Everything set for fourth and final 69F GP of the season in Puntaldia
by 69F Sailing 30 Sep 2021 20:25 NZDT
2021 Gran Prix 3.2 - Persico 69f Cup: Day 1 © Kevin Rio - 69F Media
After two 69F Youth Foiling Gold Cups, the international Under 25 circuit, and three Grand Prix here we are at the last GP of the season which will determine the winner of the 2021 Persico 69F Cup.
"It has been an intense season full of satisfaction" says 69F Sailing Director, Dede De Luca: "We are very happy with the results, certainly you can always improve as there is the ambition to get to perfection, but there has been a huge growth both in the level of the participants and in the number of races we had. 2022 is going to be a very busy year for the entire 69F team, starting with the Valencia Winter Camp in December where many activities including clinics and coaching programs will start; at the same time another "six-pack" will land in the US, providing six boats ready to race in Miami, FL. We have numerous regattas scheduled between America and Europe, there will be new locations and slightly different formats adapted to the needs of sailors and based on the experience we had this year; we are also focused on improving every detail of the boats, sails and more ".
Great expectation and enthusiasm also from the Chief Executive Officer of the Marina di Puntaldia, Marie-Hélène Polo: "It is an honor and a joy to be able to host the final Grand Prix of the Persico 69F Cup 2021. This is the first foiling competition we have ever had in our waters, such a dynamic and innovative circuit! Marina di Puntaldia has already been confirmed for the 2022 Melges 20 World Championship, and I hope that the 69F regattas will become a recurring event as well".
The current overall ranking sees Okalys Youth Project in the lead which, thanks to the victory of the Grand Prix 3.2 in Torbole, sits on top of the ranking with 43 points. Team Balthasar follows in second place just 5 points away, while Tixwave with 33 points is third.
It will be a fierce battle also for the Italian team Young Azzurra now in fifth position which will try to do everything possible to regain the top of the overall ranking even if, as already specified by Skipper Ettore Botticini, this Grand Prix will serve above all as training for the final act and the finals of the YFGC which will be held in Cagliari from October 18th to November 3rd.
New and important names will also appear in this last GP where Phil Robertson together with Sam Newton and Neil Hunter, fresh from the SailGP, will form the crew of the CHINAone Ningbo team.
"I have been keeping an eye on the 69F since it's launch. I've always been keen to try it and see how it performs. We are here as CHINAone Ningbo to try the class out and see if there is a future here for our team.
The boat is very fun to sail. It's really challenging for the whole crew to get it around the course efficiently. There's certainly plenty on which makes the boat fun and rewarding. It seems like a very safe boat when foiling which gives you confidence to push it hard. We've enjoyed our first few days onboard". Phil Robertson