The special jury prize at the 24th Il Velista dell’Anno (Sailor of the Year) competition was awarded to Patrizio Bertelli, with the jury giving the following reasoning: “With the Luna Rossa project … Patrizio Bertelli has been at the very top of global sailing for over 20 years, showing tenacity, passion and determination, the hallmarks of all great sailors. The special prize awarded by the jury recognises his skill, the active role he has played and the results he has achieved”.
The event, organized by Acciari Consulting and endorsed by the Italian Sailing Federation, as well as awarding prizes to the best sailors of the 2017 season, also featured a round table on the next America’s Cup, attended by (from the left in the gallery’s photo) Francesco Ettorre – President of Federazione Italiana Vela -, Silvio Arrivabene – Representative of the New York Yacht Club -, Agostino Randazzo – President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia-, Patrizio Bertelli – President of Luna Rossa Challenge -, Max Sirena – Director and Skipper of the Luna Rossa Challenge team -, Laurent Esquier – CEO of COR 36, and Bruno Troublé, a key figure in America’s Cups history.
Patrizio Bertelli wins Velista dell’Anno Award
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