The Circolo della Vela Sicilia is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the Mediterranean located in Mondello. At the end of the victorious America's Cup 2017 the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has announced that the Sicilian yacht club will be the "Challenger of Record" of the next America's Cup edition where it will be represented by the Luna Rossa Challenge team.
Circolo della Vela Sicilia History
The Circolo della Vela was officially born on May 14, 1933, set up at a notary by a group of twelve friends who are passionate about sailing but the real social activity began in 1934 with the grand opening in the presence of
Italo Balbo.
The Circolo della Vela was officially born on May 14, 1933, established at a notary by a group of twelve friends who are passionate about sailing but the real social activity began in 1934 with the grand opening in the presence of Italo Balbo.
The sailing activity begins immediately with a "fleet" of boats from the club and the members: the flagship Alcione, a large cutter, the Miranda, by Captain Pasquale Camicia, a 6-meter ex international tonnage, the modern Gloriana Star 1118 of the Baglietto shipyards, owned by the brothers Enrico and Mario Ducrot; the boat for training Oronzo, a 6 meter national tonnage A 35; finally we remember two small boats, decked with Marconi sail, called Balilla del mare, belonging to Prince Filiberto of Castelcicala, one and Luigi Airoldi and Pietro Morici, the other.
The month of May 1935 is characterized by various particularly important events, the International Sailing Regattas are organized by the Club where, a few months after its foundation, the inaugural regatta was attended by Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, with his 8 meters International Tonnage "Hispania VII" and many were the most illustrious characters in Europe who attended, and continue to frequent, its seductive and elegant Mondello headquarters, a few kilometers from the center of Palermo.
Over the years, the members have distinguished themselves for their sporting achievements in the various classes, Mario and Enrico Ducrot, Luigi Airoldi, Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita, Alessandro La Lomia and Agostino Randazzo, current President.
In its long history, the Club has hosted several prestigious national and international regattas, among which the European Championships of the Star and J24 classes, the Italian Absolute Championships of the Olympic classes and, since 2005, the "Palermo - Montecarlo" offshore race, stand out. become a "classic" of the Mediterranean summer.
In 2011 the Circolo della Vela enters the gotha of world sailing by launching the 34 America's Cup challenge for the Luna Rossa Challenge team which, with the guidance of the Palermitan Circle, will reach the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup. In 2017, the Circolo della Vela Sicilia was again chosen by Patrizio Bertelli as a yacht club challenger for the Luna Rossa team's sixth and historic challenge at the America's Cup, which will take place in 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand.