(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- This coming weekend, the J/70 class in Europe
will be participating in the annual Primo Cup- Credit Suisse Regatta
hosted by YC Monaco, an event that marks the unofficial start to the
summer sailing season on the Mediterranean. Forty-five J/70s, nearly
twice the size of any other fleet in the event, will be sailing from the
12th to 14th of February in Act 4 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter
Series.The J/70 fleet is even more international this year following the European Championship hosted by the YC Monaco last October. The J/70 class has grown rapidly in the Principality, with 18 boats now racing under the Yacht Club de Monaco flag- now it’s largest one-design class in just three years! Joining them will be top teams from all across the Continent, including teams from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and Sweden.
The British contingent is being led by Charlie Esse’s BABY J and Ian Wilson’s GILL RACE TEAM. The Germans have a number of teams participating that are using it for practice as they prepare for the first of their Deutsche Segel-Bundesliga events taking place in a few weeks. Top teams include Stephan Molle’s GRUN SOFTWARE AG, Karsten Witte’s J-WD, Stefanie Rothweiler’s MOTHERSHIP, Claas Lehman’s TRE MARKELLER and Valentin Zeller’s UNITED DOMAINS. The Italians have Michelle Galli and Francesco DeAngelis sailing B2, Ferdinando Battistella on DIVA and Piergirogio Oss on INTOXICA. For the first time, the Russians are fielding five teams, including Sergi Ezhikov’s JUNO, Alexander Markarov’s MAJIC, Dimitri Zaricktii’s MOJO, Valeriya Kovalenko’s ArtTUBE.RU, and Artem Markov’s YANIS. The five Swiss teams include Michel Glaus’ CDE.CH, Werner Neuer’s JAWS and Julian Flessati’s RCB. The Swedish champion and top racer Ingemar Sundstedt on ROCAD RACING will be leading the charge for the Swedes.
As for the hometown crews, their ring-leader and Monaco class President Jacopo Carrain may be leading the charge with CARPE DIEM, with others hoping to factor into competitive landscape, like Anne Rodelato’s JOKER, Phillippe Battaglia’s LE REDOUBTABLE, Irina Travadel’s LIBECCIO, Pierrick Devic’s PAGET, Stefano Roberti’s PICCININA, and Alexis Rodelato’s SIROCCO.
Enjoy the show! As always the public are more than welcome to watch the along the waterfront. Races can be seen from various observation points in the Principality including the Luciana Jetty near the YC Monaco, the esplanades and slopes of the main harbour wall, Fort Antoine, the terrace of the Oceanographic Museum right on the race course area (spectacular!) and, of course, the famous Casino Gardens.
And finally, in a long established tradition special to the YC Monaco for all its regattas, technical clothing specialist SLAM, a loyal YCM partner for over 30 years, presents crew members of the first three teams with garments from the company’s Advanced Technology line. The famous Italian brand will have boutique during the event and it will be open to the public. For more Primo Cup- Credit Suisse Regatta information
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