(Monaco- Feb 4-6)- This year's 27th edition of the Primo Cup/ Trophy
Credit Suisse runs over two weekends, the 4-6th and 12-13th of February
and has traditionally marked the launch of the international racing
season in the beautiful, picturesque principality of Monaco. For over a
dozen years, Prince Albert of Monaco raced J/24s in the event,
inviting other royals from around Europe to participate and either stay
at the Palace or nearby swanky hotels along the waterfront. This past
year, Port Hercules was buzzing with all the competitors from around
Europe- Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Belgium,
Norway, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain, Hungary and, remarkably, a huge
contingent from Russia. Of the 99 entries in 5 classes, the J/24s were
the largest sailing class at the event (others had many "no shows").
Those 24 J/24 entries came from 7 countries- Monaco, France, England,
Hungary, Italy, Brazil and Sweden. Amongst them were Sweden's Anna
Maria Gunderson, Brazil's BRUSCHETTA sailed by Maurizio Santa Cruz with J/Boats Italy's Paolo Boido
aboard, England's HITCHHIKER sailed by Andrew Taylor and JOLLY ROGER
helmed by Roger Morris, and Hungary's NORD TELECOM SAILING TEAM
skippered by Gabor Makai.
Brazil's
Mauricio Santa Cruz, three times world title holder in 2006, 2007 and
2009, commented, "It is the first time I sail in Monaco, this event is
internationally recognized for it gathers the best European
challengers." To gather all the competitors, Dennis Frederiksen, J/24
class representative, had organised a skiing weekend in Limone, France.
Dennis mentioned that "the competition would be a great challenge as the
winner of this series would also receive an "invitation" for the J/24
World Championship on 11th to 19th November 2011 in Montevideo,
Uruguay.""The years follow on and none are alike. After the snow and very strong breezes of 2010, it is the first time in 27 years that we have had such light, sunny conditions!" declared Thierry Leret, Race Committee President, at the prize-giving. Indeed, spring-like conditions, with an anticyclone centered on the Gulf of Genoa meant only one race counted during the whole of the first weekend of the Primo Cup - Trophy Credit Suisse.
"That's
the risk you run with regattas! We had the most amazing practice
sailing conditions from Tuesday to Thursday with 15 knots of wind and a
calm sea which meant we were able to sail with many foreign teams who
had arrived early to get in some training!" observed Jean Rodelato, one
of the J/24 specialists in the very international field."It is the first time I have come to Monaco to race in the Primo Cup, as I had heard so much about this event which is a benchmark on the international one-design scene. I witnessed the dynamism of the Monegasque J/24 class which organised a ski & sail ahead of the regatta," commented Mauricio Santa Cruz (Bruschetta), triple world champion. Faced with a Monegasque and Italian armada, he clinched a fine second ahead of the Monegasque Pieter Flohil (Dangerous) and won “selection by invitation” to take part in the series’ world championship being held 11 to 19 November 2011 in Argentina.
As
it turns out, Mauricio only had to sail one race! On Saturday 5th
February, following a recall, the J/24s competitors had to calm down
their enthusiasm after being shown a black flag, with all early starts
disqualified. Despite a slow start, Santa Cruz's BRUSCHETTA team
figured out the tactics and surged through the fleet to finish 2nd in
the one and only race that was run on all three days! The placid, calm
seas made for gorgeous sunrise and sunset photos but offered impossible
conditions to finish off the regatta after a beautiful start on Friday
midday. BTW, the "swag" the competitors receive for entering the event
is extraordinary, as are the trophies-- including a Hublot Yacht
Chronograph for all the winners, tasty champagne and lots of other nice
things like you see in this photo! See you there next year! Sailing and Regatta Photos by Carlo Borlenghi For more J/24 Monaco Primo Cup Sailing Information.