SHOSHOLOZA'S IAN AINSLIE WINS THE TROFEO MARCONI

On 7-10 June, the Circolo Nautico G. Marconi in Santa Marinella hosted the Trofeo Marconi. The international field consisted of ten teams from France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, GBR, Australia and South Africa, at this Grade
3 match racing event and World Tour qualifier.
Champagne sailing conditions persisted throughout the first three days and after the round robin was complete on Saturday afternoon Frenchman Victor Lanier led with an 8-1 win-loss score line. South Africa and Team Shosholoza's Ian Ainslie lay second (7-2). Ali Hall, representing the Volvo Keelboat Squad, finished 3rd (7-2), with German skipper Tino Ellegast (6-3) also progressing to the semi finals.
The semis were hard fought but in the end Lanier and Ainslie emerged as clear victors over Ellegast and Hall.
Ainslie subsequently took all the plaudits and the Trofeo Marconi 3-0 in a relatively one-sided final against Lanier. Meanwhile, in the petit-final, Hall came back from 0-2 down to secure third place in a fifth and final race clincher.

1. Ian Ainslie, RSA
2. Victor Lanier, FRA
3. Ali Hall, GBR