The picturesque Gulf of Sferracavallo is set to host the Nacra 17 European Championships welcoming 18 teams and 36 elite sailors from 13 nations for a week of thrilling competition promises intense racing among the world’s top Nacra 17 sailors showcasing their skills in this breathtaking Mediterranean setting Organized by Circolo Velico Sferracavallo in collaboration with the Nacra 17 Class Association and the Palermo Tourism and Sports Department the event will feature Olympic-class mixed-gender crews competing on high-speed catamarans and the United States will take to the water making Sferracavallo a global sailing hub for the week Several competitors are fresh from the Paris 2024 Olympics including Finnish team of Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen Australian duo Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown and Belgian team Lucas Claeyssens and Eline Verstraelen Belgian siblings Kwinten and Lieselotte Borghijs bring added prestige holding the Junior World Championship title from Galicia Canadian athletes Galen Richardson and Madeline Gillis are focused on securing a place at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles Joining them from Canada are Caspar Lenz Anderson and Coralie Vittecoq A standout French contingent includes Kevin Fischer and Mathilde Lovadina a couple who usually compete in the 49er class — Kevin with Clement Pequin with whom he recently claimed the 2024 49er World Championship in Lanzarote and Mathilde with Aude Compan in the 49erFX Having only recently started sailing together in the Nacra 17 this will be their first event in this class Fellow French teams include Thomas Proust with Eloise Clabon and Margaux Billy sailing with Noah Chauvin The competition also includes Greek team Iordanis Paschalidis and Maria Tsaousidou a Dutch team represented by Willemijn Offerman — fresh from competing in the Women’s America’s Cup — and Scipio Houtman as well as a Polish team with Aleksander Michalski and Karolina ?urek Switzerland will also be represented by two teams: Marie Mazuay and Clément Guignard and Andrea Aschieri with Tine Rossel,Andrea also bringing America’s Cup experience to the regatta Italy’s own Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei a celebrated duo from the Italian Air Force Sports Group including multiple Under-24 World Championships and European medals with Ugolini securing victory in the Youth America’s Cup and Giubilei as a trimmer with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli where she contributed to the Puig Women’s America’s Cup win Nicolas Martin and Carolina Zager will represent the United States in this newly-formed team Other standout teams include Ruben and Rita Booth from Australia Laura Farese and Matthäus Zöchling from Austria Daniel De La Casa and Nora Garçia from Spain “This 2024 European Championship at Circolo Velico Sferracavallo is an exciting step on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics,” said Santiago Lange President of the Nacra 17 Class Association “We are thrilled to see our young sailors race here and to test new formats that will shape the future of sailing.” expressed pride in hosting such a prestigious regatta: “It is an honor to welcome an event of this magnitude We thank the Nacra 17 Class Association for their trust in us and we acknowledge the impact of Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti’s recent Olympic win in Paris under Coach Gabriele Bruni Their success shines a spotlight on Italian sailing and we appreciate Coach Bruni’s support in organizing this international event The strong presence of foreign athletes reaffirms our position on both the national and international stage and we are committed to promoting Sferracavallo and Palermo as premier destinations Our gratitude goes to the City of Palermo and particularly to Councilor Alessandro Anello for his continuous support in elevating our region’s profile through sports.” The Nacra 17 European Championships commence tomorrow with registration and the Competitors’ Meeting followed by the Opening Ceremony at 5:00 PM with five days of high-stakes competition leading to the final standings on Sunday when the overall and Junior champions will be crowned 2025-05-06T09:45:41+12:00May 6th Over 200 athletes from 23 nations gather at Lake Garda for the Youth & Junior International Games following a high-level Coppa Italia opener 2025-05-06T09:29:15+12:00May 6th With just days to go until the start of the Tre Golfi Sailing Week excitement is building: 125 boats are entered 2025-05-06T09:18:58+12:00May 6th the Mediterranean's benchmark multi-class regatta was held this past week organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma with the participation of 100 boats from 19 countries spread over three race courses 2025-05-06T08:48:46+12:00May 6th The curtain came down on a thrilling weekend of Melges 24 racing in Trogir as Ante ?esi?’s Razjaren claimed victory at the