FRANCO RODINO, a 68-year-old Italian photo journalist, died on Tuesday of a suspected heart attack while covering the first day of the Breitling Med Cup 2007.
The incident occurred while Mr Rodino was on Anónimo Q8, the support boat of the Italian racing team. The journalist was immediately evacuated from the boat and aided by the emergency navy team on land. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Barlavento hospital.
PORTIMÃO MARINA, already an item in the society pages since the official Nikki Beach opening, acquired an additional touch of glamour with the hinted at arrival of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos, skipper of the Bribon, one of the 19 TP52 yachts participating in the first ever Breitling Med Cup Portuguese trophy, the fourth and penultimate stage of this year’s challenge.
At the time The Resident, went to press, the de facto presence of His Royal Highness could not be confirmed for security reasons. The top of the range sailing boats, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 20 knots (40km/h) and costing over one million euros each, took to the Algarve waters last Monday for the first training session, with the regatta reaching its conclusion tomorrow (Saturday).
Crewed by 20 sailors, they measure 15.85 metres in length and reach a maximum height of 19.72 metres. Tempting the prestigious spectacle to venture outside the Mediterranean for the first time involved a two million euro outlay, 60 per cent of which was covered by public funds. Portimão Câmara has contributed 550,000 euros and is liable for a further 200,000 in organisational costs.
Overall responsibility of the event lies with João Lagos Sports, the company also in charge of tennis’ Estoril Open and the Dakar Rally among other major sporting events, and forms part of the Allgarve programme recently launched by the Minister of the Economy.
Each part of the sailing race consists of segments between seven and eight miles in length, one of which will finish within the Praia da Rocha breakwater. Around 400 people are directly involved in organising the six-day event, which pits the skills of some of the world’s most accomplished sailors, including three-time Americas Cup winner Russell Coutts from New Zealand and numerous Olympic champions against each other.
The progress of current competition leaders, the Caixa Galicia and the Artemis as well as 15th placed Portuguese participant Bigamist 6, can be followed on a giant screen erected at the Portimão marina.
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