – France |
7‑9 June | Coupe de Printemps du YCF (Antibes ‑ St. Raphael‑Porquerolles) ‑ France |
10‑13 June | XVIII Porquerolles Classique (Isole Porquerolles) – France |
14‑17 June | Coupe de Printemps du YCF (Porquerolles‑Sanary‑Marseille) ‑ France |
18‑20 June | XVIII Les Voiles du Vieux‑Port (Marsiglia) ‑ France |
24‑27 June | XI Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta (Isola di Spetses) ‑ Greece |
24 June – 10 July | XX Trofeo Bailli de Suffren (St. Tropez – Bonifacio – Trapani – Gozo ‑ Malta) |
14‑17 July | XIII Puig Vela Clàssica (Barcellona) ‑ Spain |
11‑14 August | XXVI Regata Illes Balears Classic (Palma di Maiorca) ‑ Spain |
25‑29 August | XVII Copa del Rey Vela Clásica Menorca (Mahón) – Spain |
23‑31 August | XII Corsica Classic (Bonifacio – St. Florent) – Corsica |
8‑12 September | XV Monaco Classic Week (Montecarlo) |
21‑25 September | XLII Régates Royales (Cannes) – France |
26‑Sep | Coupe d'Automne du Yacht Club de France (Cannes ‑ St. Tropez) |
27 September – 2 October | XXIII Les Voiles de Saint‑Tropez (Saint Tropez) ‑ France |
AIVE - Associazione Italiana Vele d'Epoca
The Italian Classic Yacht Association was founded in 1982 to conserve the historical, artistic and technical patrimonies embodied in vintage yachts (launched before 1950) and classic yachts (launched between 1950 and 1975). The Association is located at the Yacht Club Italiano in Genoa and is recognized by the Italian National Sailing Federation (Federazione Italiana Vela, FIV) as an official Class. Over the last 40 years AIVE has organized and supported dozens of regattas, published numerous tracts on yachting and promoted meetings and seminars to diffuse the culture of classic yachting. The AIVE Library, with more than 500 volumes, covers the history of sailing and includes the construction plans of more than 1,500 yachts. AIVE is also a member of the International Mediterranean Committee (Comité International de la Mediterranée, CIM), the governing body created in 1926 that creates the rules and ratings for vintage and classic regattas. Since his election in 2017 Pier Maria Giusteschi Conti is the president of AIVE.
www.aive-yachts.org