Italian Switch Championships 2024 at Cagliari, Sardinia
by Simon Hiscocks 2 Dec 19:10 GMT
Hosted by the Windsurf club of Cagliari in the beautiful island of Sardinia, the 'Switch Italian Open championships' was perhaps the first major title to be contested by this new one design foiling class.
Cagliari is host to the Luna Rossa America's Cup team still, perhaps, reeling from their elimination by the British team in the recent cup competition? It didn't deter there charismatic port tack helm Francesco Bruni from leading the organisation of this event. Nor a number of other key Luna Rossa team players from also taking part. Would they get the better of a British fleet, who had left Storm Bert behind to make the rather long journey from there own island down to sunny Sardinia?
A total of six British boats and one from Ireland added to entries from Switzerland, France and off course a strong Italian contingent. Quite a pan European affair.
Day one saw a dominant Bruni lead the regatta, but he didn't have it all his own way with Mattia Cesana putting a poor first race behind him to end the day close on points. Also beginning to show good form were Sam Whalley and Finn Dickinson who closed day one ust behind Umberto Crivelli Visconto who had a very consistent day.
Day two was never likely to happen with a wind direction that classically doesn't find its way in to the Cagliari bay and true to form this proved to be correct. Plenty off chat about the new boat and new friendships cemented, but importantly the final day was forecasted to be the best yet.
So this turned in to a day that many will not forget, four fast races in a shifty and puffy off shore wind that tested the tactical, handling and boat speed of all the competitors.
First out of the blocks was Finn with a race win, then it was Sam's turn. Umberto went on to take the honours in race three which really opened up the overall results. It would now all hinge on the final race to decide the podium positions.
Meanwhile the 7.5 rig was being dominated by Alessandra Dubbini with a flurry of firsts, however the fleet behind was closing in fast and she didn't have it all her own way, Paola Amar from France led races as did Irelands Elysia Ol Leary whilst Alice Senior made significant gains in closing the gap. The Female fleet continues to grow despite a number missing due to university commitments. The class is very much committed to a equal gender balance with a number off initiatives to promote both divisions.
Who would blink first in this final 8.5 fleet show down? Could Mattia uphold some Italian foiling pride and hold of the charging brits, led at this stage by Finn?
Unfortunately it was Finn who blinked first coming of the foil in a random lull, he could not quite fight back enough to hold of Sam Whalley who posted a solid second place to complete a consistent series. It was off course Mattia who shone to take the final race win and complete a series worthy of any champion. Sam was second, Finn third and the fast improving Umberto took fourth, just ahead of Bruni who was crowned masters champion.
What a regatta for this new comer to competitive foil racing. The standard is already high and will only continue to grow. Whilst the 'Italian fleet is undoubtedly the largest the British are certainly on a competitive level and numbers are growing by the week. Next season will see the start of a euro cup circuit as well as a series of National events. Its definitely time to consider a Switch.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail no | Helm | Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 7.5 Fleet |
|---|
| 1 | ITA 1011 | Alessandra Dubbini | 1011 | 1 | 1 | DNF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑1 | 6 |
| 2 | IRL 1043 | Elysia O Leary | 1043 | ‑4 | 2 | DNF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | FRA 11 | Amar Paola | Alberto | 2 | 3 | DNF | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ‑4 | 17 |
| 4 | GBR 10 | Alice Senior | Magenta Foiling Team | 3 | 4 | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4 | 4 | 3 | 23 |
| 8.5 Fleet |
|---|
| 1 | ITA 1016 | Mattia Cesana | 1016 | ‑10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ‑7 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | GBR 1041 | Sam Whaley | Concorde | 4 | ‑6 | ‑7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 3 | GBR 1047 | Finley Dickinson | OnlyFins | ‑6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ‑8 | 18 |
| 4 | ITA 88 | Uberto Crivelli Visconti | ITA 88 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ‑6 | 1 | ‑5 | 20 |
| 5 | ITA ITA 1009 | Francesco Bruni | ITA 1009 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ‑8 | 7 | 4 | ‑9 | 7 | 26 |
| 6 | ITA 1029 | Francesco Bertone Fresia | Javelin | DNS | UFD | 1 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 31 |
| 7 | SUI 1013 | Matteo Paulon | 1013 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | ‑11 | ‑9 | 6 | 4 | 35 |
| 8 | GBR 1075 | Ross Banham | Sara | ‑13 | UFD | 2 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 43 |
| 9 | SUI 1015 | Fabio Fumagalli | 1015 | 2 | UFD | ‑10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 8 | ‑11 | 43 |
| 10 | ITA 1036 | Massimiliano Antoniazzi | 1036 | 3 | | ‑12 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 47 |
| 11 | ITA 1005 | Francesco Bianchi | 1002 | 7 | 9 | RET | DNS | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 54 |
| 12 | GBR 20 | Simon Hiscocks | light | 12 | 7 | DNF | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ‑14 | 56 |
| 13 | GBR GBR 4 | Edward Chapman | tbc | 11 | UFD | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | ‑15 | 74 |
| 14 | ITA 1003 | Francesco Cerina | THAILAND 1003 | ‑14 | 10 | 11 | 13 | ‑15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 75 |
| 15 | ITA 1006 | Luigi Buzzi | 1006 | 9 | 12 | DNF | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | ‑16 | 82 |
| 16 | ITA ITA 1063 | Jacopo Plazzi | ITA 1063 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 13 | 12 | UFD | 12 | 89 |
| 17 | ITA 1052 | Enrico Tamanini | Salina | 16 | 13 | DNF | 15 | ‑18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 94 |
| 18 | ITA 1051 | Tommaso Cometti | melody | 15 | 11 | DNF | RET | 17 | DNF | RET | RET | 100 |
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