Russians Crush Monaco Sportsboat Series..Again!

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Having won two of the three regattas to date, Russia’s top woman sportsboat skipper, Valerya Kovalenko, is making a big impression on the J/70 fleet. Her crew on ARTTUBE outwitted the competition and she has all the resources required to make this top-step podium finish at the YC Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series.

Thirty-three boats, including 11 Monegasque entries, lined up on the start of this penultimate Act.  However, the suspense is over for everyone. The “tsarina” of Russia has done it again! Dreams of a podium finish receded for some, but came true for others like Valerya Kovalenko at the helm of ARTTUBE with her talented crew of Igor Lisovenko, Alex Bozhko, and Denis Rozhkov.  Again, ARTUBE was the undisputed leader of the regatta.

The results speak for themselves with three wins out of four races that counted. The Russian team proved surprisingly consistent and in full control of their boat. Although rarely in the vanguard during starts, they worked their way steadily back up the fleet, nibbling away at the lost meters until the finish. Their strong point: the downwind legs, tackled with skill and every wave perfectly negotiated. 

The competition has no hope of overtaking her now. Despite their best efforts, the Germans on PAINT IT BLACK led by Carsten Kemmling were 2nd just ahead of the YC Monaco’s Stefano Roberti on PICCININA.  Roberti pulled out all the stops to keep his ambitions alive, coming in the top six in every race. At the end of racing on Sunday, he now lies 2nd in the provisional overall ranking after four Acts, behind Valerya Kovalenko.

A Breath of fresh air blows through J/70 class
As part of the YCM’s coaching policy, two teams from the Club’s Sports Section are now competing in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, with youngsters like Rémi Piazza.  A newcomer to the J/70 class he embodies the new generation of racers keen to shine in the keelboat categories. He finished 17th this weekend and 3rd in the owner category. Also competing was Leonardo Bonelli, a YC Monaco Optimist sailor who at the age of just 12 was racing on a J/70 for the first time!

The J/70s will be back on the water for the 34th Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse, 9-11 February 2018 that gathers the cream of one-design sailors in the J/70 class from across Europe.

Behind Russia’s Kovalenko and Monaco’s Roberti in the provisional series ranking overall is Italy’s Germano Scarpa on SPORTCUBE. There is one grand finale at the end of February for this winter-long series.  For more YC Monaco J/70 Sportsboat Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.