meet the public at the International Boat Show
Andrea Stella, sailing to remove barriers
Giovanni Soldini, Marcello Lippi, Daniela Melchiorre, Elidio De Paoli among today's guests
Tomorrow the conference on small boating with Deputy Minister De Piccoli, live broadcasting with Lineablu, Dribbling, and the presentation of programme "L'Italia dei porti"
Final sprint for Genoa 46th International Boat Show, being held at Fiera di Genova until Sunday, 15th October.
Today was the day of Italian sailing: all the best athletes of this successful season were present
today from 1.00 to 5.00 p.m. in Marina Due, between the Sea Theatre and the adjacent stand of
the Italian Sailing Federation.
The number one star was of course Alessandra Sensini who, after her three Olympic medals
(gold medal in Sydney 2000, bronze medal in Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004) recently won her
tenth world title in Torbole, on Lake Garda, in the new windsurf Olympic class RS:X – an
exceptional result which confirms her incredibly long, outstanding career.
Olympic sailing was also represented by Diego Negri and Luigi Viale, the two Italian
Tax Police sailors, European champions in the Star class.
The Show's public also welcomed the Italian youth team that won the prestigious
youth sailing team world title in Weymouth, England, a great success achieved in the
same waters where London 2012 Olympic regattas will be held.
The magnificent ten from Weymouth are the following: Federico Gattuso and Rudy
Ruggiero (Hobie Cat 16 class), Jas Farneti and Simon Kosuta (420 M class), Giulia
Zappacosta and Sara Zribi (420 F), Filippo Baldassari (Laser class), Matilde Fabbri
(Laser Radial class), Fabian Heidegger (RS:X men's class), Lara Linares (RS:X
women's class), the latter winners of the individual silver and gold medal,
respectively. Italian Sailing Federation coaches were Valerio Milesi, Marco Iazzetta and
Filippo Maretti.
Sailing club "Circolo Vera Bari", winner of the second RAS 555FIV Italian Cup, a sort of
Italian championship involving clubs, was also awarded a prize.
The Italian Sailing Federation's guest of honour was the Undersecretary for Sport
Elidio De Paoli, who visited the Boat Show for the first time and expressed all his
love and enthusiasm for sailing and the promotion of sailing among younger
generations. He was welcomed at FIV's stand by the Federation's President Sergio
Gaibisso.
***
Andrea Stella's new book "Due ruote sull'oceano" (literally Two Wheels on the Ocean),
published by Longanesi and introduced by Fabio Pozzo, was presented at the Sea Theatre. The
book tells about Spirito di Stella , the first catamaran ever built equipped for the disabled, on which
Andrea completed his journey back from Genoa to Miami, the city where his tragic adventure
started, when he was accidentally shot and is consequently now confined on a wheelchair.
Stella has competed in two Italian Sailing Tours onboard his catamaran, involving also other
disabled people, and for years now has been carrying out a campaign aimed at removing existing
physical and conceptual barriers, in the sea and on land alike. Famous sailors like Mauro
Pelaschier, Giovanni Soldini (who also wrote the preface to the book), and Luna Rossa's bowman
Paolo Bassani took part in the Atlantic crossing that took Andrea Stella back to Florida. His book
"Due ruote sull'Oceano" tells about the therapeutic effect of the sea and of sailing, thanks to which
Andrea has been spiritually reborn after what happened in Miami.
***
Among today's guests at the Show, solo sailor Giovanni Soldini and, representing Italian
institutions, the Undersecretary for Justice Daniela Melchiorre, MP Italo Tanoni, and Senator
Roberto Castelli, a great sailing enthusiast.
Ms Melchiorre too loves the sea and, particularly, sailing, a passion she has inherited from her
father, who owned a catamaran for many years. "I started sailing when I was four on Optimists,
then I moved on to Lasers and 420, also taking part in some competitions with Circolo Vela Bari.
Now my institutional role does not allow me to enjoy the sea as much as I did before, but last
summer I managed at least to go on vacation with my friends in Ponza. I've come to Genoa Boat
Show simply to admire what's on display, not to buy a boat".
