(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Once again the Primo Cup– Trophée Credit Suisse
confirmed its reputation as a top class event, with variable conditions
throughout the three days proving difficult for some, while others
appeared to make light of the elements to produce convincing victories.
Both one-design and IRC fleets sailed at least seven races. A great
start to the season at this first big winter regatta in Europe.The J/24 fleet had twenty-one teams sailing from eight nations- England, Greece, Monaco, Germany, Sweden, Italy, USA and Holland. Crowned as champion for the J/24s was the Greek team on EVNIKI skippered by Dimitrios Altisiadis. Their efforts were a remarkable achievement considering they out-paced a four-time European champion in the series, Great Britain’s Ian Southworth sailing the notorious IL RICIO. Furthermore, EVNIKI also out-classed local YC Monaco member Ian Ilsley racing ST ANDREWS SECURITIES that finished third (2nd in the 2013 Europeans).
It
was the consistency of EVNIKI that earned the victory after a tight
duel with Southworth’s IL RICIO team. After starting off with a
fleet-decimating record of 6-1-1-1, the IL RICIO gang fell off the
proverbial cliff and wrapped up the regatta with a 7-4-2-5 to finish two
points back from EVNIKI. Altisiadis’s team maintained their composure
all weekend long, rattling off a steady 4-3-6-3-1-2-3-2 for a total of
18 pts net after toss race. Isley’s ST ANDREWS SECURITIES crew started
off the strongest of the top three finishers, posting a 2-2 for the
first two races, but that was all she wrote. Thereafter, Isley’s crew
had a difficult time keeping their finishes in the top ten.“We are very pleased to be here. This is our second participation at the Primo Cup, and it’s really our favorite regatta,” said the Greek skipper, Dimitrios Altisiadis.
Also
competing in the J/24 class were two teams from the Manhattan Yacht
Club from New York City, NY. They were looking forward to taking on the
best European sailors, with their Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh as
their ring-leader. Fortenbaugh, who sailed with Mathieu and Nicolas
Bouchet (two young sailors of the YC Monaco’s Sports Division), sailed a
respectable regatta, finishing fifth overall and in the process beating
some well-regarded Italian, British, Swedish and Monagesque teams.All podium finishers were presented with the Trophée Credit Suisse and SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear by Alain Ucari (CEO of Credit Suisse Monaco) and Italian actor Ezio Greggio, surrounded by members of the YC Monaco’s Steering committee. Sailing Photo Credits- YC Monaco/ Carlo Borlenghi. For more Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing information
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