(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The thirty-seven boats from seven countries
across Europe on the start line made the first event of the ALCATEL J/70
Cup series a great success, despite the decidedly damp conditions.
Nonetheless, the quality of racing was red-hot, featuring a large and
competitive fleet gathering once again in the glamorous waters off
Monaco.Four out of six scheduled races were completed under light and unstable wind that kept the tacticians on their toes for the entire weekend. The wind speed rarely exceeded ten knots. While the racing was not physically taxing, the shifting breeze was a real test of tactical awareness. The reigning Italian J/70 National Champion, Franco Solerio racing L’ELAGAIN won the first event of the ALCATEL J/70 Cup, staking his claim on the overall Open title with his crew of Daniele Cassinari, Simon Alltree and Luca Albarelli. Winning the Corinthians Cup was Team MUMMY ONE sailed by Alessio Querin and crew of Federico Del Zompo, Etore Mazza, and Jacopo Cunial, they also took silver for the regatta! The podium was completed by Ludovico Fassitelli's JUNDA from the host club- YC Monaco- with crew of Andrea Felci, Paolo Montefusco and Andrea Buzzi.
The
balance of the top five was completed by Alessandro Zampori's MAGIE DAS
SAILING TEAM in fourth (crew was Gianni Sommariva, Eugenio Ramassoto
and Luca Antonetto). Tied with equal points, respectively, in fifth and
sixth position, were Carlo Alberini's CALVI NETWORK team (Serfio Blosi,
Branco Brcin, Kario Hmeljak- just back from a 2nd place @ Bacardi Miami
Sailing Week) and the British team led by Charles Thomson on BRUTUS
(crew of Sam Carter, Chris Webber and Georgina Aninsmith) from Royal
Southern YC.
There
were several notable performances as the class evolves in Europe in the
early part of the season. Oscar Lundqvist’s crew from the KSS (Royal
Swedish YC) sailed FANNY to a 7th overall and managed a 2nd in the third
race. The top Swiss team on APROTEC sailed by Stephane Meylan from
Geneva had a 3rd in that same race and took 8th overall. The famous
Italian fashion house, LORO PIANA, has seen the “old man’s” love of
sailing taken to another level- brothers Giacomo and Pietro sailed MARY J
with friends Francesco Ivaldi and Matteo Bert to a 1st place in the
first race and, ultimately, finished 11th overall. Another family
member, Franco Loro Piana sailed JAMMING and is learning quickly from
the likes of top competitors in the same fleet like Italy’s famous
Francesco de Angelis (the former J/24 World Champion and America’s Cup
Champion sailing on B2 with Michele Salli). Then, J/80 World Champion
from Spain, Hugo Rocha, was sailing with Stefano Bonadeo’s MARY LOU crew
from YC Costa Smeralda (Ricardo Bonadeo is the current YCCS Commodore)
and they managed a 1st place in race three! No question, the European
teams across the board are elevating their game very quickly, as has
been proven in international J/70 class competition— remember, the World
Champion came from Mexico and the runner-up was Italian!
Following
the footsteps of the 2015 event, the Italian J/70 Class Association
will count on a highly international fleet for the entire racing season.
And, whereas several new teams have joined the Italian and European
J/70s, all top teams of the 2015 ALCATEL J/70 Cup- both in overall and
Corinthian divisions- started their 2016 season in Monaco to collect the
points through the series consisting of the five events.After Monaco, the ALCATEL J/70 Cup series will lead to San Remo, Italy (on May 7-8), to Porto Cervo (on June 3-5), to Malcesine (on July 23-24). The series will conclude with the J/70 Eurocup (Riva del Garda, September 9-11). For more ALCATEL J/70 Cup sailing information
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