Sardinia RS Aero & OpenSkiff Team Race World Championship - Overall
by Elena Giolai 10 Nov 2025 04:30 AEDT
13-16 November 2025
A dramatic twist marked the closing moments of the Sardinia Team Race World Championship for the RS Aero class.
After three days of racing in the spectacular team-race format, the final delivered emotion and surprise: the young Monaco team, Riccardo Hai Gessa (14) and Chiara Sussarello (17), claimed a clear 3-0 victory over defending champions Italy 1, Filippo Vincis and Alice Sussarello.
The best-of-five series showcased the full potential of the young sailors representing the Principality of Monaco, who demonstrated an excellent command of tactics, rules and teamwork. Wind conditions remained ideal throughout the afternoon, with a slight drop during the final match that favoured Monaco's lighter crew weight. But what truly made the difference were the tactical decisions and coordinated teamwork led brilliantly by Riccardo Hai Gessa, who managed to put Italy 1 under pressure from the very first start. It was a tougher day for Alice Sussarello, unable to express her usual consistency, allowing Monaco to control the key moments of the final. In the petit final for third and fourth place, Belgium 2 (Riccardo Serra and Emma Vanhooff) secured bronze thanks to sharp choices and solid tactical execution. Italy 2 (Andrea De Matteis - Lidia Farci) finished fourth after being narrowly defeated 2-1 by Belgium 2 in a fiercely contested semifinal.
U25 event, winning formula
This event was reserved for Under-25 athletes, a clear hallmark of the Lega Navale Italiana - Sulcis Section, long committed to developing youth sailing. The pathway extends from Under 13 and Under 17 OpenSkiff sailors to young RS Aero athletes, who, alongside a national calendar, now have this international U25 team-race opportunity as a key training and competitive stage.
This fourth edition confirmed a significant rise in level, thanks also to training camps organised by the Italian Sailing Federation, which have accelerated the tactical development of the competing teams.
Challenging weather, flawless event
Despite highly unstable weather conditions throughout all three days in Cagliari, the event ran smoothly thanks to the outstanding work of the FIV Race Committee, always ready to seize wind windows and ensure athlete safety. The Società Canottieri Ichnusa once again offered impeccable hospitality, while the Lega Navale del Sulcis managed on-water and shoreside operations with professionalism and the enthusiasm of its young organisational team — a key factor in the success of the event.
Sardinia: sailing hub and sport-tourism destination
Sardinia continues to consolidate its role as a strategic hub for international sailing, capable of hosting high-level events across multiple disciplines. A growing sport-tourism movement brings hundreds of young athletes and families to the island throughout the year. It is no coincidence that the Tourism Department of the Sardinia Region strongly supports sailing events as a tool for territorial promotion and the development of sustainable tourism linked to sport and the sea.
Now it's the younger sailors' turn: OpenSkiff incoming
After a short break, the Su Siccu racecourse is ready to welcome the Under-17 OpenSkiff fleet, which from Thursday will compete in the same exciting team-race format for another thrilling weekend of sailing. See you in Cagliari for the next chapter of the Sardinia Team Race World Championship, this time with the OpenSkiff stars of tomorrow!