(Santa Margherita, Italy)- Just down around the corner of the famous little harbor called Portofino lies the cosmopolitan town called Santa Margherita. Some may think it's renowned for that Italian pizza called "pizza margherita" (tomato, basil and mozzarella), but it is perhaps more famous for some of the great sailors that have come out of this corner of Italy. Locally, the J/80 class has grown over time and have a loyal, highly devoted, following of sailors who often enjoy their winter sailing as much as their summer sailing. Winter offers LOTS of wind, for the most part better sailing versus the rather sybaritic, laid back sailing often seen in the summers.
After the first of their series of Winter Championship races, which has seen everything one might imagine for weather, the J/80 teams still turn out to have some fun! Perhaps the best part is that after going around the course for the last race of the day, the teams finish off the Grand Hotel Miramare and retire for great food and drink afterwards. One can only imagine. Pizza margherita? Maybe. Calzone, better. Delicious chianti red wine, much better. Toss in some locally, fresh caught, spicy calamari-- the best!
So far, JOCONDA sailed by Paco Rebaudi is leading the fleet, followed by J-BES GARIBOTTO skippered by Enrica Bertini and in third the most famous, long-distance traveler, JENIALE RAMA. For more Italian J/80 Winter Championship sailing information
