The Offshore Champ Vincenzo Balestrieri has passed away

[Black Tornado]

Last night the Offshore ace Vincenzo Balestrieri two-time World Champion the sport has passed away at the age of 86 in Rome.

With a sporting history of boxing, football, basketball, japanese wrestling and car racing, Gold Medal in athletics in 1940 at the age of 14, Vincenzo Balestrieri began his sporting career in offshore racing in 1962 at the first edition of the Viareggio-Bastia -Viareggio with the "Cohete" a Picchiotti motoryacht. Since that time, for 13 years Balestrieri was one of the main protagonists of the sport by winning 28 international competitions, such as 4 editions of the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio, in 1964,68,70 and 1972, the Sam Griffith Memorial 1968 with Don Pruett, a controversial edition of the Miami-Nassau in 1970 with Jack Stuteville, two Wills International Trophy in England in 1969 and 1970 and then in the Punta Del Este Uruguaian race in 1971 and two Rio de La Plata in 1971 and 1973, two Naples Trophy in 1968 and 1970, two Rosa D'Oro in Yugoslavia in 1968 and 1969, a Gettingloppet in Sweden in 1968, two Dauphin D'Or in France in 1968 and 1971, and more. He won two World Titles UIM-Sam Griffith Trophy in 1968 and in 1970 finished second in 1971 and third in 1966,1969 and 1972.Ha also received two National Titles in South America in 1971 and 1973 and an Italian title in 1974.

He was the first non-American driver to win a US competition, the Sam Griffith Memorial in Miami in 1968.

He raced on hulls of Levi and Bertram but mostly with those of Aronow. Legendary boats like the Tornado a 28'Magnum in 1968, two Black Tornadoes 32' Cary in 1970-1972, two Black Tornadoes 36' Cigarette from 1971 to 1975.

Vincenzo Balestrieri was undoubtedly one of the main protagonists of the Offshore sport, along with the legendary Sam Griffith, Dick Bertram, Jim Wynne, Don Aronow, Bob Magoon, Carlo Bonomi, Betty Cook.

[Top Banana]

So sorry to hear of his passing. I plan to be in Europe this summer and I had been speaking with his son as to the possibility that I could visit with Vincenzo when I was in Rome. I was really looking forward to it.

HORBA has a direct link to his site.....well worth the visit for those who may not know of it.

He was really a very good racer, may he rest in peace. RIP

[Bobcat]

RIP..

Some beautiful boats

[Ratickle]

So sorry to hear, he was definitely one of the Top 25 in Offshore of all time in my book.


May he rest in peace. Our sincere condolences.

[old377guy]

So goes yet another one

[FLYING FISH]

Another one of Offshore`s greatest leaves us.

Attached pic shows VB at Cowes 1hr prior to his epic tussle with Surfury in the 1968 Cowes - Torquay.

[Spencer]

It would be a shame to have an entire generation have no idea who some of these guys were.

[Ratickle]

We will do our best to make sure that never happens....

[C35]

That pic above is the only one where he doesnt have a cigarette in his mouth!

[Sean Stinson]

Godspeed to the offshore courses in the sky!!!!

[Ratickle]

Count Vincenzo Balestrieri Cosimelli's funeral was yesterday morning in Rome.

Vincenzo left behind 4 sons and 2 grandchildren.

RIP Count, your contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.

[Bobcat]

That pic above is the only one where he doesnt have a cigarette in his mouth!

As a kid I remember that everyone smoked (the 60's ) My dad used to cuff his pant leg , inside peoples house to put the ashes in.....then walk outside and dump it

[Ratickle]

I hope everyone took the time to read the short recap we did on Vincenzo. Here's the links in case you missed the twp part story...

http://www.seriousoffshore.com/the-count-of-offshore/

The Count of Offshore Part 2 - Serious Offshore

[Rhino1744]

Sorry for the late post, I am Don Pruett's son, just joined up and I have a lot of pictures of those two. Sorry for the loss.

Craig

[Ratickle]

Sorry for the late post, I am Don Pruett's son, just joined up and I have a lot of pictures of those two. Sorry for the loss.

Craig

Welcome, we were chatting about your father while we were working on the story. He was a very integral part of Vincenzo's success.

I think Charlie was trying to get ahold of you. I'll shoot him an email in case he doesn't check this soon.

[Rhino1744]

Well there is a lot of stories to be told! Some good, some not so good! But i sure do miss that old man, anyways I would love to get involved and do what i can to keep the stories alive, sorry for jacking this thread. I will PM you my contact info. thanks again for the welcome.
Craig

[OneBadInjun]

RIP Champ.

[Anchored]

From Powerboat








Jeff