Four successful seasons



The 2008 season…

BMW Match Race Academy is the advanced training school established in early 2005 by BMW Group Italia and the Yacht Club Italiano (YCI). Now in its fourth year, the academy aims to promote the match race culture in its students through theoretical and practical full immersion experiences under the guidance of a team of professionals including yachtsmen, umpires, meteorologists and training experts, providing advanced training in the techniques and strategies that are typical of this discipline. During the 2008 season the BMW Match Race Academy held six courses between February and September, divided into three Under 25 courses, reserved for sailors nominated by FIV, one of which was dedicated to female crews, two Open courses, open to expert yachtsmen, and a Masters course. In addition to Genoa, the courses were also held in Monfalcone, Malcesine and Trapani.

… and the results of four years of activity

 During its first four years of activity, the BMW Match Race Academy has organised 19 courses, three Masters and two editions of the Zegna - BMW Match Race Cup, attended by a total of 410 students. In detail, the advanced training school - which has enjoyed the patronage of the Federazione Italiana Vela (FIV) since 2006 – has provided approximately 270 hours of classroom theory sessions, more than 410 hours of regattas and lessons at sea, as well as organising seven grade 4 match races that enable the participants to acquire ISAF (International Sailing Federation) ranking list points. Significantly, the number of students subscribing to the BMW Match Race Academy has increased over the years: in fact the number has grown from 69 in 2005 to 125 at the end of 2008 default.asp?rfunc=window.opener.readEditorOutput('ObjSrc','§§§HtmlEditorOutput§§§')&rpar=§§§HtmlEditorOutput§§§&bs=1

Official suppliers

Henri Lloyd

In keeping with its English origins and ties with the nautical world, the Henri Lloyd brand confirms its commitment to supporting prestigious sailing events, supplying the tutors and students at the BMW Match Race Academy with a collection of technical clothing that satisfies all their sporting requirements. Its presence in the advanced training school consolidates the connections between the brand’s image, the sea and the first class sailing world. This is a new initiative that pairs two important brands like BMW and Henri Lloyd together again, following their collaboration as Technical Partners for the BMW ORACLE Racing team in the America’s Cup.

Zodiac

Zodiac boats benefit from the experience of a world market leader in the inflatable boats sector that has been manufacturing safety equipment for aviation and marine applications since 1896. An ambitious, on-going research and design policy enables Zodiac to implement a systematic innovation strategy, supported by continuous technological progress. Thus, Zodiac was pleased to accept BMW Italia and the Yacht Club Italiano’s invitation to become an official supplier to the BMW Match Race Academy, taking advantage of the experience provided by the school to increase its own store of knowledge.