Nicolo Gamenara wins SoloMed 2024 in Mini 6.50 class

After a frenetic and exciting arrival in Barcelona, Nicolo Gamenara, aboard his boat "RED HOT MINI PEPPER" 1073, has won with authority the third edition of the SoloMed.

Gamenara has completed the 700-mile race course, passing through Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community, with an impressive total time of 4 days, 15 hours and 13 minutes.

His closest rival, Joshua Schopfer, with MINGULAY 1028, arrived at the BISC, just 14 seconds after Gamenara, in a thrilling end to the second leg. With a total time of 4 days, 15 hours and 27 minutes, Schopfer took second place in the Series category.

In third place, Loïc Guyader, with the Mini GUSTA 1055, completed the competition with a total time of 4 days, 20 hours and 17 minutes, showing an outstanding performance that placed him on the final podium.

In the Protos category, Cecilia Zorzi, driving the EKI 1089, demonstrated her dominance with a total time of 4 days, 19 hours and 21 minutes, proclaiming herself the winner of this category. In second place, Giulia Farnetani, with GIGALI 1011, recorded a total time of 5 days, 7 hours and 44 minutes.

The awards ceremony was held with great success at the Barcelona International Sailing Center. The ceremony was led by Joaquim Barenys, vice-president of the Federació Catalana de Vela, and Anna Corbella, sports director of the Base Mini Barcelona and director of the SoloMed, and Juli Hernández, director of projects and operations of the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica, who led the event with elegance and enthusiasm. However, no representative of the other organizing entity, the Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita, in charge of organizing the Mallorca leg, was able to attend. In addition to the trophies, the winners received a special gift from the organizers in recognition of their efforts and dedication to sailing.

This edition of the SoloMed has been particularly significant, with the Federació Catalana de Vela taking a key role in the organization of the competition. In collaboration with the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica and the Mini Base, Catalonia and Barcelona have been reinforced as a strategic point for the Mini 6.50 Class in Southern Europe. This alliance has allowed a wider reach for this class, reaching more sailors, more Catalan Sailing clubs and, above all, the entire population in general. This connects the current sporting project of the Base Mini Barcelona with other sailing dissemination programmes carried out by the Federació Catalana de Vela, favouring the expansion and recognition of the sport of single-handed sailing.

This year, the participation has been remarkable, 24 participants, especially considering that the Mini Transat, which is held biannually, has not taken place. This is remarkable as, even without the main competition, a high level of interest and involvement of the participants has been maintained. Next year, a sharp increase in participation is expected, as sailors will be immersed in the race to accumulate the miles needed in races to qualify for the Mini Transat 2025. This expectation of a significant increase in participation is based on the importance of this competition as a stepping stone for sailors aspiring to compete in the Mini Transat.

Also noteworthy is the dedication and passion of the sailors, many of whom have competed after completing the Mini "Rome-Barcelona" regatta, demonstrating their commitment and love for the sport.

The spirit of the SoloMed continues to live and grow, with the horizon set on future editions full of emotions and challenges, and with the continued support of the organizations that make this exceptional event possible.