Gross Misconduct Decision at ORC Europeans

Athens, Greece (April 2, 2017) – As a consequence of the disqualification of Vincenzo de Blasio’s NM 38S Scugnizza by an International Jury convened after receiving an allegation of gross misconduct, a new winner is declared for Class C in the 2016 ORC European Championship regatta organized by the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki and the Offshore Racing Congress.

Vincenzo de Blasio’s NM38S Scugnizza

The Jury decision found that Scugnizza’s Italian team deliberately broke RRS 2, RRS 78.1, and ORC Rating System Rule 304.3a and was thus in breach of rule 69.1(a) and disqualified from all races of the championship regatta held in Porto Carras, Greece on July 3-10, 2016.

“This decision was difficult and long in coming, as it involved complex issues related to sailing trim, yet we applaud the Jury for upholding the integrity and principles of both our rules and the rules of the sport,” said Bruno Finzi, Chairman of ORC.

As a result of the decision, Aivar Tuulberg’s Arcona 34 Katariina II from Estonia has been elevated from runner-up to being the new 2016 ORC Class C European champion. Another Estonian entry, Ott Kikkas’s Italia 9.98 Sugar is the new Silver medalist and Baxevanis Athanasios’s X-35 OD Baximus from Greece is the new Bronze medalist.

New winner Katariina 2. © Nikos Pantis

For final results and more information about the 2016 ORC European Championship, visit http://orci.ncth.gr/index.php?content=results.

Source: ORC