ALINA WINS ITALIAN NATIONALS

From the Italian Class - The Alina-aliens won again! "They have been sailing together for the past six years , they are a true example for all of us", that is how The italian class president has introduced them in the prizegiving ceremony. And not much alse we can add, they scored 17 points over 7 races and one discard: 2, 14,111,6,6..impressive.

Right behind them is another real team, Joe Fly, and then Carla Ubertalliand her "boys" on Firebolt. Runner up is Team Gill, while Aleali, almost ready for the podium, has lost its keel in the last race. And what a race! The mistral was strong since the early morning again, but as it evened out and calmed down, our excellent but stubborn race committe took us all out around eleven. So while in the first race the wind was ranging between 15 and 20 knots, with some gusts at the windward mark, halfway through the second race it became really strong. Few teams were brave enough to hoist their gennakers, the boats were surfing even with just mainsail and jib. Two masts decided they had enough and wanted to get off the boat...but no injuries, and fortunately no other damage, apart from AleAli's keel....after 13 years, it decided too it was time to retire!

Silvio Santoni on Devotissimo was having a good day, scoring third in the last race, then their tailer suffered a minor injury and retired. Team Gill, probably used to British weather and seroious winds, did an excellent 1 and 3 today, climbing up a bit in the overall standings. At ease with the wind, as usual, Sandro Montefusco and Matteo Ivaldi, barely off the podium in today's races.

Tired but happy, most of the crews participated at the prizegiving, where the first ten overall, the winners of each race, the owner-helmsman and the corinthians all got rewarded. In this division, the winner is Andrea Magni's Conte of Florence again, then Gabriele Wurtz, a long time Hobie 16 helmsman, on Maga IFM and the Swiss team ZeroTwo.

All together, it's been a great week of sun and sailing, and we're convinced, more than ever, we should try and bring the 2008 World's to Sardinia. Thanks to all: the staff, the judges, the committee, the sponsors and, above all, the partecipants!