Tre Golfi Sailing Week: day two of the ORC Mediterranean Championship

9 May 2025 - Sorrento, Italy - Day two of the ORC Mediterranean Championship, valid also as the ORC National Championship for Central and Southern Italy and opening event of the 2025 Tre Golfi Sailing Week, brought another rewarding day of racing between Sorrento and Capri. Organized by the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia in collaboration with Yacht Club Italiano, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, IMA, ORC, FIV, and UVAI, and supported by Rolex Official Timepiece, Loro Piana and other prominent institutional and technical partners, the event delivered three races in light but steady conditions.

After a morning spent waiting for wind, a westerly breeze arrived around 1:00 PM at 8–10 knots and then settled at 7–8 knots, providing ideal conditions for a full day of racing. All three races started cleanly, with excellent race management by the Race Committee.

The standout performance of the day came from wallyrocket51 Team Django, with tactician Vasco Vascotto, who won today’s second race. They returned to shore as provisional leaders of the ORC National Championship for Central and Southern Italy. However, the team will not compete in the 70th Regata dei Tre Golfi, the offshore leg on Friday, 16 May, which is required to be eligible for the overall ORC Mediterranean Championship title.

ORC Mediterranean Championship 2025

In the ORC Mediterranean Championship standings, reserved for teams also racing in the offshore Regata dei Tre Golfi, the Top 5 are as follows:

• Confluence (GP 42, FRA) leads the fleet after scoring back-to-back wins in Races 2 and 3 and discarding a ninth place in Race 1.

• To Be (Italia 11.98, ITA) is just one point behind, remaining consistent and taking the win in Race 4.

• Arkas Sailing Team - Blue Moon (TP52, TUR) and Mascalzone Latino (Farr 40, ITA) are tied on points, with Arkas ahead on countback.

• Selene - Alifax(Swan 42 Club, ITA) holds fifth with consistent top-five results.

"It was a fantastic day,” said Gabriele ‘Ganga’ Bruni, tactician aboard To Be. “The Race Committee did an incredible job – no one expected we’d get three races in, but they picked the perfect window and ran a great day. The courses were the right length, the racing was fair, and the fleet was well managed. We had two strong races, while the middle one was a bit off – I think we finished around fifteenth. Tomorrow might bring rain, but we’re optimistic.

With four races already sailed, the regatta is already a success.”

Top 5 after 4 ŕaces:

1. CONFLUENCE – GP 42 – Jean-Pierre Joly – ORC A – 5.00 pts
2. TO BE – Italia 11.98 – Stefano Rusconi – ORC B – 6.00 pts
3. ARKAS SAILING TEAM – BLUE MOON – TP52 – Arcas Bernard – ORC 0 – 10.00 pts
4. MASCALZONE LATINO – Farr 40 – Vincenzo Onorato – ORC B – 10.00 pts
5. SELENE – ALIFAX – Swan 42 Club – Massimo De Campo – ORC A – 12.00 pts

Full results

Italian ORC National Championship

In the ORC National Championship standings, Team Django holds a narrow lead of one point over To Be and four over Confluence, setting the stage for a close battle on the final day.

“It was a fantastic and very important day for our Django Team,” said Vasco Vascotto. “We try to improve every day and today showed that. We won two of three races in real time, which was exactly what we had been hoping and dreaming for.

The boat performed beautifully. A couple of wind shifts didn’t go our way, but overall, we showed our true potential. Being here brings me back to the early 2000s – I’ve seen so many friends, and while we may no longer have our blonde curls, the most important thing is to feel young at heart. The Gulf of Naples, Sorrento, and Capri are places that make us proud to be Italian – they are unique in the world.”

The final day of racing is scheduled for Saturday, 10 May, with the warning signal at 11:00.

The last race will determine the final standings, with titles awarded based on each class’s fleet size. The results will also be key in qualifying for the 2025 ORC Italian Offshore Championship, scheduled for late June in Capo d’Orlando.

The regatta is made possible thanks to the support of North Sails, Wally Yachts, Banca Patrimoni Sella, Ferrarelle, Ottogas, Deloitte, Italia Yachts, Le Axidie, Caffè Borbone, Schenker, and Consorzio Prosecco DOC.