Young Azzurra and the 2021 Sports Program


Young Azzurra and the 2021 Sports Program

Young Azzurra and the 2021 sports program

 

Young Azzurra is the sports project of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda launched in 2020 intending to invest in young talents of Italian sailing with a view to equal opportunities.

 

One year after its birth, Young Azzurra sees a significant 2021 with the commitment in the international regattas of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup, as well as in some stages of the Persico 69F Cup circuit. A year of challenges, which was also perfect for testing the technical clothing line Skiff and the new Hydrobates Shock Absorber protections: Slam is, in fact, the technical partner of Young Azzurra.

The story between Slam and the Azzurra Sailing Team begins during Azzurra's participation in the 52 Super Series circuit, through this partnership it was possible to develop the PRO line, a technical collection that leverages innovative materials capable of guarantee maximum performance. To evaluate the performance, tests were carried out on this monohull considered among the fastest in sailing.

The collaboration with Young Azzurra thus becomes an expression of continuity and collaboration with one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. Synonymous with tradition, intended as a guarantee, but also as a solid starting point for the development of clothing that is always at the forefront, capable of supporting all the needs of an ever-evolving sport.

 

Young Azzurra in Porto Cervo for the Persico 69F Cup

 

In July 2021, Young Azzurra returned to Porto Cervo for the Persico 69F Cup, to take part in the Grand Prix 2.1 and the Grand Prix 2.2.

The Persico 69F hull is particularly exciting, being a flying one-design with foil: the new frontier of sailing. It is also called 69F and is a one-design characterized by 6.90 m in length, 380 kg of displacement, 40 m2 of total sail area (mainsail and headsail). Born from the design of the Argentine Wilson-Marquinez and developed by Santiago Lange, Nacra 17 phenomenon and Argentine Olympic champion (gold at the Rio de Janeiro Games at the age of 54), the 69F is structured to guarantee the presence on board of three people.

In the two weeks spent in Porto Cervo, Young Azzurra took victory in both two events of the Persico 69F Cup.

 

The Young Azzurra 2021 team

 

The Young Azzurra team, made up of young talents of Italian sailing, has collected numerous successes in the last year, having the opportunity to experience professional-sporting growth, as well as on a personal level. We want to introduce you to the protagonists of this extraordinary crew.

Ettore Botticini is the skipper. His career began on the Optimist at the age of 7; he has participated in 12 world championships and 7 European championships, managing to win 4 world titles and 4 national titles. In 2015 he began to approach foiling sailing and in 2018 he won the World Match Race Championship, youth category. In 2020, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda wins the Italian WASZP Championship, single one-design foiler. He was the first member of the Young Azzurra team to receive reconfirmation; to date, he also holds the role of team manager.

Federico Colaninno is the flight controller. His first contacts with the world of sailing of high levels, are early: his father Nando is an Olympic athlete in Sydney 2000 in the Star class. As an athlete of the Yacht Club Gaeta, Federico conquers the Finn Under 19 World Champion title for two consecutive years, in 2017 and 2018, while a year later he is European Match Race Vice-Champion and wins the Italian title in the Finn class. With the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in 2020 he is confirmed as Finn national champion.

Francesca Bergamo is the trimmer. She began her training at the Yacht Club Adriaco, her palmarès includes 2 European and 4 Italian titles in the Optimist, Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial classes. In 2016 she began her adventure at the helm of the 49er FX Olympic skiff to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. She is among the first to enter the observation program to form the crew of Young Azzurra.

Erica Ratti also covers the role of trimmer on board, taking over with Francesca. As an athlete of the Aniene Rowing Club, among the many victories, there are 2 Italian titles, one in 420 Under 16 and the other at the 2017 Italian Olympic Class Championship at the helm of the mixed catamaran Nacra 17, from which she began her experience in foiling sailing, which today continues with Young Azzurra on the Persico 69F.

 

Here are the results reported by the Young Azzurra team in 2021:

 

  • Youth Foiling Gold Cup Gaeta (held from 01/03 to 10/03): second place
  • Grand Prix 1.1 - Persico 69F Cup Malcesine, Lake Garda (held from 29/04 to 02/05): first place
  • Grand Prix 2.1 - Persico 69F Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia (held from 05/07 to 10/07): first place
  • Grand Prix 2.2 - Persico 69F Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia (held from 12/07 to 17/07): first place
  • Youth Foiling Gold Cup Act 2 Limone (held from 16/08 to 26/08): third place

 

To face each race with extreme competitiveness, the team wore Slam's Skiff Line and Hydrobates Shock Imp.pads (a set of customized, light and ergonomic protections).

Explore the Slam catalog to discover all the latest news from the Skiff and Pro lines, collections that guarantee maximum comfort and optimal performance.