Portoroz Cup

Portoroz, May 31-June 1, 2014. Results, photos and regatta report by Pietro Fantoni

(photo courtesy of YCPortoroz)

Three nations overlook the northern part of the Northern Adriatic: Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

Since the end of 1700 this part of Europe has been at the center of Europe’s history, sometimes with bloody chapters. It saw the end of the dominion of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, the short Napoleonic period, the dominance and dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, two world wars, the Cold War, the independence of Slovenia and Croatia from Yugoslavia.

In Slovenia – the country became independent in 1991 – Snipe class regattas have never held before, at least since independence from Yugoslavia. It’s true that in the past there were some teams active in this part of the Adriatic. But not in recent times. Slovenia, a young nation, with about 20 miles of coastline, which includes the cities of Koper, Izola, Piran and Portoroz, already has a considerable importance in the sailing world. It’s enough just to remember the name of Vasilij Zbogar, two medals (silver and bronze) in the Laser class, and now one of the best sailors in the Finn class.

…

The races were well organized by Jahtni Klub Portoroz, near the Marina Portorož. The race course was located inside the Bay, very close to the shore. This made the races extremely challenging (and sometimes unpredictable).

On Saturday the wind was medium-light. The first race was sailed with the dying morning offshore breeze. Stefano Longhi and Eleonora Zuzic were the authors of a great comeback during the last run. Then the sea breeze filled and picked up to 12 knots. Pietro Fantoni and Stefano Selleri won the race. The third race was sailed with less wind and Longhi – Zuzic won again easily.

On Sunday the wind was lighter (5-8 knots). Fabio Rochelli and Daniela Semec easily dominate both races, but Stefano Longhi and Elenora Zuzic, with two seconds, were able to win the series.

The hospitality offered to racers was great with beer when we returned to shore and a seafood dinner on Saturday evening.

Slovenia, for now, does not have its own fleet and is not a SCIRA member, but maybe with the efforts of the neighboring countries, Italy and Croatia, it will be possible in the near future to have a new member country. In my opinion it is important and in the interest of all to create a “no borders” racing circuit in Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. To begin the initiative of Jahtni Klub Portoroz, who invited the Snipe Class along with the Dinghy 12 (Class widespread in Italy with some boats in Slovenia) was commendable. This was a good start.

The next few year, coordinating the dates of the major European regattas, it would be nice to have a much broader participation especially from Trieste and from neighboring Croatia, but also from further countries. Istria is beautiful, the bay of Portoroz picturesque, the race course very challenging. With appropriate actions (charter boats, clinics …) and with the right contacts maybe it could be possible to involve sailors from Slovenia, so they become part of our big Snipe family.

 

Results Snipe

Scores take into account 1  discard 

No	Sailno	Name	Scores	1	2	3	4	5
1	ITA 30774	Stefano Longhi, Eleonora Zuzic, STV	6,0	1	(3)	1	2	2
2	ITA 30983	Fabio Rochelli, Daniela Semec, SVBG Chaupeusinho Vermelho	8,0	2	(4)	4	1	1
3	ITA 15790	Pietro Fantoni, Stefano Selleri, Circolo della vela Muggia Unisono	10,0	3	1	3	(5)	3
4	ITA 29960	Tom Stahl, Jacopo Stahl, Circolo Nautico Chioggia	13,0	5	2	2	4	(ocs)
5	ITA 15798	Michele Meotto, Alberto Cassandro, Yacht club Lignano Contrappunto	16,0	4	(5)	5	3	4
6	CRO 30707	Nikola Deskovic, Vladimir Nalis, JK Orion	23,0	(7)	6	6	6	5
7	ITA 29935	Felice Sciancalepore, Fulvio Levantini, Societa Triestina della Vela	26,0	6	(7)	7	7	6
8	SLO 17980	Slavko Franca, Dragan Sojic, Rolling Stones Concertina Jack	33,0	8	8	8	(dnc)	dnc

 More photos

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