The Swiss company, already a partner of Intrepid in the 1960s and more recently of Oracle at the America's Cup, continues to cultivate a great passion for sailing. And it does so both by supporting the TAG Heuer Vela Cup, Italy's most important sailing circuit, and by coming on board SuperNikka, the Maxi Yacht fitted out and piloted by Pisan entrepreneur Roberto Lacorte, which will take part in the Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo in September. In particular, the TAG Heuer Vela Cup is an idea born at the TAG Heuer VelaFestival in Santa Margherita Ligure, namely to create a large sailing circuit in Italian waters open to all kinds of boats. The Saturday Vela Cup at the VelaFestival, sailed in the Gulf of Tigullio, to date the most crowded in the Tyrrhenian Sea and second in Italy only to the famous Barcolana, has opened the game, inspiring other prestigious Italian locations to host their own TAG Heuer Vela Cup. Pisa, Venice, Porto Rafael, La Spezia and Capo d'Orlando soon joined Santa Margherita Ligure, with the project of uniting sailing enthusiasts with the most exclusive and characteristic places in Italy. To date, TAG Heuer Vela Cup is the circuit of sailing rallies with the largest number of participants in Italy. For 2018, there are six events, from May to September: 600 boats from 5 to 30 metres, 20,000 enthusiasts involved, 300 prizes up for grabs for the winning crews in fourteen categories, six villages directly on the sea, six Saturday night parties with prize-giving, food and music. And six prestigious TAG Heuer watches (one per leg) drawn among all participants.
"Every year TAG Heuer VelaFestival grows more and more engaging and consistent with our claim, #dontcrackunderpressure. The birth of the TAG Heuer Vela Cup sailing circuit fully expresses the disruptive spirit of freedom, adventure and joy of those who, like us, enthusiastically sail the seas and face life's daily challenges," said Roberto Beccari, General Manager of TAG Heuer Italia and CEO LVMH Watch&Jewelry Italia.
Here is the full calendar of the 2018 TAG Heuer Vela Cup:
- 5/6 May: VELA Cup Santa Margherita Ligure / VELAFestival
- 24 June: Marina di Pisa - VELA CUP - ALL SAILING
- 7 July: Venice / Compagnia della Vela Venice - VELA CUP Summer Race
- 20 August: Porto Rafael / Formenton Trophy
- 22/23 September: Portovenere/Le Grazie - La Spezia / VELACUP Trofeo Mariperman
- 29/30 September: Capo d'Orlando Marina - Messina
