Sailing / Press Release n.1  21 January 2005

XX Edition World Festival On The Beach
Palermo Mondello 11-22 May 2005

ALBARIA CENTO CUP 2005 XVII EDITION
ISAF WORLD’S MATCH RACES CHAMPIONSHIPS GRADE 1

The sails event Cento Cup, a grade 1 stop in the worldwide match race will disembark in Sicily at the same time as the XX edition of the World Festival on the Beach, making the program of the long awaited event that each year welcomes sports, music and entertainments stars even richer.

The race was won last year by ex helmsman Paolo Cian of “Mascalzone Latino”, the race was then renamed the Albaria Cento Cup, to be staged this year in one of the Louis Vuitton Cup events, a prestigious introduction of the America’s Cup.  In Trapani , the society +39 Gargnano Sailing Club chose Sicily to prepare it’s adventure in the America’s cup, and will come face to face with all the big names in the most important sailing event along with Alinghi, Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW-Oracle, Shosholoza and Luna Rossa.

The Albaria in Mondello will be joining the Gargnano Sailing Club in the preparation of the event, two organisations well known for their work carried out within the sailing world and the huge events that are organised by them and also the success of their athletes that have reached medals in the olympics.
From top to bottom of Italy’s boot the streghth of these two organisations will definatley not be unnoticed by even the keenest sailsmen.  

You will be able to feel in the air this exciting sailing competition in April with two qualifying race matches.  The “Palio del Mare”  organised in Palermo by Palermo’s Dinghy Society and the “Garda Lake Cup” organised in the lake by the Gargnano Sailing Club, these organisations will allow the winners from both competitions to enter as competitors in the 17^th edition of the Albaria Cento Cup to be held in Mondello from the 17^th to the 21^st of May 2005.

Statement by Lorenzo Rizzardi, President of the Gargnano Sailing Club –“ The presence of our stop in the Worldwide Match-Race circuit in Sicily presents an important moment for the sailing world and also for the role that Sicily is taking in making the most out of sailing as a sport. Trapani has been chosen as a base for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the olympic class championships which will be held at Marsala together with the activities of the sailing clubs from all over the island. We are honoured in presenting the important participation of Lake Garda and the Gargnano Sailing Club.

Statement by Vincenzo Pottino, President of the Albaria – “Apart from the warm welcome and the unique scenography that Sicilians are able to offer, the event will enjoy not only the location but also the organising experience that the two clubs can guarantee together with collaboration of the other sailing specialists from Palermo who through the years have worked with the Albaria,  with hopes that this collaboration between the North and South of Italy can obtain important results that are not only to do with sport.”