second event of the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series and was officially crowned the Melges 24 Croatian Champion 2025 2025-05-06T08:42:32+12:00May 6th The 29er Class Association is pleased to report on the successful fifth stop of the 2025 Eurocup Series 2025-05-05T11:20:42+12:00May 5th Among the 19 duos who set off from Concarneau Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox We don’t spam!Read our privacy policy for more info We keep your data private and don't spam. Read our full Privacy Policy © Copyright © 2005-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Live Sail Die Limited The views and opinions expressed on this web site are soley those of the original authors and other contributors These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of official sailing agencies Live Sail Die is a recognised member of the NZ Marine Industry Association.Live Sail Die drone pilots are CAA Part 102 Certificated View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nacra 17 (@nacra17sailing) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nacra 17 (@nacra17sailing) The first day of the Nacra 17 European Championships at the Circolo Velico Sferracavallo (Palermo) has wrapped up after two races held in variable wind conditions starting at 9 knots and dropping to 7-8 knots as the day progressed The championships will continue at this scenic venue through Sunday The provisional rankings place the Dutch team of Willemijn Offerman and Scipio Houtman in the lead Scipio said: “The race comittee did a really good job finding a spot with the best conditions to race in today so we had some nice foiling in the downwinds Some of the best teams of the last few years have stopped or are still taking a break after the games but we are using this event to check in with the fleet and see how we’ve developed the last few months and work on our racing skills.” Following closely in second are Australians Ruben and Rita Booth (who are participating but ineligible for the European title) with the Olympic Belgian team of Lucas Claeyssens and Eline Verstraelen in third French sailors Margaux Billy and Noah Chauvin hold the fourth position Organized by the Circolo Velico Sferracavallo in partnership with the Nacra 17 class and the Palermo Department of Tourism and Sport this prestigious event has attracted a young but competitive fleet The lineup includes 18 boats and 36 sailors from 13 countries: Australia with the first Day 2 race scheduled to start at 11:00 am Already a member? 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Sign up Explore our Food Tours → he explains the formula for his success in one word: “Simplicity.” We are in Sferracavallo a seaside suburb of Palermo located between the mountains and a beautiful gulf Here the coast is filled with dozens of seafood restaurants but if you venture slightly off the promenade you will find this gem of a gelateria on Via Dammuso Giovanni’s grandfather owned a small delicatessen in Sferracavallo “My grandfather fed half the village.” For although Sfferracavallo is part of Palermo began selling packaged gelato from a well-known multinational company But after having a misunderstanding with the supplier starting with six flavors (today the shop has over 20) “My father was self-taught,” Giovanni says “He wanted to understand the structure of gelato and began to do his own studies He realized that [packaged ice creams] are full of chemicals and started to do without My father is like that: he decides to make something out of iron he did the same; he did his research and studies My sister and I have followed in his footsteps Our story is so simple that hardly anyone believes it: simplicity and a lot of love for this craft but instead they are the basis for doing this work and producing this kind of gelato.” When he says “this kind of gelato,” Mr Giovanni is referring to a 100-percent artisanal process no semi-finished products or even coloring agents are used the result of a long process of processing raw ingredients which are personally selected by the Scalici family from local growers There is an explanatory sign warning customers that “Each flavor changes from time to time: don’t be disappointed if you don’t find an exact replica of what you liked but try to appreciate the difference.” Because hazelnut or pistachio that arrives at his workshop is different from the previous one giving the gelato a different taste each time “Just like people: everyone has a different character “Customers must be willing to accept these flavors and colors We don’t put in any chemical components If you want to taste hazelnut always with the same taste then there is the chemist who always makes it the same for you This place works because the clientele comes to visit on purpose I could not have a mass clientele: if I had a gelato shop where thousands of customers come by it would be impossible to have this kind of product and I would