ITALIAN D-ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: AGUSTIN ZABALUA TOOK OPEN TITLE, RICCARDO PONTREMOLI WINS THE NATIONALS
Marina di Scarlino - A thrilling double-point final race ended in splendid fashion the Volvo Cup 2011 D-One Italian Championship held in Marina di Scarlino. A record fleet for the Italian Circuit, with 27 boats, sailed in the blue water of Tuscany Maremma the full program, with 5 races plus the final double point Medal Race. Argentinian Agustin Zabalua (Real Club Nautico de Valencia) gave an impressive show of speed in light and moderate seabreeze, dominating the first two days with a solid 1-1-1-3. When the wind grow up, in the last day with a southerly gradient wind up to 16-20 knots with nice waves, the top italian sailors took the lead showing great confidence with that conditions thanks to the long training early in the year. The Pontremoli brothers from Genoa (Yacht Club Italiano), Paolo Rossi from Porto San Giorgio and Fabio Toccoli from Lake Garda took the lead in heavy condition with lighter Zabalua fighting hard to stay in the top three.
Entering the final race was a heart-breaking momentum: Paolo Rossi had just won race 5 with Giuseppe Pontremoli second and Riccardo Pontremoli third. Zabalua was fifth but still with a solid lead for the Open title. At that point only 1 point stands between the two brothers. Giuseppe Pontremoli and Paolo Rossi took and early lead escaping Riccardo's control. Giuseppe Pontremoli sailed extremely well taking the lead in the second beat with Paolo Rossi in second and Fabio Toccoli in third. Riccardo Pontremoli were recovering position afetr position but was still in fifth.The final run was an incredible one: in the final jibe Giuseppe capsized gaving the title to Rossi, but ten seconds later Paolo Rossi also capsized in his final jibe. Giuseppe, with a tremendous effort was able to resume sailing in just 30 seconds but Fabio Toccoli took the lead of the race flying to win it . Riccardo Pontremoli, sailing alone on the right side of the course, could overlap the brother by only 5 boats lenght. A perfect final jibe on a big wave gave to Riccardo the Italian Championship and a big smile. Giuseppe was fourth after Rossi in the final race and Zabalua sixth.
The first master was Andrea Magni, sixth overall. The winner of the 9,5 rig was Maurizio Bini and Paola Gervasio the first woman. Club Nautico and Marina di Scarlino made their bid to host the 2012 D-One Gold Cup.
