Twenty-four boats with more than 120 sailors from 13 countries raced from Larnaca to Ayia Napa on Saturday in the Regatta for Peace, which the organisers said was the largest amateur regatta ever held in Cyprus.
Typhoon, skippered by Jiovannis Pikis, was the overall winner, followed by First Light (Robert Clunis) and Judith (Easy Suissa), which also took the top three places in Class A. In Class B, Infinity (Philippos Haralambous) won ahead of St. Michael (Sergej Lysionok) and Marianna (Marios Karpis).
The race was organised by the Italian Embassy in Nicosia with the Cyprus Sailing Federation and the Larnaca and Ayia Napa marinas. It started from Larnaca Marina in the late morning, and the boats sailed about 16 nautical miles along the south-east coast, reaching Ayia Napa Marina in the early afternoon. Boats competed in two classes under a handicap system that allows different designs to race on equal terms.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras and Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis attended the start. Most crews were of mixed nationality, including many Italians.
The regatta was the first European leg of an international roadshow ahead of the America’s Cup, which Naples will host in July 2027, the first time the competition is held in Italy. The embassy said it also highlighted sports diplomacy, which the Italian foreign ministry is promoting.
“We dedicated this regatta to peace, the most desired gift on earth,” Italian Ambassador Antonella Cavallari said at an event at Ayia Napa Marina after the race. She described peace as the founding value of diplomacy and sport as one of its most important instruments.
Koumis said he hoped the regatta could become an annual event, citing its positive impact and its value in diversifying Cyprus’s tourism offer. Marios Panayides, permanent secretary of the education, sport and youth ministry, spoke on behalf of the minister, who was at an event in Italy.
Guests included Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou; Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides, a two-time Olympic silver medallist in the Laser/ILCA 7 class; Ihor Matviienko, who won Olympic gold for Ukraine in the 470 class at Atlanta 1996; and Israeli sailor Easy Suissa.
The evening programme included a trailer for Terra Maris, a four-part mini-series on Italy’s maritime history, and the presentation of a book on Italian sailing and water sports. Transoceanic sailor Matteo Miceli spoke about his solo, non-stop voyage around the world, and the Italian Sailing Federation displayed a photo exhibition. Prizes were presented at a gala dinner at the Aya Resort.
