I got the following e-mail from Maurizio Giuggioli about the International 18HT Championship and the ICCT:

As you know the 25th ICCT, historically known as the Little America's Cup, is due to start on Thursday 26 in Rimini.

Now the results of the International 18HT Championship and Challengers Qualifier to the 25th ICCT held in Bellaria-Igea Marina, a few miles north of Rimini,from May 21 to 24. This regatta was attended also by Mark Murray and Alex Efre Perez, one of the 3 US Defender teams who will compete for the LAC,the other two being John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree, the current holders,and Mark and Randy Batchelor.

Unfortunately two US teams were forced to give up from attending the regatta: Brian Lambert and Jamie Livingston for unforeseen working commitments in early May; and, the day before their scheduled flight to Rimini, Rob Parrish
and Lars Guck. The first was stuck in bed by a serious illness.

The winner of the Defender round robin will sail against the winner of the Challenger round robin, that is against one of the 6 qualified Challengers (the crews classified from first to seventh place being the third the a.m.
US team):

1. ITA 160 Saragoni-Di Battista Circolo Vela Cesenatico BIMARE Javelin 2
(2-1-1-1-1-3-1-2-2-2) pt. 9

2. ITA 156 Monti-Raffelli Circolo Vela Cesenatico BIMARE Javelin 2
(1-2-2-2-2-1-DNF-1-1) pt. 10

3. USA Murray-Efre-Perez Sea Cliff Yacht Club BIMARE Javelin 2
(6-8-5-3-4-2-5-4-3) pt. 26

4. ITA 156 Mughetti-Casadei Circolo Vela Cesenatico BIMARE Javelin 2
(5-5-6-4-3-4-2-6-4) pt. 27

5. ITA 157 Gori-Filippi Club Nautico Rimini BIMARE Javelin 2
(4-4-3-5-6-5-3-8-5) pt. 29

6. ITA 159 Giannini-Cooper Circolo Vela Cesenatico BIMARE Javelin 2
(3-3-4-6-7-DNF-6-5-9) pt.34


7. ITA 131 Morelli-Brolli Adriatico Wind Club BIMARE Javelin 2
(7-7-7-7-5-7-4-7-6) pt.43

8. SUI 111 Lutz-Kaser RVS VENTILO 18HT
(8-6-8-8-8-6-7-3-7) pt.45

All the 6 Challengers are Italians since the 3 Swiss teams registered to compete for the LAC failed to qualify.
The 25th ICCT will be sailed on 9 identical new BIMARE Javelin 2 catamarans supplied by the Italian boatyard, which demonstrated at the 18HT Championship to be actually the winning design in the 18HT class.

The winner of the LAC will be awarded not only of the historical Trophy but also of a EUR 10.000,00 cheque, while the defeated team will get EUR 5.000,00.

The event will be hosted in the luxury Marina di Rimini and is sponsored by Provincia di Rimini, Lampogas, Celli, Gruppo Ivas, Romagna Est BCC, Regione Emilia-Romagna, NOX.BI.m, Riba Composites, Harken Sailing Gear, Aux Mar
and BIMARE.