Vele d’Epoca di Imperia is back annually. The inscription is open

Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, the most historical Italian meeting of vintage sails born in 1986, is back from the 5th to the 8th of September. The inscription for the twenty-first edition is officially open. Starting this year the meeting will be held annually as in the beginning of its story. A new challenge for one of the most seafaring city in Italy and for the organizers, Assonautica Imperia and the City Administration, that may use the experience of Yacht Club of Imperia for the regatta. The boats will be hosted free of charge for the mooring starting from August 31st until the end of the meeting.

5th-8th SEPTEMBER 2019, THE VELE D’EPOCA DI IMPERIA IS BACK
After the first edition in 1986 and the introduction of the biennial frequency in 1992, the Vele d’Epoca di Imperia will be scheduled every year in the month of September. This is big news for the most important italian meeting of the vintage boats, the one that has above all contribuited to spread the culture of the classic sail and seafaring in general.
From Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September Imperia will host the twenty-first edition organised by Assonautica Imperia with the collaboration for the regatta of Yacht Club Imperia, Circolo Nautico al Mare of Alassio, Club del Mare of Diano Marina and Go Imperia. The event is supported by the City of Imperia, the Chamber of Commerce, Italian Navy, Italian Coast Guard and Fondazione Carige. One of the sponsors of the meeting will be TOIO, a leading company in the technical and sportwear outfit. There will be three regattas, from Friday to Sunday, that will follow costal or triangular trails. The boats will compete in a race course that has been rewarded with the Blue Flag, the prestigiuous Award that the City of Imperia has recently conquered. Once back from the daily ragatta crews and shipowners will be hosted in the Lounge situated on the quay where they can taste typical products and listen live bands while waiting for the rankings. The last regatta will be preceded by the Parade and followed by the Award Cerimony in the afternoon. The boats who will fulfill the online form (www.veledepoca.com/en/) by the 31st of July may have fee reduction.

CATEGORIES OF BOATS
The boats who will enjoy the Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, made of wood or metal, will be divided in different classes as ruled by the CIM (International Mediterranean Committee): Big Boats, Vintage (yacht in wood or metal built before 1950), Classic (yacht in wood or metal built before 1976) and Replica. The yachts that come under category Spirit of Tradition will also be admitted, as per IRC rules, with LOA minimum 10 meters, as per agreement of the organizing authority; the yachts that come under category IOR and in case of large participation, the organization may individuate specific classes of one design as for example Dragon. During its history Vele d’Epoca of Imperia has hosted some of the most gorgeous and prestigious boats in the world with lenght between 7,50 to 60 meters, builted by the most important shipyards as the Scottish William Fife & Sons, the American Herreshoff, the British Camper & Nicholsons, the German Abeking & Rasmussen, the Italian Baglietto, Sangermani and Carlini, by the project of the most significant naval firms (Sparkman & Stephens, William Fife III, Nathanael Herreshoff, Philippe Rhodes, Johan Anker, Carlo Sciarrelli, etc.). AIVE, Associazione Italiana Vele d’Epoca, will be in charge of the tonnage measurement of boats.

THE ITALIAN DINGHY 12’ LEAGUE AT THE SAILING WEEK OF IMPERIA 
From the 3rd to the 8th September, together with Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, there will be the Italian Dinghy 12’ League organised by Yacht Club Imperia in collaboration with Circolo Nautico al Mare of Alassio. Will be admitted also the international boats and there will be a maximum of 6 regattas. The Dinghy 12’ it’s the most historycal stem. George Cockshott from England has designed the clinker built international 12footdinghy in 1913. Also called international 12 or international 12footer. Since the last 20 years the Dinghy have been known a new season with regattas in Italy and all over the world.
In Imperia it’s expected that more or less than 60 boats  will offer a great show everyday. Together with the vintage boats the Dinghy will contribute to make the next edition of Vele d’Epoca di Imperia unforgettable and that looks like a real “sailing week”.

VELE D'EPOCA DI IMPERIA 2019 – THE SCHEDULE
Thursday 5 September
9 a.m.         Registration of yachts –  Secretary Booth / Calata Anselmi
5.30 p.m.     Opening Cerimony – Stage / Calata Anselmi  
        Opening CARGO (exhibition market) – Calata Anselmi
9 p.m.             Teatro Scalzo: an unique Streat Theatre Show– Calata Anselmi
Friday 6 September
9-10 a.m.    Race Meeting – stage / Calata Anselmi
11 a.m      First Race
4 p.m.       Opening CARGO (exhibition market) – Calata Anselmi
5 – 7 p.m    Happy Hour for shipowners and crews & live band show - Lounge Assonautica/Calata Anselmi
6.30 p.m.     Diving demonstrations by the Cost Guard of Imperia – Calata Anselmi
9 p.m.             Big Piano: an outstanding musical and singing performance - Calata Anselmi
Saturday 7 September
9-10 a.m.    Race Meeting – stage / Calata Anselmi
11 a.m.     Second Race
4 p.m.       Opening CARGO (exhibition market) – Calata Anselmi
5 – 7 p.m    Happy Hour for shipowners and crews & live band show - Lounge Assonautica/Calata Anselmi
6 p.m.       Conference organized by the Cost Guard of Imperia – Auditorium Naval Museum of Imperia
9 p.m.             Talk show “Northern Sea Route: face to face with the protagonists of a storic expedition” – Stage / Calata Anselmi
10.45 p.m.    Fireworks Show (to see the show the suggested area are: San Lazzaro Pier, Medaglie d’Oro Quay or Parco Urbano San Leonardo)

Sunday 8 September
9-10 a.m.    Race Meeting – stage / Calata Anselmi
10.00 a.m.        La Grande Parata – Pier of Porto Maurizio
12 p.m.     Third Race
4 p.m.       Opening CARGO (exhibition market) – Calata Anselmi
5 – 7 p.m.    Happy Hour for shipowners and crews & live band show - Lounge Assonautica/Calata Anselmi
5.30 p.m.    Prize Giving and Closing Cerimony – Stage / Calata Anselmi 

During the meeting will be organised different conferences, a photographic exhibition on the Palazzina Liberty, laboratories and collateral events, as for example the set up of a temporary pool on the Medaglie d’Oro quay zone where the Rari Nantes Imperia will do demonstration of swimming lessons and waterpolo. The Naval Museum and the Planetary, next to Calata Anselmi, as well as MACI (Museum of Contemporary Art of Imperia) and Villa Grock will be visitable by crews, turists and public.