Spain's Hugo Rocha Fast Out of the Starting Blocks(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Sixty teams representing 11 nationalities were champing at the bit on the starting block Wednesday morning waiting for the P-flag to drop for the first race at the J/70 European Championship for the Credit Suisse Trophy. Within minutes a brisk easterly filled in steadying at 13 knots to give ideal conditions for the YC Monaco Race Committee headed by John Coveney, assisted by PRO Thierry Leret, to complete two races Wednesday.
It was no surprise to see so many general recalls, obliging the Race Committee to bring out the Black Flag for both races, disqualifying several that were over the line. It’s a classic scenario in regattas of such a high level with competitors jostling for position determined not to give way to their opponents, and even more so in these one-design events. A configuration that is likely to be repeated throughout the week, given the length of the starting line and number of participants.
For the second race, the Race Committee had to adapt to a wind shift at the start to give all competitors the most suitable course.
The
German Max Rieger (Led Zeppelin), one of the favorites, paid a high
price for the over-eagerness of his young team at the start of the
second race as they were declared BFD, meaning they cannot afford to
make another mistake, as was the Mexican Fernandez Neckelmann Julian
(Flojito y Cooperando), current World Champion who lies 28th in the
overall provisional ranking this evening, and Key West title holder,
Carlo Alberini (Calvi Network) who is currently 24th.After Wednesday’s racing, it’s the Spaniard Hugo Rocha (New Territories), winner of Kiel Week, who leads the provisional ranking with a 3-1 scoreline ahead of German Moritz Bohnenberger (Touring Junior) and Swede Oscar Lundqvist (Fanny), equal on points with Monegasque Jacopo Carrain (Carpe Diem) and Germany’s Bo Teichmann (Outsider) in 5th. .
The
racing is close and it’s notable that three Spanish teams are in the
top ten along with two German teams. “Seeing today’s weather conditions
we worked on strategy and stayed totally focused for the starts to
avoid a BFD,” said President of the Monaco Class Association Jacopo
Carrain. Racing continues until Saturday.Provisional Top 5 results- Day 01
1. New Territories- Hugo Rocha- Spain- 3-1- 4 pts
2. Touring Junior- Mortiz Bohnenberger- Germany- 12-4- 16 pts
3. Fanny- Oscar Lundqvist- Sweden- 15-2- 17 pts
4. Carpe Diem- Jacopo Carrain- Monaco- 11-6- 17 pts
5. Outsider- Bo Teichmann- Germany- 7-11- 18 pts
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