The sailing boat L'Ombra del Vento, helmed by Davide Bianchini of Fraglia Vela Gabriele D'Annunzio, won the Italian Championship for the Protagonist 7.50 class in the Gulf of Salò from 18 to 20 September. The event, now in its 28th edition and organized by Società Canottieri Garda, featured 19 boats. Bianchini dominated the regatta with six wins out of eight races, finishing with an 11-point lead over the second-placed crew.
In the boat with Bianchini were Marco De Maldè and his father Roberto, who returned to the helm after seven years. The podium saw General Lee, helmed by Mauro Spagnoli, finish second, while Casper, with Lorenza Mariani, took third and received the Fair Play Award for sportsmanship. For Bianchini, it was his third Italian title in the Protagonist class, after victories in 2016 and 2019.
The win also carried added significance because Luciano Galloni was on board. Galloni, the owner behind the project, provided the first push in 1996 alongside his brother Gianni, helping turn a radio-controlled model into a buildable reality in just three months.
Italian Version
