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The Maxi Vera takes line honours at 15th edition

  • 20 August 2019
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The big winners of the 15th Palermo-Montecarlo 2019 are the Ice 52 Primavista Lauria helmed by Gaetano Figlia di Granara and Miguel Galuccio’s Maxi Vera. The 500 nautical mile offshore race officially ended Monday 26th August in the Yacht Club de Monaco’s marina, with sailors celebrating their crossing at the prize-giving and party in the evening. An annual event it is organised by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with the Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.The 82’ Vera was participating for the first time, and crossed the line first to take line honours after 3 days 5 hours 13 minutes and 8 seconds. On board was legendary round the world Dutch skipper Bouwe Bekking, who has eight Volvo Ocean Races under his belt, and Italian Laser specialist Michele Regolo, member of the Italian team for the London 2012 Olympics. “It was our first Palermo-Montecarlo. We had all weather conditions, with winds from 0 to 25 knots which we constantly had to adapt to. It was a great experience and we are delighted with the welcome we received at the Yacht Club de Monaco on our arrival,” said Vera crew member, Germain Creach.
Primavista Lauria, the Circolo Canottieri Roggero di Lauria boat, was overall winner in corrected time, despite finishing 7th in real time. It is the fifth time the ICE 52 has won this contest, a world class team that included Sandro Montefusco, Matteo Ivaldi, Andrea Caracci, Sicilian Giuseppe Leonardi and Mario Noto pulling off a tactically perfect race. Also taking part was Croatian ski champion Ivica Kostelic, who has four silver Olympic medals and 26 gold World Cup medals in his cabinet. Sailing on the Class 40 Croatia Full of Life Ola X2, the top-level athlete was delighted to complete the challenge and says he will be back. The 15th Palermo-Montecarlo was a particularly challenging edition due to the conditions and exceptional heat that kept tacticians on their toes from start to finish.
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