(Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy)- Every year sailors from all over the
world check out Porto Cervo’s ideal sailing conditions characterized by
prevailing northwesterly breezes which make it an outstanding place to
sail in crystal clear, emerald-colored sea. The Italian J/70 Class is
going full steam ahead to make sure to provide J/70 sailors with the
best possible experience on and off the water for what is going to be a
great event: a mix of very competitive racing, steady breeze, emerald
water, warm weather and the worlds’ best after sail parties where you'll
feast on fantastic Italian food and wine.Now, there is just one month to go for the first start of the most awaited one-design keelboat event of 2017, the Audi J/70 World Championship, thta will be hosted in the facilities of YC Costa Smeralda from September 12th to 16th.
Registrations,
which had to be closed more than two months before the start of the
event, reached the record the record of one hundred and seventy-five
participants representing twenty-four nations: numbers that make the
Audi J/70 World Championship one of the most populous events ever with
one-design keelboats.Among the entries, the Americans aboard CATAPULT will arrive in Italy to defend the title won last year: the owner and helmsman Joel Ronning will be assisted in tactical choices by John Kostecki.
In the large group of American boats, SAVASANA is also to be kept in the spotlight: owner Brian Keane, eighth in the San Francisco World Championship of 2016 and winner of the 2017 USA Corinthian J/70 Nationals, will be entrusted with Stu McNay’s tactical calls- McNay is a 470 sailor for the US Olympic team and won the M24 World title in 2016.
Then, the three crews on the podium at the recent J/70 European Championship will also be in attendance- 1st- Claudia Rossi’s PETITE TERRIBLE (now a two-times continental champion), assisted on tactics by Olympian athlete Michele Paoletti; 2nd- Josè Maria Torcida’s Spanish crew on NOTICIA and 3rd- Peter Duncan’s RELATIVE OBSCURITY from America. The American entry came to Italy for the last event of the ALCATEL J/70 CUP season and promptly won the event! They aspire to do the same in the World Championship.
The Italian fleet will be the most represented with thirty-seven boats, followed closely by the German teams, with thirty-one crews in the entry list.
Among the Italians, in addition to the already mentioned PETITE TERRIBLE, there will also be the winners of the 2017 ALCATEL J/70 CUP circuit on board Carlo Alberini’s CALVI NETWORK, as well as the champions of the 2015 and 2016 editions of the same circuit, with L’ELAGAIN skippered by Franco Solerio.
The battle will also be tough in the Corinthian category, reserved for non-professionals: eighty crews will be in play to find out who will succeed Shawn Bennett, winner of the 2016 Corinthians. Among the favorites, there is also an Italian boat, WHITE HAWK skippered by Gianfranco Noè- they won Corinthians in every event of the 2017 season for the ALCATEL J/70 CUP.
For the members and sailors of YCCS, it will be a September to remember! Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, they are also hosting the ROLEX Maxi 72 Worlds, many with top J/70 sailors/ tacticians on board!
The YCCS 50th Anniversary Regatta will be held between these two events, on 10th September, and will be open to all yachts of over 20 feet with an ORC or IRC measurement certificate. Given the large numbers of J/70s, the fleet will have a separate start and real-time scoring. This will be a unique opportunity for racing and cruising boats to take part in the celebrations to mark a significant anniversary in Italian and international yachting.
The month concludes with the third edition of the AUDI SAILING Champions League (22nd to 24th September) sailing on the YCCS fleet of a dozen J/70s. It is the finale for teams from top yacht clubs around Europe having qualified through their individual national leagues. Winning in 2016 was the team representing the Deutscher Touring Yacht-Club and more than 30 teams will fight it out in a series of flights on board the YCCS J/70 fleet.
With the sporting events taken care of, the YC Costa Smeralda's activities then move to Milan where the One Ocean Forum will take place on 3rd and 4th October. The event is supported by UNESCO and the SDA Bocconi Sustainability Lab. Advocated by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, President of the YCCS Board of Directors, this will be the first Italian forum addressing the theme of sustainability relating to marine and coastal environments. The initiative, which will become a recurring appointment, and will be the highlight of the activities to celebrate the YC Costa Smeralda's 50th anniversary. For more YC Costa Smeralda club information For more AUDI J/70 World Championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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