La Superba wins tenth Italian J/24 Championship

Italian J/24 Championship! © J24 Class Association of Italy ASD

Twenty-five J/24 teams from across Italy enjoyed six races over the weekend, hosted by the excellent organization and red-carpet hospitality provided by Circolo Nautico Cesenatico.

The Italian Navy team on LA SUPERBA, led by Ignazio Bonanno with a crew of Alfredo Branciforte, Francesco Picaro, Simone Scontrino, and Francesco Linares yet again dominated the regatta with a stunning 1-1-4-1-1-DNS for 8 pts net. A force to be reckoned with in the Italian J/24 class for years, this was their TENTH victory in the Italian J/24 Nationals (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).

"We are very happy with the result," commented the helmsman Bonanno. "The fleet of Romagna has surpassed itself with the excellent organization of the championship supported by the Circolo Nautico Cesenatico that pampered us throughout the event. On the water, the conditions were not easy, very fluctuating weather only allowed us two days of racing out of the four scheduled with a strong breeze and current that put the entire fleet to the test. As usual, we thank our administration for allowing us the activity we carry out and a special thanks goes to Vincenzo Lamberti owner of Valhalla Ita 489 that allowed us to use it and win our 10th Italian title in the J/24 class. Our own LA SUPERBA is already overseas in the USA for the J/24 World Championship in Seattle, WA which will take place at the end of the month! Stay tuned and cheer for us!"

The podium was completed by the silver medal team of PILGRIM skippered Fabio Mazzoni (crewed with bowman Checco Berardi, Cesare Trioschi on the sheets, and Gennaro Maisto on the mast) with a record of 2-4-8-3-4-1 for 14 pts net. And, taking the bronze medal was perennial favorite Pietro Diamanti, President of the Italian J/24 Class. His team on JAMAICA (Andrea Porchera, Paolo Governato, Antonio Lupo, and Paolo Pezzica) posted a commendable 3-5-1-8-2-5 scorecard for 16 pts net.

"The weather was capricious at first, then it gave us six beautiful races with good wind and waves (almost all with a jib!!!)," commented Benfatto. "An exceptional helmsman, an exceptional trimmer, an exceptional bowman, and an exceptional tactician took me up the rankings!!! Thanks to the organizers of Cesenatico, to the friends of Cervia, and all the owners and racers!!! Long live the Italian J/24 class!"

"Six beautiful races with strong winds, combined with perfect and exceptional hospitality, made for an exceptional regatta," commented Diamanti. "It's a shame that the weather reduced the championship to only two days."

"We are very satisfied with the Championship apart from the weather that compromised the first two days," commented the President of CN Cesenatico Massimo Magnani. "For the rest, I would say that the wind on the race course was perfect, demanding, and challenging for all the crews. Six high-level races were completed on two gorgeous days of sailing!"

For more Italian J/24 Class sailing information.