Francesco Bruni wins the Trieste Challenge after beating Paolo Cian

Francesco Bruni is the winner of the Trieste Challenge - La Sfida 2007. The Sicilian sailor's Sailing Team Progetto Sicilia beat Team Shosholoza's Paolo Cian 3-1 after a close and exciting final day.

Bruni started the best-of-five final with two straight victories where leadership went back and forth a couple of times, under light wind conditions. With the breeze picking up and reaching 20 knots, Paolo Cian, third in the ISAF world match racing rankings, demonstrated his skills in the third race and beat Bruni who was unable to escape from Cian's close marking.

The fourth and decisive match could have easily been Cian's and tied the series. Cian lead from the starting line and managed to increase his advantage to 3 boat lengths up to the last top mark, where a disastrous spinnaker hoist resulted in the spinnaker falling in the sea. Bruni took advantage of Cian's error and won the race and event.

Francesco Bruni and Paolo Cian race in the Trieste Challenge 2007. Trieste, 21 October 2007. Photo copyright Ray Giubilo & Massimo Silvano