The Beautiful 1951 “Baglietto” Dragon owned by brothers Filippo & Giuseppe La Scala.
Yes my friends and fellow sailors, SAN REMO has arrived, with 35 boats entered for the Italian Championships and a record breaking 91 boats for the prestigious EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS… wow, what way to go racing!!
As we prepared our boats yesterday, I was delighted to meet the owners of “Galatea II” an all wooden boat from 1951. It was built in Varazze, near Genoa. Then won the selection trials for the Olympics in Naples, so it competed in the Helsinki Olympics of 1952. (finishing 9th). In 1954 it won Kiel Week but then was stored without sailing for 20 years… In 1974 it was sailed in the Italian Champion’s but shortly after, it was again put away. However, it now looks magnificent, and from the picture below you can see why brothers Filippo and Giuseppe are so proud of it after it’s major “restoration” by Nino Aprea, in Sorrento.
So with the racing starting today, the 35 boats will compete for the Italian National Title and this also gives the excellent San Remo organising team a chance to prepare for the coming Europeans..
Last night a meeting was held with all the organisers present to ensure the very best racing will be provided for this fantastic fleet. With a 3 upwind leg course in excess of 2m for the Europeans, this will show San Remo at it’s best and find out who the 2014 Champions of Europe will be…….. ??
Higher, Faster, Longer………… Stavros. (USA 310).