Everything is ready for Barcolana number 54 scheduled for next 9 October in Trieste. Who will cross the finish line first? We present “our” favorites, of course all supplied Armare Ropes. Arca SGR with the Benussi brothers is a certainty, but Gasper Vincec with Way of Life is very fierce and Anywave Safilens aims for great redemption.
The largest international sailing regatta in the world reaches its 54th edition this year, transforming the city of Trieste into the world capital of sailing. Also this year many participants, coming from all over Italy, and beyond. Many will be using Armare Ropes lines. Among these are there are three super boats that can aim for victory, let’s discover who they are.
One more reason to cheer? The deep commitment of all three teams to environmental sustainability, a theme that has always been at the heart of Armare Ropes.
Arca SGR – The “defender”
Maxi 100 Arca SGR of Furio Benussi’s Fast and Furio Sailing Team won the 53rd edition of the Barcolana last year (read the article) and obviously, this year is the favorite. The excellent predictions has been confirmed by the conquest, last Sunday, of the 51st Bernetti Cup in the OPEN class.
The Maxi 100 Arca SGR (30.48 x 4.99 m) is the real-time queen of offshore regattas in the Mediterranean: a “traditional” displacement boat, albeit equipped with a canting keel. ARCA SGR is managed by the Fast & Furio Sailing Team of the Trieste-born Furio Benussi, first on the finish line at 151 Miglia, Giraglia, Palermo-Montecarlo, Tre Golfi and other offshore classics.
The boat, despite being almost 20 years old, is always up-todate, thanks to some important refits it has benefited over the time. It was born in 2003 with the name of Wild Thing on a design by Don Jones, made by the Hart Marine shipyard in carbon fiber sandwich with balsa core. In 2012 it underwent a radical refit.
The strength is not only the boat, but the team (with a Trieste “core” of great sailors: Gabriele Benussi, Lorenzo “Rufo” Bressani, Stefano Spangaro among others) and the helmsman: Furio Benussi, winner of four of the last five editions of the Barcolana. And then, the weather could also be an advantage: no strong wind is expected on 9 October and, in an interview, Benussi stated that “with winds between 6 and 12 knots we are the fastest in the Mediterranean“.
Innovation and sustainability
Arca SGR is the first boat in the world to be certified for its ecological sustainability EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). An important ESG project, created to promote the circular economy and guided by Life Cycle Thinking, a revolution in strategies for environmental sustainability. Thanks to this project, a long-abandoned hull was recovered from a shipyard in Menorca, to give it a new life and the luster it deserves.
Anywave Safilens – A great re-start
The 63-foot Anywave of the Sistiana Sailing Team returns to the Barcolana after the unfortunate edition of last year, during which it was dismasted by a gust of wind at 40 knots.
Last Sunday Anywave, returned to compete with a new mast and after an important refit, won the 51st Bernetti Trophy. The Team led by Alberto Leghissa triumphed in the ORC class, which assign the overall victory. Considering the success obtained in what is considered the “dress rehearsal” of the Barcolana, the opponents are warned …
The ecological commitment
The RECO project by Anywave Safilens introduces a new figure, the Ecological Manager on board: a crew member with the task of making the whole Team implement an eco-sustainable and green attitude during the regattas and on land, respecting the sea and the environment. Furthermore, Anywave Safilens for the Barcolana has chosen to join the One Ocean Foundation initiative “More Miles Less Plastic”, thanks to the commitment of the two Ambassadors on board, Alberto Leghissa and Mauro Pelaschier. The membership involves the removal of 10 kilos of plastic from the ocean for every mile traveled by Anywave Safilens on the occasion of the 54th Barcolana.
EWOL Way of life – The former Maxi Jena seeks revenge
Another boat that can certainly have its say is Way of Life by Slovenian owner Gašper Vinčec, Finn Olympian (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008). The almost 27-meter boat (formerly Morning Glory) has already won the Barcolana in 2019 and 2009 (with the name of Maxi Jena), and last year came second behind Arca SGR. This year the crew is ready to play all his cards again.
The boat, equipped with a fixed keel (2.2 m draft) was built, in 2003, by McConaghy on the naval architecture of Reichel / Pugh. Last year the installation of a new textile forestay in PBO by Armare Ropes (read the article) completed the 2019 intervention, which included the construction and installation of the entire textile rigging made of continuous PBO-Zylon multifilament. Since September 2018, the EWOL project aims to support various technological, environmental and sporting initiatives.
Can’t wait this Sunday to see how it will turn out! We wish all crews a good regatta and to all: enjoy the Barcolana 54.