Settimana delle Bocche - Farr 40 European Circuit. Image copyright Alessandro Spiga/YCCS
by Jill Campbell
Despite the best efforts of teams from Germany, Monaco and Turkey, the silverware in the second leg of the Farr 40 European Circuit, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo from 29th June to 2nd July, went to an all Italian trio. Massimo Mezzaroma and Antonio Sodo Migliori's Nerone never relinquished the top spot they gained on Day One while the battle for second place was won in the end by Alessandro Barnaba's Fiamma ahead of Alberto Rossi's Enfant Terrible.
A total of eight races were held, accompanied from start to finish by strong Mistral breezes which made for thrilling racing in this competitive one-design fleet and reached 35 knots at times, keeping the fleet in port on one scheduled race day. Although Nerone chalked up four bullets over the course of the series, two wins also went to Levent Peynirci's Provezza 8 (TUR) while Fiamma and Wolfgang Schaefer's Struntje Light (GER) took one victory each.
Race 7 today started in 20 knots of west north-westerly wind which would build steadily to touch 30 knots during the second and final race of the day. Nerone led from the off and was followed around the first leeward mark by Enfant Terrible and Asterisk Uno. Fiamma gained ground on the final two legs to finish third behind Nerone and second-placed Enfant Terrible.
Race 8 saw the Turkish crew aboard Provezza 8 dominate. At the first windward mark she was trailed by Nerone and a second Turkish boat, Asterisk Uno. The two leading boats held their positions to the finish while Fiamma moved up to take third place for the second time today.
"We're leaving knowing that we raced well and that is fundamental for us" commented Vasco Vascotto, tactician aboard Nerone. "The Settimana delle Bocche is a classic regatta and as usual the Race Committee did a great job. The constant Mistral also made the regatta a great success, although today we were really at the limit."
Flavio Favini, tactician aboard Fiamma: "We've had so little wind this year that I'm pleased we got the classic Porto Cervo Mistral for this event. We had eight great races, each one more exciting than the last."
Last night a group of owners, supporters and friends of the class from around the world gathered at the YCCS to celebrate the launch of "The Fabulous 40s" a book written by Bob Fisher and including photos by Kurt Arrigo, Carlo Borlenghi and Daniel Forster, that covers the past 15 years of the popular one-design class.
The YCCS sporting calendar continues with the Invitational Smeralda 888 from 8th to 10th July. The summer break will then be followed by several superyacht regattas in September - Perini Navi Cup, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Veteran Boat Rally - and the Audi TP52 World Championship in October.
Settimana delle Bocche - Farr 40 European Circuit Overall Results:
Place. Boat, Owner, Nation, R1-R2-R3-R4-R5-R6-R7-R8-. Total points
1. Nerone. Massimo Mezzaroma Antonio Sodo Migliori , ITA, 1-4-1-4-1-2-1-2. 16
2. Fiamma. Alessandro Barnaba, ITA, 5-1-3-2-2-3-3-3. 22
3. Enfant Terrible. Alberto Rossi, ITA, 2-3-2-3-3-7-2-4. 26
4. Provezza 8. Levent Peynirci, TUR, 4-2-7-1-5-5-6-1. 31
5. Charisma. Nico Poons, MON, 3-6-4-6-4-6-5-7. 41
6. Asterisk Uno, Hasip Gencer, TUR, 7-5-5-5-7-4-4-5. 42
7. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer, GER, 6-8(dsq)-6-7-6-1-7-6. 47
Farr 40
YCCS
