FlyingNikka wins the Boat of the Year award

FlyingNikka is Boat of the Year: the prize, the most sought-after in the sailing world, was received last night in Genoa, at Palazzo Ducale, during the gala event for the FIV Sailor of the Year awards. And while the absolute winners were once again the Olympic champions of Nacra 17, Ruggero Tita and Caterina Marianna Banti, the Confindustria Nautica Prize for Boat of the Year went to FlyingNikka, the first fully foiling Mini Maxi ever built, an innovative project led enthusiastically by the owner/skipper Roberto Lacorte, designed by a team led by Irish designer Mark Mills and built by King Marine in Valencia. The other finalists battling for the victory were Vincenzo Addessi’s Mylius 60 Fra Diavolo and the Italia Yachts 11.98 Scugnizza.

“I’m really pleased, because this prize is yet another reason to continue along this journey which began the day we started to think about the FlyingNikka. A new, unique and tough journey, but equally a stimulating one,” explained a thrilled Roberto Lacorte, attending the gala evening with his wife (and co-owner of FlyingNikka) Luisa. “In the first two regattas of the year we had no help from the weather, unusual in the Mediterranean considering the time of year, but we are sure that the choices we have made are right and we can’t wait to demonstrate this. I would like to share this award with Luisa and all the FlyingNikka team, from the crew to the shore team, the designers, the media team and the boat builders. We are a very tightly knit group, and this is fundamental for managing such a complex project.”