The Riviera di RImini Sailing Team

Set up in 1997 by a group of friends in Romagna, the Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team soon took on a leading role on the Italian and international sailing scene. This was especially due to a design, the 55 foot RIVIERA DI RIMINI, 
created by Studio Vallicelli, (which also designed Azzurra, the first Italian yacht to take up the America's Cup challenge).

This new boat, launched in Rimini on 6th June '98, was the revelation of the Mediterranean season: in the races it took part in - the Rimini-Corfu-Rimini, the Giraglia-Rolex Cup and the Middle Sea Race - RIVIERA DI RIMINI didn't only win but also set three incredible records. The full house came with victory at the Trieste Barcolana where it beat 1545 yachts.

In '99, with a new record, it won the Portofino-Capri and the Rimini-Corfu-Rimini, 
which was raced in the context of BLURimini International Sailing Week 
(29th May - 6th June). In the Round Europe it took a brilliant 3rd place behind some big names in blue-water sailing such as the French Yves Parlier and Catherine Chabaud. In the legendary Fastnet Race in England (7th August) it was second in its class and was the only Italian boat to finish the race; at the Barcolana (10th October) it was first over the finish line and won its class in the Middle Sea Race in Malta (23rd October).

President of the Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team is Giorgio Benvenuti, 
a Rimini man, who, with wholly Romagnol tenacity, obstinately wanted this yacht. And to date the facts have borne him out. Built with the best technologies available, in '98 RIVIERA DI RIMINI was the size of an Open 16.75 m. and weighed only 6.000 kilos. The hull was constructed in composite materials with termanto sandwich and unidirectional carbon fibres with epoxy resin. The mast is also in carbon and the total sail area is around 500 square metres.

In '99 the Team decided to grow and aim for the Ocean. First of all it was decided to alter the dimensions of the hull and to extend it from 55 to 60 feet, i.e. from 16.75 m. to 18,28 m. Moreover the stern was redesigned together with the ballast system (each part contains 1500 litres of water), the mobile additions (canards), the rudder and the fin keel. The sail plan was completely redone. The mast, also in carbon, was created by the American company Sparcraft (North Carolina) and is 26.70 metres. The new RIVIERA DI RIMINI Open 60' today weighs around 7.000 Kg and the total sail area is 537sq. m.. For the year 2000 the side ballast has been increased, a double bow canard constructed and the fin keel weight increased.

The most important acknowledgement
(though unexpected, given the size) came in February'99 in Milan. 

On that occasion RIVIERA DI RIMINI was proclaimed 'Yacht of the Year 1998' as a result of the exceptional performances demonstrated during the entire season. 

And not only this: the Studio Vallicelli of Rome was awarded, for the RIVIERA DI RIMINI design, the title of 'Best Designer 1998'; lastly, Paolo Cian, at the helm of RIVIERA DI RIMINI throughout the season, crowned the Team's success by winning the "Helmsman of the Year 1998" title.

Press Office: Andrea Manusia
Tel. 0335/8354383