EurILCA Europa Cup lands in Tuscany in the Gulf of Follonica: A first for Punta Ala Sailing Center
by Centro Velico Punta Ala 7 Apr 2024 08:30 BST
2-5 May 2024
EurILCA Europa Cup 2024 © PuntAla Camp & Resort
For the first time, the Centro Velico Punta Ala (Punta Ala Sailing Center) will host a regatta in the ILCA class.
This year, the renowned international series EurILCA Europa Cup, after Portugal and Spain, is heading to Italy, in Punta Ala, Tuscany, as the scene for this highly anticipated event from May 2 to 5, 2024.
The competition is open to sailors of all ages starting from 12 years old and across all rigs (ILCA 7, ILCA 6, and ILCA 4). More than 450 competitors, accompanied by their coaches and families from all over the world, are expected to battle it out at sea.
The ILCA class, the heartbeat of the International Laser Class Association, encompasses a broad community of young athletes, from the youngest just out of the Optimist class to elite athletes aiming for the Olympics, given that ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) is an Olympic discipline for women and ILCA 7 (Laser Standard) for men.
This stage, which will also serve as an event for the 2024 national ranking, will be crucial for athletes preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic regattas and promises to be filled with adrenaline for the participants and a great spectacle for the audience.
The event will kick off with an opening ceremony at the Medieval Castle of Scarlino, followed by a flag parade through the streets of the village. Then, for four days, the waters of the Gulf of Follonica in front of Punta Ala will host intense challenges among the continent's strongest laserists, all to the benefit of the show.
Regatta after regatta, the technical and tactical skills of the competitors will be highlighted, increasing the level of competition and the high competitive quality of the event.
The favorable weather conditions and the unmatched natural beauty of this sea stretch transform the Punta Ala Sailing Center into one of the most captivating regatta venues in Europe, ensuring that this event is an unmissable opportunity for both enthusiasts and professionals.
The Punta Ala Sailing Center is located under the historic Torre Civette south of Cala Violina, within the PuntAla Camp & Resort, which will also serve as the logistical base of the competition and the heart of social and recreational activities. The campsite will become a sort of 'Olympic village,' offering a welcoming environment and a safe stay for participants and companions, as well as the opportunity to gather the fleets on the resort's beach, which will be the parking area for the boats.
The logistical and organizational support will be guaranteed by the collaboration of numerous local associations, including the Yachting Club Isole di Toscana, the Lega Navale di Follonica, the Club Nautico di Follonica, the Yacht Club Punta Ala, and the Club Velico Castiglione della Pescaia.
For more details about the event, it is possible to visit the official website of the Punta Ala Sailing Center: www.centrovelicopuntaala.it/eurilca-2024 or EurILCA Punta Ala official minisite eurilca.eu/event/326.