TRIESTE – With an adrenaline-filled and spectacular event, the Red Bull Sailing Academy was officially inaugurated at Marina Monfalcone: a state-of-the-art center designed to train the future champions of sailing and kitefoil, located right next to the Italian base of the Red Bull SailGP Team.
The new Academy aims to become an international hub for high-performance sailing, scouting the most talented young athletes and offering top-level facilities, coaching, and Olympic-grade training programs. The initiative is intended to strengthen Italy’s role in global competitive sailing, creating a direct pathway to events like SailGP, the America’s Cup, and the Olympics.
The opening event transformed Marina Monfalcone into an open-air arena on the sea, attracting thousands of fans. The show featured acrobatic divers from the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series — including Trieste’s own Elisa Cosetti — slackline stunts by Jaan Roose, foilboard tricks by Nikolas Plytas, and wakeboard performances by Claudia Pagnini and Massimiliano Piffaretti.
The Red Bull Sailing Academy is not a school open to the public: entry is by invitation, following a rigorous selection process. Athletes receive comprehensive support, including coaching sessions with former Olympic champions such as Hans Peter Steinacher, Santiago Lange, Roman Hagara, and Thomas Zajac, as well as physical and mental training and equipment testing in collaboration with the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center.
In addition to sailing, the program also covers emerging disciplines like kitefoil and windfoil, reinforcing the entire ecosystem of wind-powered water sports.
“It’s fantastic to finally have this facility. The Red Bull Sailing Academy is something we’ve been waiting for a long time. You can tell it was built by sailors for sailors, and it has everything it needs to become a high-level center for performance development. With mentors like Thomas Zajac, Santiago Lange, Roman Hagara, and Hans-Peter Steinacher sharing their experience, it will be a unique opportunity for the next generation to learn from the best,” commented Olympic gold medalist Ruggero Tita.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always felt this sport lacked a true base for training as a team. Usually,” added Jimmy Spithill, two-time America’s Cup winner, “you’re constantly on the move, competing without a fixed place to return to and recharge. That’s exactly what makes the Red Bull Sailing Academy a game-changer — not just for SailGP athletes, but for the next generation of Olympians and world champions. The Marina Monfalcone facility truly embraces the entire sailing world, from foiling to kite surfing, while also prioritizing health, well-being, and preparation.”
