Prysmian Group and Punta Ala Yacht Club: supporting young athletes’ dreams
Prysmian is pleased to renew its sponsorship of the Punta Ala Yacht Club, home of the America’s Cup challenger “Luna Rossa.” The Club, located on the Tuscan coast, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016.
As part of the Club’s intense program of racing activities organized under the auspices of the Italian Sailing Federation, the Punta Ala Yacht Club’s Bruno Calandriello sailing school trains new generations of sailors, both enthusiasts and young people who hope to sail competitively. To help the latter achieve their ambitions, the school formed its own sailing team, which won the 555FIV championship in 2017.
Prysmian Group supports the youth sailing team that competes in 29ers, a two-person high performance sailing skiff. In 2018 Prysmian Group sponsored the purchase of two sets of sails for the school’s 29ers. The school’s team took part in Italy’s circuit of four 29er races: in Palermo (Sferracavallo), Naples, Punta Ala and in Lake Garda. One of the team’s boats came in at 15th place, qualifying for the European finals on Lake Garda. The other ranked 38th.
The school also runs a program for disabled athletes.
“The main goal is to create an opportunity for disabled people to compete by providing training opportunities that allows them to integrate with the rest of the group,” according to the Club’s web site. “The project also aims to promote social integration.”
Prysmian Group has a strong link with the world of sailing, because of the values of precision, dedication and excellence that it represents.
After the success of 2018, Prysmian continues to support the Club’s team in 2019 and into 2020. In particular, it will co-sponsor the “C.C. Saverio Marotta Gold Medal for Military Valor Trophy” a 29er-Nacra15 regatta that will take place at Punta Ala from April 30 to May 2, 2020, the third race in a program of four.
“Experience sailing in these skiffs is a training ground for 49ers, which is an Olympic craft,” explains Prof. Alessandro Masini, the Punta Ala Yacht Club’s President. “If, as I hope, some of the kids on our team turn out to be talented athletes, perhaps one day they will make the leap to 49ers and train for the Olympics.”