Circolo Velico Ravennate
Circolo Velico Ravennate is one of Italy's most prestigious sailing clubs, based in Marina di Ravenna on the Adriatic Sea. Founded in 1949, the yacht club operates a large facility on Via Molo Dalmazia with a clubhouse, restaurant, bar, conference hall, marina berths and a fleet of more than 50 boats ranging from dinghies to offshore yachts. At its core is the Scuola Vela, which trains hundreds of children and young sailors every year, while the club is also renowned nationally as a match-racing centre with its own TOM 28 fleet. The sporting programme includes regattas in classes such as ILCA, Optimist and 29er, offshore events like the Galiola, corporate team-building and OSR safety courses. The club organises numerous national and international regattas each year and maintains close ties with the port of Ravenna and the local community.
History
Circolo Velico Ravennate was founded in Ravenna on 16 July 1949 by a group of passionate sailors in the post-war reconstruction period and has been affiliated to the Federazione Italiana Vela since 15 April 1950. The sailing school began almost immediately and became prominent during the 1960s with its orange Flying Juniors, producing future champions including Giuseppe and Matteo Plazzi, Roberto Onoranti, Giovanni Ballanti and Giovanni Ceccarelli. Over more than 70 years the club grew into one of Italy's leading sailing organisations and received the Stella d'oro and Stella d'argento for sporting merit. It became a national training centre and Italy's undisputed match-racing hub: the Trofeo Trombini, a Grade 1 event, was held for thirteen years in the waters off the club and attracted world-class sailors such as James Spithill and Dean Barker. An eight-boat TOM 28 fleet designed by club member Giovanni Ceccarelli supports this activity. Offshore racing also has deep roots in Marina di Ravenna: legendary yachts such as Raul Gardini's Moro di Venezia and Roberto Trombini's Garibaldi sailed from here, and the Strale remains a symbol of that era. The club hosted numerous IOR and ORC championships, the Lotteria del Mare and the revived Galiola offshore race to Croatia. Today the Via Molo Dalmazia 89 site includes a land base with secretariat, restaurant, bar, 100-seat conference room and training areas, plus a marina concession with berths, library and 24-hour surveillance. In November 2023 Matteo Plazzi, former vice-president and America's Cup winner, became president after Gianni Paulucci stepped down while remaining vice-president on the board. The club continues to develop youth sailors, host national regattas in classes such as ILCA, Optimist and 29er, and co-organises Sport in Darsena and Navigare per Ravenna with the city of Ravenna.
Information
Facilities
Land base at Via Molo Dalmazia 89 with secretariat, restaurant, bar, panoramic terrace, 100-seat conference room, changing rooms and showers, parking area for dinghies and inflatables, marina concession with berths, library, TV room, kitchens, 24-hour surveillance, rescue RIB and Wi-Fi
Activities
Scuola Vela, match racing, offshore regattas, corporate team-building and incentives, OSR safety courses, social events, Sport in Darsena and Navigare per Ravenna
Youth section
Scuola Vela for children and teenagers aged 6 to 14, around 170 participants per year, FIV-accredited training with up to six courses per season and the Trofeo Panzavolta
Parking
Yes, parking area for dinghies and inflatables
Board members
Regatta calendar
2026-02-22 ILCA Zonal Regatta
2026-03-29 RS Feva Zonal Regatta
2026-04-18 Spring ORC Championship
2026-06-06 Comet Cup
2026-06-07 Optimist Zonal Regatta
2026-06-19 Galiola
2026-06-20 Coupe Gourmande
2026-07-04 Festivela Trophy
2026-07-04 Profumo di Legno
2026-08-28 Italian Youth Single-Handed Championship
2026-09-06 Panzavolta Trophy
2026-09-12 Fratelli della Costa Sail Past
2026-09-18 Raul Gardini Trophy
2026-10-08 Go To Barcolana