(Monte Carlo, Monaco)– The J/70 Alcatel OneTouch Italian Trophy Italian
Championship kicked off in fine style this weekend in Monaco where the
first of five acts took place, the others being scheduled for Sanremo,
Cervia and Lake Garda.Twenty-eight teams were out on the water at the instigation of Italian J/70 Class President, Vittorio di Mauro, in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and the J/70 Monaco Class Association, headed by Jacopo Carrain.
“It
is thanks to my friend Jacopo Carrain that Monaco has without a doubt
the biggest concentration of J/70s in Europe, while the YC Monaco is one
of Europe’s most dynamic clubs, having organized the five-act J/70
Sportsboat Winter Series that started in October, the Primo Cup J/70
class and not forgetting the J/70 European Championship in October. So
it seemed only natural that we should launch our Italian championship
here in Hercules Bay and we hope to continue this collaboration in the
years to come,” said Vittorio di Mauro.The YC Monaco’s Race Committee, led by Olivier Roinson, managed to run five races in spring conditions with sunshine, a calm sea and a 6-14 knot breeze over the two days.
These were ideal conditions for racing with everyone jostling for position on the start and arriving in groups within three minutes, a perfect illustration of how intense the competition is in this one-design class which continues to grow strongly.
Just
back from the Bacardi Miami Sailing Week, the Swedish team on ROCAD
RACING, led by Ingemar Sundstedt won the event with two race wins,
although only two points separated them from Luca Dominici’s NOTARO Team
in second. These two teams dominated the competition and look like
serious contenders for the European Championship which will be held in
Monaco on 12th to 17th October 2015.One final light air race concluded the regatta. On the final day, when collective hopes of any racing were quite low after a long on land postponement, a light breeze finally materialized. The J/70 fleet enjoyed the last race where, strong from the start, Alessio Marinelli’s UJI UJI blistered the course, with ROCAD RACING and NOTARO TEAM challenging them all around the race track. Finally, Marinelli took his first win, followed by Sundstedt and Domenici in 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
A heated battle for third through the fifth positions raged between Franco Solerio on L’ELEGAIN, Pierluigi Orsoni on INTOXICA and Jacopo Carrain on CARPE DIEM. In the end, Solerio took the bronze followed by Orsoni and the top local boat- Carrain’s CARPE DIEM in fifth.
Congratulations to Pelle Nihlmark on REDEDGE who won the Corinthian Prize for the 100% amateur team, while the Masters Prize (average age +49 years) was won by the Monegasque team on JALAPENO (Ian Ilsley). Team LEVANTE, helmed by Guillaume Holin from the YCM Sports Section, took the Juniors Prize (Under 25 years)!
To experience the people, the regatta and the venue, please be sure to check out this YouTube sailing video of the J/70 Alcatel OneTouch Italian Trophy:The J/70 teams now prepare for the next events of the J/70 Alcatel OneTouch Italian Trophy at Sanremo, Italy on 25th/26th April and 16th/17th May 2015. The 17 teams from Monaco are already confirmed, their goal is to prepare for the J/70 World Championship in La Rochelle in July where ten Monaco teams are already signed up.
For more Alcatel OneTouch Italian J/70 Series sailing information, please contact: Veronica Tondelli (vtondelli@gmail.com) Press agent for the J/70 Italian Class (http://www.j70.it).
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