***
Former coach of World Champion Italian soccer team Marcello Lippi was back at the Show today
for a ‘private' tour after officially visiting it a few days ago. This time he took the opportunity to
take part in the prize-giving ceremony of the "Fishing pioneers" organised by FIPO, the Italian
Federation of Sports Fishing Items Producers and Operators. FIPO awarded the President of Fipsas
Claudio Matteoli and Srf Casting Under 16 world champion Patrizio di Francesco.
The conference on updates in boating sector regulations promoted by UCINA and RINA and
held at Fieracongressi focused on the following four key themes: the Code regulating pleasure
boating, super yachts and the International Register, boat rental, and pleasure boating
professional titles. Among others, the representatives of the General Command for Navigation and
Maritime and Inland Transport of the Ministry for Transport and of the Harbour Office – Coast
Guard took part in the conference.
Tomorrow's eventsSaturday 14 October too will feature many important events.
At 10.00 a.m. at Fieracongressi, conference Piccola Nautica: l'impegno delle Istituzioni per
lo sviluppo di servizi e infrastrutture a sostegno del settore" (Small boats: the
commitment of Italian institutions towards the development of services and
infrastructures to support this sector), organised by UCINA and ASSONAUTICA. The Italian
Deputy Minister for Transport Cesare De Piccoli will take the floor. This conference aims at
highlighting how the Italian boating system and institutions can take action to support this sector,
which is strategic for the national economy as a whole.
At 11 a.m. in the Press Room, the President of Trapani Provincial Administration, Senator
Antonio D'Alì, will illustrate his administration's projects to develop boating activities.
At the same time -11.00 a.m.- at the stand of magazine Main Sail, meeting with sailor Roberto
Aversano, who at the end of November will attempt to beat the solo Atlantic crossing record from
Dakar to Guadalupa on a sporty catamaran.
At 12 noon at the Sea Theatre a press conference will be held to present TV programme "L'Italia
dei porti". This year the programme, which has reached its fifth season, will follow Aeneas's
routes and recruit the new sailing crew through competition "SaltAbordo". The programme is
promoted by Sinergie Grandi Eventi and Rai Due, in cooperation with UCINA and Lega Navale
Italiana.
The long day of RAI's connections will start at 12.25 p.m., with the regional news weekly
programme on RAI 3, and will continue at 2.00 p.m. with Liguria regional news on the same
channel,
Dribbling on RAI 2, and, at 2.30, with
Linea Blu's live broadcasting on Rai Uno.
Donatella Bianchi, LineaBlu anchorwoman, will explore the Show starting from Maltese Falcon, the
88-metre sailing boast that was the Show's guest of honour during last weekend, and the continue
with the interviews with Deputy Prime Minister D'Alema and Minister for Transport Alessandro
Bianchi. The show will continue with seamen and boats, and will also feature Andy Luotto, Eugenio
Bennato, Vincenzo Onorato, Lorenzo Rizzardi, and Cino Ricci. At 4.30, Sabato Sport, live
broadcast from the Show on the RAI 3 channel.
To conclude, at 3.30, the activities of Beppe Croce Sea School, promoted by Yacht Club
Italiano, will be presented: courses open to everybody to learn sailing first and foremost by
learning responsibility towards oneself and other people, as well as towards the environment.
Alessandra Sensini will be the guest of honour.
As regards strictly sports events, the
8th Nautical Marathon will be held in the morning, a deep
sea regatta open to all cabin boats, organised by Ucina, Circolo Nautico Mandraccio, and Yacht Club Città di Genova.
InformationFiera di Genova tel. +39.010.53911, e-mail:
fierage@fiera.ge.it,
www.salonenautico-online.itUCINA: tel. +39.010 5769811, e-mail:
ucina@ucina.net ,
www.salonenauticogenova.itFiera di Genova Press Office
Tel +39 010 5391.206-211-250-262
e-mail :
press@fiera.ge.it ufficiostampa@fiera.ge.itUfficio Stampa UCINA
Tel +39 335 8308666
E-mail:
promotion@ucina.net
