Twenty Years in Sailing: The Story of the Centro Velico Punta Ala’s Regattas

Twenty Years in Sailing: The Story of the Centro Velico Punta Ala's Regattas

With a twenty-year history in organizing regattas, the Punta Ala Sailing Center has become a symbol of excellence in sailing, earning a prominent place and an enviable reputation both nationally and internationally.

Our beautiful location within the gulf between Punta Ala and Follonica is famous for having been the base of the legendary Luna Rossa team and recalls the ideal sea and wind conditions of the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand, the scene of famous regattas.

Founded in 2006, Centro Velico Punta Ala Asd initially focused on multihulls and then expanded its expertise to a wide of boat classes. In this two-decade span, the association’s sporting vocation has brought to the waters of Punta Ala, about twenty sailing classes, approximately 3000 boats, and 6000 competitors from all over the world.

This evolution testifies to our constant commitment in the international sailing panorama. Below we present a brief summary of the most significant regattas we had the honor to host.

2004 F18 World’s Championship

July 10-16, 2004

Sailing class: Catamarans in doubles, Formula 18

In 2004, the Centro Velico Punta Ala began its story with an exceptional event: the F18 Catamarans World Championship. Although it was in its early days, our sailing center brilliantly overcame the challenge of organizing this prestigious regatta in collaboration with the Follonica Yacht Club. This international event attracted 160 crews, making our first regatta a stage for some of the world’s best sailors in the double catamaran category.

2006 National Regatta F18 Championship

August 2006

Sailing class: Catamarans in doubles, Formula 18

In 2006, our ailing hub was inaugurated as a federal sailing school and event organizing club, at the time known as Circolo Velico Cala Civette, coinciding with the National F18 Championship. On this occasion, the Centro Velico Punta Ala independently managed the first in a series of exciting regattas. During the event, Italian sailing talents competed, showcasing their skills in the F18 catamaran class, creating a memorable and thrilling competition.

2007 European Hobie Cat Tiger and FX One

September 11-15, 2007

Sailing Class: Double Tiger Catamaran and FX-One Single Seat Catamarans

In 2007, the Centro Velico Punta Ala played a key role in bringing back to Italy, after nine years, the prestigious “European Hobie Cat Tiger Championship,” 18-foot catamarans that are highly spectacular for their exceptional speed and agility. Thirty-three crews, including ten Italians, participated in the event. At the same time, the “Hobie Cat FX-One Eurocup” for single-seater catamarans was also held, while a few days earlier, from September 8 to 10, Punta Ala also hosted the “Hobie Cat Tiger National Championship.” These events reinforce Punta Ala’s reputation as a center of excellence in the sailing world, solidifying its ability to host high-level competitions.

2008 European Contender Championship

May 31 – June 7, 2008

Sail class: single-seater dinghy Contender

2008 saw the Sailing Center host the captivating European Open Class Contender Championship. This regatta attracted about 100 single sailors, each at the helm of their own “dinghy – acrobatic monohull,” considered among the fastest and most technically advanced in the world. With some hulls made of handcrafted mahogany in Italy, the competition provided a spectacle of rare beauty. The regatta was marked by intense challenges, with significant changes in ranking positions due to wind variations, and sailors from various nations including Australia, Canada, several European countries, and others, engaged in maneuvers of skill and dexterity, making the event a true showcase of sailing excellence for the audience.

2009 World’s Top Cat Championship

September 5-12, 2009

Sail class: single-seater Topcat K1 catamarans, two-seater Topcat K2, Topcat K3

In 2009, the Centro Velico Punta Ala became the stage for the Topcat World Championship, an event that captured the attention of the sailing community internationally. The competition highlighted the versatility and technique of the catamaran in the Topcat K1, K2, and K3 classes, each with its own challenges and peculiarities. Beyond the exciting action of the races at sea, the Topcat World Championship transformed the Sailing Center into a meeting point for the international sailing community. The evenings and beach parties, organized at the PuntAla Camp&Resort, enriched the experience and created a unique and welcoming atmosphere, strengthening the sense of community among participants and leaving unforgettable memories. The success of the 2009 Topcat World Championship solidified the reputation of the Centro Velico Punta Ala not only as an excellent venue for sporting events but also as a place of celebration for the culture and spirit of sailing.

2010 World’s Sunfish Championship

June 12-19, 2010

Sailing class: Drift conducted in single

In 2010, the Centro Velico Punta Ala faced a significant organizational challenge with the hosting of the Sunfish World Championship. The event welcomed around 50 Sunfish boats, which were shipped in containers, necessitating complex logistics that demanded meticulous planning and coordination. This effective handling and the capacity to host a new sailing class in a global competition reaffirmed Punta Ala as a prestigious location for sailing events and showcased the versatility and competence of the Sailing Center in accommodating competitions of global scope.

2011 World Finn Master Championship

June 10-17, 2011

Sail class: single-seater dinghy Finn

In June 2011, the Centro Velico Punta Ala hosted the Master World Championship of the Finn class, reserved for Finnists over 40. The event set a record with 306 pre-registered Finns from 29 countries, highlighting not only the strength of this glorious Olympic class but also the attractiveness of the idyllic setting with the golden beach and crystal-clear sea of this Maremma coast location. The opening ceremony welcomed almost 1,000 spectators and 28 flag bearers, marking a spectacular start and making it the largest Finn event ever. In the end, 284 Finns from 28 nations participated, making this the largest gathering of the Finn class. The management of the Punta Ala Sailing Center, with the support of local clubs, demonstrated exceptional capabilities in organizing an event of such a scale, in a setting that perfectly combined sport, nature and the international community.

