Yacht Club Čupa A.Š.D.
Yacht Club Čupa A.Š.D. (Jadralni Klub Čupa) is a traditional sailing club on Sesljan Bay (Baia di Sistiana) in Duino-Aurisina near Trieste. The club sits at the end of a winding road down to the bay and has focused on youth development since 1973. The premises include piers, club rooms and a kiosk; sailing classes include Optimist, Laser and 420. The programme features a summer sailing school and holiday centre for children, windsurf and SUP courses, plus club and night races including the Sesljan–Piran–Sesljan night race and the Sesljan Bay trophy. A distinctive feature is the link to the historic čupa, a dugout canoe of Slovenian coastal fishermen from which the club takes its name.
History
On 21 May 1973 the Slovenski pomorski klub Čupa was formally founded in Trieste before notary Rodolfo Riccobene – initially as a maritime club rather than a sailing club. Signatories included Niko Kosmina (first president), Bojan Pavletič (first vice-president), Janko Hrovatin (first secretary) and Sonia Škabar (first treasurer), with further founding members. Preparation in private homes and a constitutive assembly in the Iga Grudna hall in Nabrežina preceded the notarial act; the banner with the letter C of the international signal code was also chosen. The Prince of Duino allowed temporary use of today's site on Sesljan Bay; requests for a permanent plot at the quarry initially went unanswered. Activity grew: Flying Junior, Laser and Optimist boats were purchased, a motor dinghy and in 1988 a new van. In 1977 Čupa joined ZSŠDI and has since held two club regattas a year plus end-of-season dinners. Admission to the Italian sailing federation FIV was blocked by the name and statute clauses on Slovenian identity. On 4 September 1982 the club was renamed Jadralni klub – Yacht Club Čupa; in 1985 the statute was adapted to FIV requirements. On 12 October 1985 JK Čupa was admitted to FIV and in October 1987 finally registered in the then XI zone – only then could athletes race under the Čupa flag. From 1989 the club flourished in youth and Olympic classes and cabin yachts, with national and zone coaches and race officials. Premises and kiosk were renovated to plans by architect Križnič. For the 25th anniversary in 1998 a new čupa was built from a 140-year-old spruce trunk to plans by Captain Bruno Volpi Lisjak. The municipality of Duino-Aurisina has granted the club, with Diporto nautico Sistiana and Sistiana 89, use of land at Castelreggio beach for a new seat; plans and permits are in progress. Today JK Čupa has 220 ordinary, 106 family and 5 honorary members and remains focused on youth development and competitive sailing.
Information
Facilities
Club premises on Sesljan Bay with piers, berths, secretariat and renovated kiosk structure.
Activities
Sailing courses for children and adults, Optimist sailing school, windsurf and SUP courses, club and interclub regattas, ORC night race Sesljan–Piran–Sesljan.
Youth section
Active youth section with Optimist and Laser teams, summer sailing school (ages 6–12), holiday centre “Fun by the Sea” and qualifications for national and international championships.