Sailing the Adriatic: RORC Griffin Crews Join Nastro Rosa Il Giro
"This summer, I’m honoured to take part in the fifth edition of Nastro Rosa Il Giro, an ambitious and inspiring sailing event organized by the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) and Difesa Servizi. The regatta circumnavigates Italy in a series of offshore stages aboard identically prepared Beneteau Figaro 3 yachts, each manned by double-handed crews. It’s a unique format that not only tests seamanship and endurance but also connects sailors and spectators through the vibrant sailing villages set up in every port."
Article written by Maciek Lato,Charlie Fernandez and Joe Slipper - RORC Griffin
RORC has proudly taken part in multiple editions of this event, and once again, five RORC crews have been selected to participate, with the organizers generously providing five Figaro 3 yachts. Each team sails a leg, made of two or three offshore races, before handing over the yacht to the next crew. Thankfully, there is a dedicated transition period between stages, allowing outgoing teams to brief their successors, share insights on boats performance, and pass on valuable local knowledge. This continuity helps maintain consistency across the event and strengthens the spirit of collaboration among the crews—even as each team races independently, there's a real sense of collective effort and shared learning.
I am part of the crew competing in the first stage of the race with my co-skipper Josh Lewis, which consists of three offshore legs: from Venice to Cattolica, Cattolica to Vieste, and finally Vieste to Brindisi. While these destinations sound idyllic, the Adriatic Sea in summer is notoriously fickle. We’ve faced everything from sudden squalls to long, frustrating patches of no wind at all. This is not just a test of navigation and trimming—it’s a mental game. Staying sharp in such unpredictable conditions requires constant vigilance and smart sleep management within the team. With only two people onboard, we must rely completely on each other to keep the boat moving and make strategic decisions day and night.
One of the standout aspects of this regatta is the effort the organizers put into building community engagement around the event. At each stopover, a dedicated sailing village springs to life—open to locals, sailing fans, and tourists. These hubs offer a chance for the public to meet the crews, explore the boats, and experience the excitement of offshore racing up close. It’s an inspiring way to promote the sport and its values of teamwork, resilience, and adventure.
Being part of this event is an incredible opportunity. It’s not just about racing; it’s about learning from other sailors, building connections across Europe, and representing RORC on an international stage. I hope to come away from this experience with sharper offshore skills, a deeper understanding of teamwork under pressure, and memories of sailing some of the most beautiful—and demanding—waters in the world.
Nastro Rosa Il Giro is more than a race—it’s a celebration of sailing, culture, and challenge. I’m proud to be part of it.
Il Giro Leg 2
Leg 2 of the Giro d’italia a Vela was a 200-mile course down the east coast of Italy from Cattolica to Vieste. The conditions in this part of the Adriatic are particularly difficult to navigate with complex weather patterns and coastal dynamics. This paired with some stiff competition from some of Italy’s top offshore sailors and other RORC teams, proved for some high-quality racing in the one-design Figaro 3s.
The race started with a beat up towards the cliffs of Ancona, after 9 hours of playing shifts and dodging fish farms there was still very little separation in the fleet. With all the teams opting to head for the stronger breeze under the cliffs the key tactical decision came next to head offshore for the easterly wind that was forecast to fill in or stay inshore hoping to take advantage of some local thermal effects.
Then after a drag race overnight under code zero the fleet ran into the expected shutdown just before the first gate. The rest of the race became decided by who could seek pressure and avoid the wind holes with the leaders opting for a tight rounding of the island of San Nicola and hugging the coast to stay in pressure. The team of Joe Slipper and Charlie Fernandez were pleased with a 4th place and first international team just missing out on a podium spot to some tough Italian competition.
We would like to thank the Nastro Rosa Tour organising committee for their excellent support throughout this leg with excellent food and hotels provided. The race village also offers great hospitality for sailors within the town at each stop.
The next leg is heading to Brindisi which looks like it will bring some strong downwind conditions which should be fast for the Figaros. All five RORC teams will be battling it out for a spot on the podium before we handover to the next group for leg 4.
RORC Griffin Teams
Joe Slipper | Charlie Fernandez - 4th
Jakub Kups | Mateusz Szweda - 7th
Anton Germershausen | Max Wentzel – 8th
Jack Oswald | Euan Turnell - 9th
Josh Lewis | Maciek Lato - 10th