be forced to use semi-finished products.” Although the gelato shop is open from March to October personally selects raw ingredients directly at the market or directly from growers making sure that the fruit he buys is not grown using pesticides From the mandarins grown in the Ciaculli area of Palermo to the prickly pears that come from Roccaplaumba each ingredient that enters the La Delizia workshop is carefully selected and processed with dedication and commitment It is a job that involves the entire Scalici family: between sisters there are a dozen people who revolve around the production of the gelato everyone has their own role: there are those who peel the fruit which is frozen to be turned into gelato during the months when the shop is open Thanks to this method you will find available in August excellent gelato flavored with tangerines that are harvested in March The workmanship is a very complicated and demanding process: the loquats requiring weeks and weeks of painstaking work for the thousands of pounds of fruit that arrive at the workshop “I’d like to kill him,” jokes Giovanni’s wife referring to the amount of work the Scalici family’s method requires that is appreciated by customers and that we can confirm is special: each flavor of gelato at La Delizia has its own particularity the perfect freshness for Sicily’s hot summer days Next to the shop is an outdoor space made out of a former stable with benches where you can sit and enjoy your gelato Each is prepared with the Scalici family’s love and simplicity – the formula for what is perhaps the best gelato in Palermo The International 49er Class Association is excited to share the 2025 sailing calendar With some of the world’s best sailing destinations on the lineup and the perfect prep for the Olympic stage Whether you’re racing or cheering from the shore This year’s schedule is packed with classic regattas and fresh challenges offering something special for sailors and spectators alike Every competition is a chance to fine-tune techniques Whether you’re on the starting line or following the action online don’t miss out on the drama and excitement https://49er.org/ Interested in seeing more Racing News plus all the latest on yachting regattas and offshore adventures around the world a wall of photo portraits pays tribute to the innocent victims of organised crime Some Sicilians say that their island is a land of contradictions all you have to do is wander through the streets of its capital you often have to elbow your way through the crowded alleyways around Via Maqueda where street food and souvenir shops overlap the ‘Godfather’ in Francis Ford Coppola’s film a powerful mafia with a sprawling network of tentacles that has earned it the nickname ‘The Octopus’ It is also in the heart of the old town, wedged between two travel agencies, that the No Mafia Memorial was set up by Sicily’s Giuseppe Impastato documentation centre named after an anti-mafia activist who was murdered in the early 1980s bags and T-shirts bearing the museum’s name sell like hotcakes “If they can compete with those of The Godfather...,” jokes Ario Mendolia You only have to climb a few steps to understand what is really at stake Based on the impressive archive that the documentation centre has built up since its foundation 45 years ago the museum offers a large free exhibition dedicated to the history of the Italian mafia and its criminal activities with photos showing violent crime scenes or the faces of corrupt men “It is important to deconstruct the romantic vision people have of the mafia based on the classic iconography of the cinema We want to show the mafia for what it really is a couple from the United States inquires: “But isn’t it dangerous to attack the mafia like this?” When the city’s former mayor, Leoluca Orlando, first pushed open the door of the Palace of the Eagles [the name of the city hall] in 1985, Palermo was destitute. “It was entirely governed by the mafia,” he recalls. “There was no option but to obey. If you obeyed, you had work, you had access to health care and you were protected.” With his ‘Palermo Spring’ he launched an operation to reconquer the territory lost although it was not until a few years later that his policy was really able to flourish In 1992, anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, former members of the anti-mafia pool that led the first ‘maxi trial’ of Cosa Nostra “[These crimes] gave everyone eyes and ears The mafia relies on silent complicity and fear for its survival The events of 1992 cut those wires,” summarises Orlando Re-elected as mayor in 1993 with 75 per cent of the vote in the first round a magistrate and founder of the then dissolved anti-mafia pool “The message was clear: the mafia would no longer be governing Palermo.” The mayor already had the law on his side which authorised the confiscation of mafia assets and recourse to the ‘repentant’ “The fight against the mafia has to work