Helly Hansen

HELLY HANSEN WILL BE PRESENT IN BEIJING FOR THE XXIX OLYMPIC GAMES THANKS TO ITALIAN GUYS, DIEGO NEGRI AND LUIGI VIALE Miami, 9th March After eight months of top-level regattas, the crew of Team Helly Hansen, formed by Diego Negri and Luigi Viale, has finally won the Italian Star selection after taking command of the standings since the first race. The final standings saw them, in fact, winners with a wide margin on the second one. The athlete of the Sezione Vela Fiamme Gialle, Diego Negri, told directly from Miami: -At the end of the five regattas we collected 3rd placement at the Spring of Palma de Mallorca, 5th in the World Champiobnship in Cascais (selecting the Italian country), 8th in the European Championship in Malcesine, 19th placement at Miami OCR, a result that we have discarded, and finally 8th right at Bacardi Cup in Miami. Now we have a few days of rest before starting to work to defend the colours of Italian flag in Bejing 2008. Next week we will try the new boat built by the shipyard Lillia and after in Miami again to run 2008 World Championship, which starts from 7th April.- The Bacardi Cup has proven once again a complex race as well as for the very high level, as well because there were 114 boats. The highly variable weather conditions were added to make more intriguing this final regatta of selection. The first day with a light wind have opposed the latest race with strong wind up to avoiding the fourth race because of a storm that was shot down on the race area with gusts over 30 knots. Viale, excited because Beijing will be his first Olympic experience, continues, -Our goal was to finish in the final classification before of Francesco Bruni and consolidate the advantage gained. At the end, the goal has been reached with our 8th placement. I am really happy especially because the tension before of the Bacardi was high after exploit Bruni in Miami two weeks ago. I must really say thank to our sponsors: Helly Hansen, Harken, Gottifredi & Maffioli, Latte Alberti and Velocitek clearly beyond the Sezione Vela Fiamme Gialle and the Federazione Italiana Vela who believed in us from the beginning and even more will help us to try achieving a prestigious medal that Italy is lacking for more than thirty years.- The last medal won in the Italian Star class is Dodo Gorla and Alfio Peraboni one in Los Angeles in 1984, where they won a bronze medal. We hope that this time the East is a good-luck charm for the Team Helly Hansen. For any more news, see www.negri-viale.it Final Ranking of the Italian Star Selection class: Diego Negri-Louis Viale 460 points Francesco Bruni-Gilberto Nobili 210 points Alberto Barovier-Nando Colannino 180 points Final Results of Bacardi Cup 2008: 1 - POR 8309 - Domingos Afonso - Santos Bernardo, 12-9-7-2-2, 20 pts 2 - GBR 8345 - Percy Iain - Simpson Andrew, 20 pts 3 - USA 8230 - Dane John - Sperry Austin, 30 pts 4 - POL 8209 - Kusznierewicz Mateusz - Zycki Dominik, 32 pts 5 - AUT 8226 - Spitzauer Hans - Nehammer Christian, 33 pts 6 - BRA 8255 - Scheidt Robert - Prada Bruno, 38 pts 7 - ITA 8313 - Barovier Alberto - Colaninno Nando, 41 pts 8 - ITA 8266 - NEGRI DIEGO - VIALE LUIGI, 16-7-12-14-8, 41 pts 9 - IRL 8261 - O'Leary Peter - Milne Stephen, 42 pts 10 - USA 8285 - Diaz Augie - Trinter Phil, 42 pts