The VI edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge ended today with the Overall victory and in Way of Life Class 1 - The Gritti Palace helmed by Gaspar Vincec who repeated his recent success at the Barcolana reaching the finish line in less than an hour. Second and deserved place for Gulf of Trieste - Hilton Molino Stucky with a fully female crew headed by Francesca Clapcich and third Idrusa - Palazzina Grassi with the Olympic champion Paolo Montefusco at the helm.
The course of the regatta was full of emotions: at the start the international judge and President of the Race Committee Alfredo Ricci recalled five OCS boats that had to come back and go back to the starting line, thus losing precious time. Among the favorites, Arca SGR - Ca 'Sagredo failed to establish himself due to technical problems that prevented Furio Benussi from expressing the full potential of his boat. The boats, which were moored at the Marina Sant'Elena, left towards the Lido pushed by a southerly wind around seven knots and then veered to return towards the San Marco basin, where the route buoy awaited them. BMW M850i xDrive Cabrio, moored on a floating pontoon. In the Race Committee Alfredo Ricci was joined by Giancarlo Frizzarin, Emilia Barbieri and Edoardo Recchi.
Venice Hospitality Challenge 2019 - Ranking Class 1
1 Way of Life - The Gritti Palace - Gasper Vincec skipper
2 Gulf of Trieste - Hilton Molino Stucky - Francesca Clapcich
3 Portopiccolo Tempus Fugit - The St. Regis Venice - Mitja Kosmina
Venice Hospitality Challenge 2019 - Ranking Class 2
1 Idrusa - Palazzina Grassi - Paolo Montefusco
2 Anywave - Belmond Hotel Cipriani - Alberto Leghissa
3 Ancilla Domini - Hotel Excelsior - Stefano Cherin
This edition of the Venice Hospitality Challenge for caring for the environment has also added social responsibility: thanks to the collaboration of the Hotels, the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, together with the hotel directors and the President of the Venice Yacht Club Mirko Sguario, gave a donation to a Venetian charity, the Casa Famiglia S. Pio X of Giudecca.
During the award ceremony, Mirko Sguario and BMW Italia president Massimiliano Di Silvestre presented the winners with the doge's hat "Ambassador", made by the historic Murano glass factory Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team. Paolo Lorenzoni, General Manager of The Gritti Palace has expressed his satisfaction for the victory of Way of Life that even in the last edition had competed for the famous Venetian hotel. Also present was Arianna Nardi, marketing manager of Generali Italia. Mirko Sguario then declared "This sixth edition was full of satisfactions, the wind was not lacking and neither was the enthusiasm of the crews, confirming the validity of this regatta which every year brings the best sailors and beautiful boats to Venice."