October 13, 2017

Four classic 5.5 Metres and one Evolution are taking part in the XIII Raduno Vele Storiche Viareggio, one of the most important Italian classic boat regattas. Racing began on Friday in very light wind. Tara, ITA 78, leads overall. Owned by Maria Cristina Rapisardi, Tara is a classic Britton Chance Jr. design from 1968, commissioned by his father, Britton Chance, who won the 5.5 Gold medal at the 1952 Olympics.

The 1983 Evolution boat Whisper, ITA 57 (Richard Leupold, Paolo Giorgetti,
Claudio Mazzanti), also a Britton Chance Jr. design, is second. “We don't know the race area so we watch the locals to try to find the right angle. 
In the end it was a match race with Tara, so 
tomorrow we will go faster…it will be another day.”

In third place is Grifone, a 1963 classic design from Einar and Carl-Erik Olson, which won the World Championship in 1965.

Racing continues until Sunday.

Results after Day 1
1 ITA 78 Tara
2 ITA 57 Whisper
3 ITA 42 Grifone
4 Z 24 Artemis II
5 ITA 21 Violetta IV

Event website: https://velestoricheviareggio.org/