(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Twenty years years after welcoming the J/24
European Championship to the Principality of Monaco for the first time,
the YC Monaco will host the event once again in Monte Carlo, uniting the
international elite of the J/24 class, considered to be one of the
world’s most important International one-design fleets.Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Monaco J/24 Class Association, the International J/24 Class Association in conjunction with the Monaco Sailing Federation (FMV), the European J/24 Championship will take place in Monaco between 5 October 2013 and 12 October 2013.
The J/24 first appeared in Monaco waters in 1986. In 1991 the fleet grew with the first Yacht Club Challenge, organized in collaboration with the Manhattan Yacht Club. In 1993, 105 J/24 teams from 15 countries were on the starting line for the first J/24 Europeans in Monaco! Nowadays, 17 boats compete each month during the Monaco Championships. Even after 40 races, the first three boats are only within points of one another.
A
fabulous turnout of sixty-two teams are registered to sail the
Europeans, including 22 German teams, 16 Italian, 3 Hungarian, 5
British, 2 Irish, 2 French, one Australian, one American, one Brazilian,
one Swedish, one Greek and the seven best teams of Monaco’s local
fleet! Some of the teams that participated in the J/24 World
Championship in Howth will be in attendance for this highly competitive
Europeans, including BRUSCHETTA sailed by Mauricio Santa Cruz from
Brazil (2nd overall); IL RICCIO skippered by Ian Southworth from Great
Britain (4th overall and 2013 UK & Irish National Champion); LA
SUPERBA sailed by Ignacio Bonnano from Italy (8th overall and 2013
Italian Champion); SULLBERG sailed by Stephan Karsunke from Germany
(10th overall); and JJ ONE sailed by Frithjof Schade from Germany (13th
in the 2013 Worlds and 8th in the 2012 Worlds).The lone American team is led by Mike Ingham from Rochester, NY, they're 2013 J/24 US National Champions at Wayzata Yacht Club in Minnesota and were 2nd at the 2013 UK nationals. In addition, Pascquale di Fraia, Chairman of the Italian National J/24 class Association, will be sailing BOTTA DRITTA as well as women's teams from Italy and Germany will vying for Top European Women's team honors.
The
leader and winner of the XXIX Primo Cup- Trophée Credit Suisse, Ian
Ilsley aboard ST ANDREWS, will be defending the YC Monaco colors in his
waters in October. TOPO TOO, lead by the Rodelato brothers finished 6th
in the 1993 European Championship, 3rd in the 1995 Irish Europeans and
are very eager for a place on the podium this year. Denis Frederiksen,
Monaco J/24 Class Association President, finished 2nd in the 2012
Italian Championship, 3rd in the Monaco Championship and 18th in the
2013 Worlds onboard PAGET. He will also be very well prepared for the
Europeans.If the dominant easterly wind prevails, the fleet will be in for some nice champagne sailing. 15 to 20 knots of rock steady breeze in which to demonstrate their sailing skills. If it doesn’t the Race Committee has the means of making the most of the alternatives conditions. Four mark laying boats will be on the course at all times reporting wind direction and wave conditions to John Coveney and his team. John will be assisted by Thierry Leret, the YCM’s own Sailing Manager. Thierry has been working at the Yacht Club for over twenty years and as a National Race Officer has organized many regattas all along the French Riviera coast from St Tropez to Monaco and more. Also on board the principal committee boat will be our veteran member Jean Lorenzi, a founding member of the sailing division and a local weather expert. If you want inside information as to what the conditions will be on the water, come and find Jean and he will fill you in on the meaning of the clouds rolling down the steps hills than encircle the Principality. Sailing photo credits- Rolex/ Carlo Borlenghi. For more J/24 Europeans sailing information
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