The 57th edition of the Barcolana Regatta, held in the Gulf of Trieste and recognised as one of the world’s largest sailing events, marked a special milestone for Mantavia and the Italian sailing community. The historic yacht Sotiria IV, a Comet 910 launched in 1975, celebrated her 50th anniversary by returning to competition under the burgee of the Club Nautico Riccione, achieving an excellent 45th place in class among over 1,800 participating yachts. On board were Alessandro Ricci, CEO of Mantavia AB and member of the Club Nautico Riccione; Alessia Rondini and Sara Manzi, former instructors of the Club and long-standing figures in its sailing school; Benjamin Corrado, Lead Designer at Mantavia and member of the Club Nautico Senigallia; Gabriele Bianchi, Advisor and bowman from the Yacht Club Como; and Francesca Sofia Siega, soon-to-be Advisor for powertrain systems. Their participation symbolised the meeting of two generations of naval design — the heritage of Italian craftsmanship that shaped Sotiria IV fifty years ago, and the contemporary pursuit of innovation that defines Mantavia’s work today in hybrid propulsion, aerodynamics, and sustainable maritime mobility. The event highlighted the ongoing connection between heritage and progress, reaffirming Mantavia’s philosophy: that timeless design is not bound by technology, but by vision and execution — a spirit that continues to guide both past and future generations of engineers, sailors, and designers.