like a cart with two wheels And these two wheels must turn at the same speed because if one turns faster than the other the cart topples over,” explains the former mayor Orlando and his teams embarked on a major clean-up operation Infrastructures ranging from the airport to the velodrome and schools were renamed in honour of victims of the mafia and what’s neither mine nor yours belongs to no one the opposite applies: what is neither mine nor yours belongs to everyone Anti-mafia is the common good,” summarises the former mayor “By portraying the victims of the mafia as resistance fighters or patriots […] the associations are promoting an ethical value system that echoes Republican principles The aim is to pull the rug out from under mafia culture which rests on omertà [a code of silence] and control of the territory It also helps restore the prestige of the state especially in mafia-infested areas,” says Charlotte Moge a mafia specialist and researcher at the Lyon 3 University in France In a territory plagued by poverty, it is no easy task, to say the least. Sicily is the region with the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate in Europe Over half of the working population is unemployed, less than 10 per cent of the island’s schools offer full-time education leaving many teenagers to their own devices for a good part of the day the charm of the old stones hides the other face of the city: insalubrious housing children missing out on education and mountains of illegally dumped waste sometimes with as many as 10 sharing a basement,” says Chloé Tucciarelli which fights against the protection money (‘Pizzo’ in Italian) racket associations are trying to fill the gap in poor and underdeveloped areas well known for being controlled by Cosa Nostra “The lack of leisure or educational infrastructure opens the way for trafficking [...] because it is the easiest option,” says Clara Triolo The Liberi di Crescere (Free to Grow) project helps teachers families and pupils reclaim their neighbourhood The association has introduced a help desk welcomes up to four classes a day during the school year for awareness-raising workshops there are now dozens of structures working with young people on a daily basis The anti-mafia campaign is equipped with a valuable legal tool: Law 109 authorising public and social reuse of assets confiscated from mafia members since 1996 “They have to be redistributed to civil society associations or cooperatives,” explains Triolo “This allows communities to reclaim ownership of their territory through their own educational or professional projects “The Centopassi winery (named after the film The Hundred Steps stretches over 90 hectares of land confiscated from Cosa Nostra It is managed by the agricultural cooperatives of the Libera Terra consortium which are making a seemingly simple commitment it represents a powerful message,” notes Moge “It shows that it is possible to have a job that’s free that’s declared and devoid of any links with the mafia even in territories riddled with mafia presence And that an alternative and virtuous economic model can be developed even in territories plagued by unemployment and organised crime.” The Addiopizzo association has also set up its headquarters in the former apartment of a mafia boss in the centre of Palermo it has been defending the city’s shopkeepers who want to free themselves from the pizzo racket According to Palermo’s public prosecutor’s office nearly 80 per cent of Palermo’s businesses were still paying it in 2003 with less than half of traders still paying the ‘tax’ today “The police have reported to us that it has listened into the mafia saying that it will not racketeer the traders in our network taking a stand no longer puts you in danger but protects you – at least in a group context,” says Tucciarelli Addiopizzo has also been offering guided tours through its travel agency visiting places that are emblematic of the anti-mafia fight but they are important in that they have tangible results and enable us to gain ground,” says Tucciarelli but the message has got through,” says Tucciarelli is now an inspiration for the anti-mafia struggle Equal Times is a trilingual news and opinion website focusing on labour politics and the economy from a social justice perspective Francesco Barbarossa hopes to show Ocean County what "real Italian food" is Last week, I told you about a new restaurant called L'Osteria opening soon in Toms River.  Today who was very excited about his plans to bring "a different culinary experience" to Ocean County He even shared some information about when we can expect L'Osteria to open You can trust we'll be in good hands since Chef Barbarossa has been cooking since he was a teenager (13-14 years old) in his hometown of Sferracavallo - a neighborhood in Palermo in Sicily.  Barbarossa said he got his start in a fish-based restaurant there he credits the restaurant training as being "more than a school."  