The historic classic yachting event, organized by the Municipality of Imperia in collaboration with Assonautica Imperia from September 2 to 6, 2025, is now in its twenty-sixth year. The first event dates back to 1986, followed by a biennial event in 1992, and a return to the annual schedule in 2019. Aria won her class both in real time, winning the Imperia Cup, and in corrected time according to the CIM regulations (the body that oversees and issues regulations for classic boat racing). A busy week, the vessel, owned by Bolognese owner Serena Galvani Seràgnoli, not only participated in the scheduled regattas organized by the Yacht Club Imperia in collaboration with the Yacht Club Sanremo and the Circolo Nautico San Bartolomeo, but also paraded with a saxophonist on the bow and the music of Queen during the Grand Parade along with the rest of the fleet, and welcomed aboard boys and girls from associations committed to social work.

Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails

The 8-meter SI boats competed in five races, sailing in winds ranging from 6 to 22 knots. Aria was helmed by Pietro D’Alì, an Olympian, former Luna Rossa sailor, and leading sailor for Patrizio Bertelli's team. He stated: “These were close races, with boats of similar speed. We worked on the precision of sail trim, carefully managing the start and tacking, avoiding air pockets on the race course, and often battling with currents of about 1 knot.” Joining him on board were Giampaolo Vatta, from Trieste, bowman and captain of Aria, on which he had already won a European Championship in Brittany; Fabio Montefusco, a titled sailor for the Fiamme Gialle (Italian Finance Police) with over thirty years of experience on Maxis, J-24s, and IOR boats; and, above all, a crew of Ligurians in their early twenties from the Yacht Club Italiano in Genoa. Even though it was their first time aboard an 8-meter S.I., Valerio Mugnano, Marco Ascoli, Andrea Cupaioli, and Lorenzo Donati put into practice the skills they had acquired over the years on dinghies, Melges 24s, one-designs, and One Designs like the Figaro 3.
The Imperia Vintage Sails marked the resumption of Aria's long-standing social inclusion projects. Since 2003, the shipowner and her crew have been involved in numerous Velaintegrazione (Velaintegration) activities with the Guardia di Finanza Sports Group, promoting the sport and raising funds to support socially vulnerable groups. In Imperia, Aria welcomed aboard young people from the ISAH Center (Institute for the Deaf and Other Handicapped), specializing in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of autism spectrum disorders. On September 2nd, the ship hosted bone marrow transplant patients suffering from hemato-oncological diseases, accompanied by Liliana Ester Freddi, president of the Genoa, Savona, and Imperia chapters of AIL, the Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma. For them, a day dedicated to the sea and historic boats, as part of the national sailing therapy project called "Dreaming of Ithaca." During the initiative, organized in collaboration with Assonautica Imperia and made possible thanks to the interest of Marco Damonte Prioli, General Director of the Policlinico San Martino in Genoa, the boats Barbara (1923), Penelope (1965 of the Italian Navy) and Pilgrim (1971) were also visited.

Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails
Aria, double victory at the Imperia Vintage Sails

Assonautica Imperia also celebrated Aria's 90th anniversary with a post-regatta party on Wednesday, September 3rd. A film commemorating its history was shown, and awards were presented to GdF sailor Fabio Montefusco, journalist Lucia Scajola, Biagio Parlatore, president of Assonautica Imperia, and Luca De Felice, General Director of the ISAH Foundation of Imperia. The party was shared with Cristina Daniele, daughter of the late Pino and a great friend of Serena Galvani, and also an opportunity for the latter to reconnect with former Minister and current mayor of Imperia, Claudio Scajola. It was he who, in 2003, mobilized the Italian Parliament to approve the bill, later included among the "Framework Laws" of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, to classify vessels of historical value as cultural assets, as promoted by A.R.I.E., the Association for the Recovery of Vintage Boats founded in 1998 by Galvani herself. "I thank everyone who supported me on this latest challenge," said the owner, "in which we demonstrated that Aria continues to be a true racing thoroughbred. I have received great demonstrations of affection from the institutions and the event organizers, which confirm the importance of the value of history and nautical culture."