Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 TOP

Italy celebrate week of dominance on home waters at Youth Sailing World Championships

by World Sailing 20 Jul 2024 15:22 NZST 13-20 July 2024

Italy retained their Nations Trophy in style as a tremendous week at the Youth Sailing World Championships 2024 was capped off with closing ceremony celebrations in Riva.

The hosts rocketed to claim six world titles on Lake Garda thanks to countless displays of precision and skill across 11 events and six classes.

Sailors, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff gathered outside Case Italia to hail the marvellous achievements of the world's best up-and-coming talents.

Maria Vittoria Arseni and Antonio Pascali led the way in men's and women's ILCA 6, as did Carola Colasanto and Federico Pilloni in iQFOiL for two Italian clean sweeps.

On home waters, Italy managed to match their exploits from last year in Buzios, Brazil, with a young squad led by Alessandra Sensini as Youth Technical Director.

Il Canto degli Italiani rang around Riva as Poland, Argentina, Brazil and Greece also celebrated hard-fought victories with their flags, anthems and prized trophies.

Maria Catalina Turienzo rounded off perfect Paris 2024 preparations with a Formula Kite title and crowned a week of dominance in her fourth and final year at youth level.

In an Olympic year, the Youth Sailing World Championships showed a glimpse of what the future of sailing could look like, with Argentina's Turienzo and Derin Atakan of Türkiye headed for the Games in Marseille next week.

Canada's Nikhil Damji was awarded the Bengt Julin Trophy for fostering international understanding and sportsmanship throughout the Championships.

The 17-year-old two-person dinghy sailor helms alongside his identical twin brother Emil who crews in the class.

More than 550 people voted for the award and Damji, from Vancouver, was overwhelmed with the reception he received on stage.

Across the past decade, Olympians Maria Erdi and Eroni Leilua have picked up the accolade at the same Championships and Damji took pride in following in the footsteps of sporting greats.

"It's very special," he said. "I wasn't thinking about winning an award for being me, I like to have friends and I'm very thankful and grateful to have won this.

"It's my second time at Youth Worlds and my second time at Lake Garda. Youth Worlds is one of the best weeks of my life, it's so much fun just being around people who love what I love doing.

"The sailing is amazing and it's the best competition in the world and it's just been a great week.

"I hope one day I can be an Olympian too, it's very cool knowing some very special people have won it too."

Sponsors and partners were once again showcased at the heart of the Championships, including title sponsor Trentino and CONI, who provided the iconic Casa Italia venue to give the event an Olympic village feel.

A total of 418 sailors from 70 countries savoured a week to remember in Northern Italy and many will return again in 2025 for the next edition of the event in Vilamoura, Portugal.

worldsailingywc.org

Related Articles

BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community. Posted on 26 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features. Posted on 12 Jun
PredictWind launches Anchor Alert App
The app delivers immediate, real-time alerts if their anchor drags, ensuring enhanced safety. Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced the launch of its new standalone Anchor Alert app. Posted on 12 Jun
Armstrong Foils Demo Days return for 2025
Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Armstrong Foils is proud to announce the return of Armstrong Demo Days for 2025. Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Posted on 4 Jun
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North. Posted on 30 May
VX One Class forms Int. Class Assoc.
Significant new chapter begins for VX One sailors with formation of an Int Class Assoc. A significant new chapter has just begun for VX One sailors worldwide with the formation of the VX One International Class Association Posted on 20 May
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place on Saturday
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay “Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay, has been inspired by the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill's stalled progress in Parliament after its second reading in December last year. Posted on 13 May
RS-Quest rally at Cheltenam Beach
Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, on Sunday for the first NZ Quest barbeque lunch. Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, alongside North Head at the entrance to the Inner Waitemata Harbour, on Sunday for a barbeque lunch. Posted on 5 May
Taipa Sailing Club hard hit by Cyclone
The Taipa Sailing Club is reeling after being hard hit by Cyclone Tam - launches Givealittle page When Cyclone Tam tore the roof off the Taipa Sailing Club just over a week ago, the immediate future of the small Northland yacht club suddenly looked uncertain.A Givealittle page has raised more than $6000 in the first five days. Posted on 28 Apr
Exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka
A cruiser was surprised when he pulled up a substantial amount of exotic caulerpa A cruiser was surprised - and worried - when he pulled up a substantial amount of seaweed that looked like it could be exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka. Posted on 16 Apr
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMBoatseekr_LeaderBoard_122 - BOTTOMTNI Pindar SW Ads_728x90px-2 BOTTOM