Experience that will be invaluable to his latest venture It's clear that Francesco Barbarossa is passionate about bringing Italian food as we've never seen before to Ocean County.  The Chef said: "I’m going to try to let people understand what real Italian food means...I’m not going to have old-fashioned style American Italian food…no chicken parmigiana no old food…I want to try to give to people a different culinary experience." Chef Barbarossa plans on highlighting foods from a different region of Italy each week with a special prix fixe family-style menu.  He explained that one week will highlight Sicilian food Here's a sneak peek of the menu from Chef Barbarossa himself I was sure to ask Francesco Barbarossa why he decided to open here in Ocean County.  It's because he's tired of the busy life in New York and he loves how nice and quiet it is here.  He also said it reminds him of his hometown of Sferracavallo since it's by the water.  How sweet and are waiting to find out when you can dine at L'Osteria Francesco Barbarossa says he estimates it'll be open in about 3 weeks (which translates to about September 5th if you're reading this today Thanks so much to Chef Barbarossa for sitting down with me!  We wish you the best of luck!  L'Osteria will be located at 1922 Hooper Ave Gallery Credit: Matt Ryan Chef Francesco Barbarossa says you won't find any old Italian American food at his new restaurant, L'Osteria.\nRead More Last week, I told you about a new restaurant called L'Osteria opening soon in Toms River.  Today Thanks so much to Chef Barbarossa for sitting down with me!  We wish you the best of luck!  L'Osteria will be located at 1922 Hooper Ave 15-year-old Bermudian Matteo Cervino competed against 39 others in the O’pen Skiff Under 17 class in the first of a series of upcoming Italian Nationals “Taking place over Easter weekend with the beautiful backdrop of Sferracavallo competed against 39 others in the O’pen Skiff Under 17 class in the first of a series of upcoming Italian Nationals “Cervino was in 11th place after day one of racing and on the second day managed a 2nd place finish bumping him up to 8th position With winds too light for sailors to compete on the third day he managed to hold onto his 8th place finish “With the Worlds having been cancelled last year due to Coronavirus restrictions Cervino is hoping to make it to the O’pen Skiff Worlds in July 2021.” Category: All, Sports Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed are the new world champions of the windsurfer class With the eighth round this afternoon the curtain has fallen on the course-race while tomorrow will be the spectacular fleet regatta with 350 participants at the start in the long distance to close the program of the event organized at the Albaria club the titles went to Marco Casagrande (Club Albaria) in the light category to Alessandro Alberti (Clubino del Mare) among the medium-heavy to Riccardo Giordano (Albaria) in the heavy and to the Marsala Laura Linares ( Roggero di Lauria) in the women’s ranking For the home surfers to add the surprising performance of the fourteen-year-old from Palermo Blasco Aronica (Cv Sferracavallo) already consolidated by yesterday’s tests The Roman Andrea Marchesi held the second place in the lightweight behind Casagrande resisting the return of the French Belot and the Australian Gourlay the French Delapierre overtook the Tuscan Alessandro Torzoni Excellent recovery of the Palermo Antonino Cangemi climbed up to the fourth square Marco Ferrera (Albaria) tried until the last the arduous task of reassembling Alessandro Alberti in excellent shape after the tricolor won in September in Vieste The advantage accumulated previously kept him safe from the returns of the Dutchman Elfing and the French Lacadre the great return to success for the Marsala Linares who dominated the Gulf of Mondello without being worried by the youngest opponents the Sardinian Roberta Piras and the Roman junior Rachele Balini The titles of the men’s slalom (in the late afternoon of today) and the long regatta between Mondello and Isola delle Femmine still remain to be awarded With these two tests will end the 48th world championship of the historic windsurfer class An event with 350 athletes competing from 25 nations that will go down in history for the greatness of the numbers and also for the fact that some Nautical clubs in Palermo together with the leader Albaria to the Palermo Naval League with the support and collaboration of the Italo-Belgian company and finally with the support of the Department for Sport of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Tourism Department of the Sicilian Region The contribution made by the dynamic volunteers of the Ninni Cassarà language high school in Palermo is also invaluable Not only sports but also fun with beach parties at the end of the day much appreciated by athletes and companions Click here for results Event Website click here