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01 October 2022

Arca sgr – Fast and Furio Sailing Team

Appointment with barcolana #54

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The Barcolana in Trieste is the international sailing regatta with the highest number of boats registered in the Mediterranean, a 10-day event held on land and at sea that transforms Trieste into the European capital of sailing. Two thousand boats at the starting line, captained by helmsmen who sail the world's seas, by enthusiastic racers and by cruisers, all enchanted by an event in which every sailor should participate at least once in their lifetime.

Barcolana is a magical mix of competitive sport and a celebration of sailing: the teams of professional sailors compete for absolute victory and to beat the time record, while family crews race against each other, outclassing a fellow club member or a mooring buddy. It is an unmissable event for all sea and sailing enthusiasts.

  

On occasion of the 54th edition, scheduled to be held from 1 to 9 October 2022, we look back at the achievements of one of the protagonists of this extraordinary event, Furio Benussi.

A professional yachtsman, helmsman, tactician and tailer, Furio Benussi is the team manager of the ARCA SGR - FAST and FURIO Sailing Team, a 100-foot Maxi Yacht, with his brother, Gabriele Benussi, at the tactician's helm: 4 world titles, 4 European titles, 2 Mediterranean Championships, 4 Maxi Rolex Cup victories, 11 Italian titles, 8 victories in the Giro d’Italia a Vela, two first places in the highly prestigious King's Cup regatta in Palma de Mallorca, to name but a few.

 

ARCA SGR list of accomplishments in 2022 to give a brief overview of its most recent successes, in 2022 the Fast and Furio Sailing Team has conquered numerous Line Honours: 

• The Tre Golfi Regatta
• The 151 Miglia Regatta
• Viareggio – Bastia – Viareggio
• The 51st Bernetti Trophy

It obtained 2nd place in the Giraglia Rolex Cup when, after leading in the off-shore regatta for a full 36 out of the 36.20 hours taken to complete the course, it was overtaken, literally in the last 20 minutes of the race, by the Maxi Yacht Magic Carpet, after a fierce head to head.

SLAM and ARCA SGR The partnership between SLAM and Furio Benussi actually started on occasion of Barcolana #48 in 2016, in which the Trieste-born sailor raced to victory aboard the Alfa Romeo boat, after which he went on to win the next two editions, with the Maxi Yacht Spirit of Portopiccolo (former Morning Glory).

The relationship is based on a shared passion for the sea and for competition and on the desire for excellence.  The packed schedule of events of the 100’ ARCA SGR, with a team combining highly experienced professionals with promising youngsters in the Olympic classes, offers SLAM a unique opportunity for dialogue, research and innovation on its technical clothing, which is used in the various regattas in all kinds of sea and wind conditions, a genuine floating workshop on which to test the latest oilskins:PRO SAILING JACKET and PRO SAILING LONG JOHN

SLAM and the Fast and Furio Sailing Team promote sailing as a sport among young people, with dedicated projects, and also work alongside the One Ocean Foundation in its activities to protect the sea.


Furio Benussi is, in fact, an Ocean Defender of the foundation, thanks to the project for recovery of a hull (Wild Thing) that had fallen into disuse and been left completely abandoned in a yard on the island of Minorca, for which, at the Genoa Boat Show on Friday 23 September, he received the Environmental Product Declaration certificate, on a yacht recycling project.


The Fast and Furio Sailing Team and Arca Fondi SGR also support the Fondazione Laureus Italia, Il Porto dei Piccoli and the Fondazione Io Do Una Mano. Io Do Una Mano, an Italian non-profit foundation, organizes the 3D printing of artificial limbs with recycled plastic to help children who, as a result of accident or illness, need these prosthetics. Sailing for Children, created by “Il Porto dei Piccoli” together with the Gaslini Children's Hospital in Genoa, is an initiative in which several youngsters got the chance to embark with the crew of the Furio Sailing Team, who organized very special training sessions for these young sailors.

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