Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

FlyingNikka in Portofino for the Regate di Primavera

by FlyingNikka 24 Apr 11:13 UTC 25-27 April 2025

The first event of the year is approaching for the full foiling monohull FlyingNikka, which will be in action from Friday to Sunday in Portofino at the Regate di Primavera, the season-opening event dedicated to the Maxi yachts organized by the Yacht Club Italiano.

The Spring Regattas span three days of buoy racing in the Gulf of Tigullio and mark the start of a season for FlyingNikka, the flying yacht owned by Roberto Lacorte, which will also compete in the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar — a Mediterranean classic starting (on May 30) from Livorno/Marina di Pisa and finishing in Punta Ala — and in the Loro Piana Giraglia, an offshore race from St. Tropez to Genoa, via the Giraglia islet north of Corsica, preceded by four days of coastal races in the Gulf of St. Tropez (June 8-12).

These races will be tackled by the monohull, just under 19 meters long and equipped with T-foil appendages, which was launched in June 2022 and designed by Mills Design Studio, after a winter of technical upgrades. The boat now features a brand-new livery prominently displaying the Apportal brand, a line of nutritional supplements by PharmaNutra S.p.A., a company founded in 2003 by Roberto Lacorte and his brother Andrea, specializing in mineral-based nutritional supplements and medical devices for muscles and joints.

"The changes we made this winter at the Punta Ala Shipyard, our home base, were aimed at achieving top performance in the races scheduled. From that perspective, the first training session we held in late March was encouraging," explains Roberto Lacorte, who will once again be at the helm of FlyingNikka, supported by a crew including Team Manager Alessio Razeto, Lorenzo Bressani, Enrico Zennaro, Andrea Fornaro, and Lorenzo De Felice. "We obviously hope for more favorable weather this year — or at least not as challenging as last year — so that FlyingNikka can showcase her potential and achieve the goals we've set."

In addition to debuting its new Apportal-branded livery, the Spring Regattas also mark the beginning of a new technical partnership with Musto, the renowned sailing apparel brand, which will now outfit both the crew and shore team of FlyingNikka, both on and off the water. It's a collaboration between two leaders in their fields, which also includes Roberto Lacorte serving as a Musto ambassador, alongside world-renowned sailors.

"We're very happy to have Musto on board with us, because it's a brand like no other, and for sailors, it's been the gold standard for decades. It will be a pleasure to contribute to the development of their technical gear by providing direct feedback, especially since on FlyingNikka we often sail in extreme conditions — with speeds between 25 and 40 knots and everything that comes with that. It's a great testing ground, and we're happy to offer that to a company like Musto".

"For over sixty years, Musto has stood for evolution and innovation in technical sailing apparel. The company and its products have always kept pace with technology and yacht design, from dinghies to the most advanced offshore yachts," says Nick Houchin, Marketing Director at Musto. "We're very excited to have launched this partnership with FlyingNikka, the full-foiling Mini Maxi that is undoubtedly one of the most innovative boats on the circuit today. We're confident that our most advanced gear will meet the needs of the FlyingNikka team, and that this collaboration will provide valuable mutual feedback."

FlyingNikka — representing the Yacht Club Repubblica Marinara di Pisa, Yacht Club Punta Ala, Yacht Club Italiano and New York Yacht Club, is also supported by B&G for onboard electronics, North Sails for sails, the Punta Ala Costa Etrusca Shipyard and Marina di Punta Ala, along with continued support from Cetilar®, another PharmaNutra brand widely present in the world of sports through major sponsorships and medical partnerships.

Related Articles

ASA Summit heads to Key West next week
2025 Sportfishing Summit powered by the American Sportfishing Association Leaders from across the sportfishing industry will head to Key West next week for the 2025 Sportfishing Summit powered by the American Sportfishing Association. Posted on 30 Sep
US Debut for Barton Marine Bulkhead Pipe Glands
Exhibited in the US for the first time in booth 3-1717 at IBEX 2025 Bulkhead watertight integrity is essential in modern boat building. Pipes moving through the vessel and bulkheads always present a challenge. Posted on 30 Sep
Road map to Red Snapper management
Unveiled by the South Atlantic States The directors of the state marine fisheries agencies from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have released the outline for state-based recreational data gathering and management of South Atlantic red snapper. Posted on 24 Sep
The latest in fleet monitoring and tracking
Join us on October 22nd for an in-depth exploration of the latest in tracking technology Fleet monitoring and tracking are essential for efficiency, safety, and compliance with real-time visibility into fleet movements critical. Posted on 24 Sep
Lund Boats launches all-new explorer
A rugged, fish-first workhorse for the next generation of anglers Lund Boats, a leading manufacturer of premium aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats, today announced the launch of the all-new 1700 and 1800 Explorer models, purpose-built for anglers who demand rugged performance, low maintenance, and exceptional value. Posted on 23 Sep
New seasonal closures for Striped Bass proposed
By the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has proposed a 12% reduction for the recreational sector, which is likely to take the form of "no targeting" closures, which prohibit anglers from fishing for striped bass altogether Posted on 23 Sep
Understanding Boat Plumbing and Water Systems
This Second Edition has been fully revised throughout, and covers all the major topics This Second Edition has been fully revised throughout, and offers a comprehensive coverage of all the major topics Posted on 18 Sep
Boat Buying Basics
Melanie earned her US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master Captain's License before her car license Melanie Sunshine Neale earned her US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master Captain's License before she got her driver's license. She grew up living aboard her family's 47-foot GulfStar sailboat, cruising up and down the East Coast and the Bahamas for 20 years. Posted on 13 Sep
Sailing roles available in Dubai
Dubai Offshore Sailing Club is recruiting! Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), one of the Middle East's most established and internationally recognised Sailing Clubs, is inviting applications for the role of Racing and Events Manager, and RYA Cruising Instructor. Posted on 13 Sep
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 7 Season 2
Episode Seven - XCAT World Champion, Tom Barry-Cotter from Five Blade Episode Seven - XCAT World Champion, Tom Barry-Cotter from FiveBlade talks boat shows, greenwashing. Lots to learn, so strap in for a great time. Posted on 13 Sep
Maritimo M600Palm Beach Motor Yachts