World Champions: Samuel Piantoni (ITA, Under 12), Ewan Brazle (NZL, Under 15) and Federico Poli (ITA, Under 17)

  • 2024-08-03
  • Elena Gioali
While Olympic sailing is giving away its first medals, the very young helmsmen approaching their first important international regattas concluded Friday on Lake Garda, at Circolo Vela Arco, the OpenSkiff World Championship, the smart, fast, fun dinghy for children and youngsters in the under-12, under-15, and under-17 categories.
Italy occupied most of the podiums and won two of the three titles awarded, the under-12 title with Circolo Vela Arco’s Samuel Piantoni and the under-17 title with Romagna’s Federico Poli (Italy). Under 15 title to New Zealand’s Ewan Brazle. In all three categories, the winners came out on top right from the first races, leaving no room for their opponents, who only competed for the other positions on the podium.

It was a championship full of regattas, eleven in all, with a new record number of participants (300), from 14 countries, mainly Italy, France, Poland, but also overseas countries such as New Zealand, Australia, India, USA, Canada, and Japan, the nation that will host the World Championship in 2025. The class confirmed to maintain a playful, fun atmosphere, despite the technical level being raised. As stated by five-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts, the goal is to keep the guys sailing, not so much or only the winning of victories. Russell Coutts, who stayed all week to follow the Championships, nevertheless had the satisfaction of seeing Ewan Brazle, one of the helmsmen of the large New Zealand team present at Garda, win the under-15 title.

Under 12
World Championship at home and title won at home for Samuel Piantoni, an athlete from the large OpenSkiff team of Circolo Vela Arco, organiser of the event together with the Open Skiff class by delegation of the Italian Sailing Federation, who confirmed his form shown since the start of the season. Ten firsts and one second demonstrated the superiority of the nice youngster from Arco, who beat Frenchman Côme Zunquin by 19 points. Bronze to Gabriele Lizzulli (Italy), who was always very regular.
Excellent fifth place overall and first female for Vittoria Silvestri (Italy), who was also the protagonist of a second and third overall in regattas 3 and 7. Women’s silver and bronze respectively for Circolo vela Arco’s Sofia Benetti and Virna Di Gerlando (Italy).

Under 15
In this category too, the winner, New Zealander Ewan Brazle, absolutely dominated. With 10 partial victories and one second, he won the Under 15 title with the same advantage as Piantoni, 19 points this time over Frenchman Charles Ganivet. Three points behind bronze medal Antonio Simbula (Italy) penalised in the last race by an early start, without which he could have won silver. French victory among the girls with Clara Zunquin, followed by Vittoria Berteotti (Italy) and Maria Elena Barbarino (Italy) protagonist of a beautiful victory in the eleventh and final race.

Under 17
An Italian one-two in the under-17 fleet with the victory of Federico Poli (Italy) over Enrico Loi (Italy), silver, protagonist of a great Championship finish (3-1-1-4 in the last 4 races), which allowed him to overtake the Polish Hubert Staron.

Guido Sirolli, President of the Italian OpenSkiff Class, as well as founder and Vice-President of the international OpenSkiff Class:‘We complete this 15th edition of the OpenSkiff World Championship in a great way. We are really very satisfied with the success of this fantastic event thanks to the commitment of the Circolo Vela Arco led by Carlo Pompili, who has always supported and invested in this class. Masterful direction by the buoy ‘men’ who managed very well a race course with three clubs and two finishers, but with a single start; the pairing of Milos di Lasio, course manager, with the formidable Mario Lupinelli, president of the FIV Race Committee, made the difference: 11 races per category, with three U15 fleets, meant no less than 33 perfect starts in 5 days.
Laura Pennati, Secretary General of the Class represented our colours well, leading 139 competitors and over 20 Italian coaches. Italy, with 2 golds between U12 and U17, confirmed itself as the nation to beat!
Next appointments in Italy: 4-6 October in Rimini for the Ascob Cup (Italian OpenSkiff & RS Aero Class Association) and then on 1-3 November in Campione sul Garda for the fourth stage of the Eurochallenge Circuit!”