The last podium in Chiavari. “I started the Naval League school in Mezzana Rabattone when I was in elementary school”
the character
The last podium of the Pavese sailor Giacomo Saglio was the most difficult and the most important: the victory in Chiavari of the master zonal championship of the Laser Standard Olympic class. «A wonderful experience – explains Saglio, 57 years old – I immediately found myself at the head of the regatta and I managed to always keep the coverage on all the other crews, a grind». Saglio, a graduate in biological sciences, started sailing at the age of 8. “I know it’s hard to think that someone from Pavia could have a passion for sailing, but in the 70s the elementary school holidays started on 10 June and ended on 5 October and my parents had to find something that would take my free time – Giacomo says – I got passionate about sailing, I took my first course at the Naval League of Spotorno and there I grew up as an athlete and as a man. I immediately started racing in the Flying Junior class and soon became an athlete of national interest with the assignment of a Federvela boat, so I had the opportunity to be the bowman of some champions who taught me a lot ».
From the bow to the rudder
The tall stature allowed Saglio to pass, still fifteen, to the Olympic Flying Dutchman class, an extremely competitive stunt boat with which he participated in the Italian and European championships. “I have won several zonal regattas and obtained a podium for the Italians – he explains – although I am still in love with that boat today, I no longer wanted to stay in the bow but to go to the helm and therefore I moved on to the Laser Olympic class, where I was many years among the first three of the ranking list of the first area ».
Now you can also sail in the province of Pavia. «The Naval League has its nautical base in Mezzana Rabattone, at the little lake of the Airone, a 20-minute drive from Pavia, also easily reachable from Lomellina. The lake offers excellent wind conditions and in case of adverse weather conditions, you will soon be back home. The Pavia section offers some collective boats to learn the rudiments of the regatta, the stretch of water is also often used by windsurfers and kites. I managed to organize a national Flying Dutchman meeting (6 meters boats) with 15 boats, a show with an incredible national return to Pavia ».
Saglio does not forget the social. «The base of Spotorno of the Naval League hosts once a year the diabetic children of the Gaslini of Genoa who take sailing courses with us instructors. In Pavia I took part in the sailing trip with a group of visually impaired people. They are strong experiences. Future? I have a dream, to make sailing accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of capacity or economic possibilities ». –