2012 World’s Dart18 Championship

September 3-7, 2012

Sailing class: Dart18 double catamarans

In 2012, the Centro Velico Punta Ala stood out by hosting the Dart 18 Worlds, the world championship for Dart 18 catamarans. The event featured 97 teams from 10 countries, including Aruba, Austria, and the United Kingdom, and was marked by a series of spectacular races from Monday to Friday. The location proved to be ideal for this level of sailing events, with its Mediterranean climate and natural beauty, while the PuntAla Camp&Resort offered a perfect balance between competition and socialization. The Dart 18 Worlds 2012 made its mark not only for its intense sporting competition but also for the convivial atmosphere and Italian hospitality, elements that contributed to making it a memorable event in the international sailing scene.

2013 National Hobie Cat 16 Championship

September 6-8, 2013

Sailing Class: Hobie Cat 16 Double Catamarans

In 2012, the Italian Hobie Cat 16 Championship was hosted by the Centro Velico Punta Ala. This event highlighted the popularity of mixed male and female teams in this class of catamarans, known to be the most popular in the world. The effectiveness of these mixed crews was attributed to their ability to come close to the minimum required crew weight, set at 129.3 kg according to the class rules.

About thirty teams participated in this competition, making it a unique event of its kind. The gala dinner, organized for the athletes and guests, further highlighted the importance of the social aspect in the world of sailing. This turned the championship not only into a sporting confrontation, but also into a valuable opportunity to meet and share within the sailing community.

2014 National A-Class Championship

August 28 – 31, 2014

Sail class: single seater catamarans class A

In 2014, the Centro Velico Punta Ala hosted the National A-Class Championship, with 50 fascinating A-Class catamarans cutting through the waters in front of the PuntAla Camp&Resort. The event, marked by three days of intense racing, highlighted the A-Class as one of the most spectacular in the sailing scene, with boats that seemed to “fly” above the water. This was also the testing ground in preparation for the World Class Championship, scheduled for the following year. Organized by the Punta Ala Sailing Center at the same venue, the world championship promises to capture the attention of the global sailing community, further cementing the center’s reputation as a hub for international sailing events.

2015 World’s A-Class Championship

September 5-12, 2015

Sail class: single seater catamarans class A

2015 saw the Centro Velico Punta Ala host the prestigious A-Class Catamaran World Championship, an event of international significance with more than 160 participating boats from around the world, confirming the Sailing Center’s position as a global benchmark in the sailing world.
A-Class catamarans, known to be among the fastest single-seater racing boats in the world, represent the cutting edge of sailing technology.
The event, in addition to attracting fans and tourists, provided a platform for sailing experts to share knowledge and promote the sport. With the support of prominent sponsors and collaboration with renowned sailing clubs, the A-Class Catamaran World Championship in Punta Ala has become a symbol of excellence in sailing and the organizational capacity of the Punta Ala Sailing Center.

2016 Moth and Italian Moth Championship

September 2-4, 2016

Sail class: single-seater moth dinghy

From September 2-4, 2016, the Centro Velico Punta Ala hosted a spectacular national Moth Class regatta, which coincided with the fourth leg of the Eurocup, attracting about 30 sailors, including some top international participants.
With this event, the Sailing Center was able to test itself with an even different class of boat. The Moth is the most revolutionary sailboat of all time, known for its cutting-edge technology and ability to “fly” on water, has a 100-year history and is considered a true formula 1 of dinghies. The world’s strongest sailors have sailed in moths. The organization of these championships has strengthened the reputation of the sailing center as a place capable of hosting and managing different types of sailing events, always at a high level.

2017 Fireball Italian Championship

September 8-10, 2017

Sail Class: Two-seater dinghy Fireball

In September 2017, the Centro Velico Punta Ala hosted the Italian Fireball Championship, an event that saw the participation of 25 crews, including some from Switzerland, Slovenia and France. The competition took place over three days of exciting racing in the crystal clear waters in front of the PuntAla Resort, a place known for its natural beauty and ideal sailing conditions.

2018 National F18 Championship

June 16-17, 2018

Sailing Class: F18 Double Catamarans

In 2018, the Punta Ala Sailing Center continued to solidify its tradition by hosting the F18 National Championship, a regatta that has become a classic event for the exciting F18 double catamaran class. This event reaffirmed the center’s commitment to this dynamic and spectacular category.
The championship was notable for its technically demanding race course, offering variable and challenging wind conditions for participants. The scenic beauty of the place, combined with a well-equipped shore facility, made Punta Ala the ideal place to host not only the racers but also their families and companions.

2020 National RS500

September 2-5, 2020

Sail Class: Two-seater dinghy, RS500

In 2020, the Centro Velico Punta Ala hosted the Trofeo del Mare, a National RS500 regatta, a significant event that marked a “small regatta for a big recovery” at a time marked by Covid-19 challenges. The choice on this young and emerging sailing class in the world of Italian racing was not random. With the participation of about 12 to 15 crews, all very young, mostly school-age, this event was a symbol of resilience and hope. The championship revealed emerging talent in Italian sailing, marking a moment of return to racing for a class of promising and dynamic athletes.