Please select your home edition
Edition
U-DECK 2023 - No.4 728x90 TOP

Italy celebrate week of dominance on home waters at Youth Sailing World Championships

by World Sailing 20 Jul 15:22 NZST 13-20 July 2024

Italy retained their Nations Trophy in style as a tremendous week at the Youth Sailing World Championships 2024 was capped off with closing ceremony celebrations in Riva.

The hosts rocketed to claim six world titles on Lake Garda thanks to countless displays of precision and skill across 11 events and six classes.

Sailors, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff gathered outside Case Italia to hail the marvellous achievements of the world's best up-and-coming talents.

Maria Vittoria Arseni and Antonio Pascali led the way in men's and women's ILCA 6, as did Carola Colasanto and Federico Pilloni in iQFOiL for two Italian clean sweeps.

On home waters, Italy managed to match their exploits from last year in Buzios, Brazil, with a young squad led by Alessandra Sensini as Youth Technical Director.

Il Canto degli Italiani rang around Riva as Poland, Argentina, Brazil and Greece also celebrated hard-fought victories with their flags, anthems and prized trophies.

Maria Catalina Turienzo rounded off perfect Paris 2024 preparations with a Formula Kite title and crowned a week of dominance in her fourth and final year at youth level.

In an Olympic year, the Youth Sailing World Championships showed a glimpse of what the future of sailing could look like, with Argentina's Turienzo and Derin Atakan of Türkiye headed for the Games in Marseille next week.

Canada's Nikhil Damji was awarded the Bengt Julin Trophy for fostering international understanding and sportsmanship throughout the Championships.

The 17-year-old two-person dinghy sailor helms alongside his identical twin brother Emil who crews in the class.

More than 550 people voted for the award and Damji, from Vancouver, was overwhelmed with the reception he received on stage.

Across the past decade, Olympians Maria Erdi and Eroni Leilua have picked up the accolade at the same Championships and Damji took pride in following in the footsteps of sporting greats.

"It's very special," he said. "I wasn't thinking about winning an award for being me, I like to have friends and I'm very thankful and grateful to have won this.

"It's my second time at Youth Worlds and my second time at Lake Garda. Youth Worlds is one of the best weeks of my life, it's so much fun just being around people who love what I love doing.

"The sailing is amazing and it's the best competition in the world and it's just been a great week.

"I hope one day I can be an Olympian too, it's very cool knowing some very special people have won it too."

Sponsors and partners were once again showcased at the heart of the Championships, including title sponsor Trentino and CONI, who provided the iconic Casa Italia venue to give the event an Olympic village feel.

A total of 418 sailors from 70 countries savoured a week to remember in Northern Italy and many will return again in 2025 for the next edition of the event in Vilamoura, Portugal.

worldsailingywc.org

Related Articles

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
Predictwind is official partner of Vendee Globe
PredictWind will bring fans into the Vendée Globe action with a world-first Race Weather Centre Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced its official partnership with IMOCA - one of the fastest and most exciting offshore yacht racing classes - to become the exclusive Weather Data Supplier for the Vendée Globe 2024. Posted on 22 Oct
NZ Marine industry celebrates Am Cup Defence
NZ marine technology and innovation is used both by its own and other teams contesting the Cup While New Zealand sailors are considered among the world's best, the country's marine technology and innovation is used both by its own team, and by the teams contesting the America's Cup. Posted on 19 Oct
New facilities attract more superyachts to NZ
Superyacht attraction initiatives paying off as NZ Marine reports $212m superyacht economic boost A new report shows superyacht visitors injected $212m into the New Zealand economy in the 2023/4 season. The report has been released as New Zealand ramps up its superyacht attraction initiatives. Posted on 11 Oct
Cup Spy - Finals - Who dares, wins
The AC75 proved its ability to provide compelling viewing, match racing at speeds touching 55kts Critics of the AC75 and its suitability as a match racer for the America's Cup should be eating their words after Sunday's Blinder in Barcelona Posted on 30 Sep
Check the rules before summer boating starts 
Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across mar Marine biosecurity teams are reminding boaties and all marine users to make sure they are across marine pest risks and rules before heading out on the water this summer. Posted on 24 Sep
17 NZ marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey'
Kiwi marinas make big steps in environmental performance : 17 marinas now on ‘Clean Marina journey' The $540 million marina and boatyard industry is on a mission to minimise its environmental impact, particularly in relation to coastal water quality. Posted on 21 Sep
Southern Spars at the Monaco Yacht Show
From America's Cup technology to the World's largest sailing catamaran: Connect with Southern Spars The Monaco Yacht Show is the showcase event for innovation in the superyacht industry and as the global leader in high-performance composite rig technology for luxury yachts, Southern Spars is excited to attend again in 2024. Posted on 19 Sep
U-DECK 2023 - No.2 728x90 BOTTOMHALLSPARS_BANNER_SW_660X82-EVAI BOTTOMTNI Pindar SW Ads_728x90px-6 BOTTOM