G-SPOT CROWNED PRIMO CUP- TROPHY CREDIT SUISSE CHAMPION

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The 2021 pandemic version of the famous Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse took place on the storied waters of Hercules Bay in front of Monte Carlo, Monaco. Hosted by the eponymous Yacht Club de Monaco, the fleet of twenty local J/70s enjoyed two-straight days of nice sailing. Here are the reports of what happened over the three days of competition.


Day 1- Gorgeous Easterly
A 6-7 knot easterly wind blew in across the Bay all day long. That enabled the J/70 class to complete three races in nearly ideal conditions. At the conclusion of the day's racing, it was Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT that came out on top ahead of the crew on CER-APROTECT and Loïc Pompée's SAILING RACING TEAM. In the Corinthian (amateur) category, Cesare Gabasio’s TINN J70, Stefano Roberti PICCININA and Thomas Studer's JERRY comprised the podium after this first day.


Day 2- Awesome Big Wave Planing Conditions
It was a fantastic day for competitors with a 15-knot easterly gusting to 25 knots with a slight chop, optimal conditions for completing three races back-to-back.
 
Leading the J/70s after day one, the men on G-SPOT kept up the pace and by evening they maintained their top ranking, just two points ahead of Ludovico Fassitelli's JUNDA-SUMU CAPITAL. Pompée's SAILING RACING TEAM remained in a provisional 3rd place. In the Corinthian category, Gabasio's TINN J70 topped the table ahead of Roberti's PICCININA.

Day 3- Fade Away Sunday
After two great days of racing, the easterly finally blew itself out as the front continued to move off to the eastern part of the Mediterranean. As a result, all races were canceled on Sunday despite an attempt to get the fleet mobilized.  

“This year is very different, but it was important for us to maintain the link with members and keep some of our activities going, particularly as we prepare to host the J/70 World Championship next year,” explained Yacht Club de Monaco General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandro. “I also think it’s important for our young people to have an activity and maintain social ties. That is really essential for our club.”
 
As a result of Sunday's cancellation, the standing from Saturday evening stood. G-SPOT winning, followed by JUNDA-SUMUS CAPITAL and SAILING RACING TEAM. The Corinthians saw TINN J70 take the honors, followed by PICCININA. 

PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES Wins Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series
In the interests of fair play vis-a-vis the international teams who normally descend on Monaco for this regatta, results of the Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse did not count towards the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series. Therefore, the only results that counted overall were from Act 1 (14-17 January) and Act 2 (4-7 February). 

Consequently, after 14 races, the redoubtable Italians on PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES (skippered by Claudia Rossi) won the series quite handily. Rounding out the podium were two YC Monaco teams; Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT taking the silver and Fassitelli's JUNDA-BANCA DEL SEMPIONE securing the bronze.
For more YC Monaco Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.

PRIMO CUP- TROPHY CREDIT SUISSE PREVIEW

 

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Launched in 1985 at the instigation of HSH Prince Albert II, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s President, the Primo Cup has established itself as the big meeting that opens the season in the Mediterranean for Europe’s one-design elite. In the past, more than 450 sailors on 100 boats in six classes have descended on Monaco to celebrate this great classic.

Because of the infamous pandemic, the 2021 edition will see fairly radical, substantive changes to the event in order to comply with current guidelines for safety. 

The YC Monaco decided to adapt by maintaining this regatta with a reduced format which allows local crews to sail in compliance with current health measures. Only two classes, both of which are very active in the Principality, will be competing from Friday 5th March with the first warning signal at 12 noon for the J/70s. As every year, thanks to the support of long-time partner SLAM, the first three boats in each class of the Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse will receive garments from the Italian supplier’s technical range.
 
In the interests of fair-play for the many international teams who usually descend on Monaco for the winter season, the results of the Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse, which would normally also be the last act of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, will not count towards the final ranking for 2021. Only results from Act 1 in January (14-17) and Act 2 in February (4-7) will count.

With an eye towards the 2022 J/70 World Championship hosted by YC Monaco, there are many highly experienced crews that are training in the local waters. 

One of the top Italian teams is Claudia Rossi's PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES, current J/70 European Champions. They face tough competition from local sailors such as YCM’s Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-spot), Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda-Banca del Sempione). Loic Pompee's SAILING RACING TEAM, and Roberto Stefano's PICCINNA. As always with YCM regattas, young sailors from the YCM Club’s Sports Section also have an opportunity to pit their wits against the best on J/70s.  For more YC Monaco Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing information

G-SPOT TOPS MONACO J/70 WINTER SERIES ACT II

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The Monaco J/70 Winter Series continued this past weekend, hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco in Monte Carlo. Twenty-three teams sailed the event with most participating from Monaco, but including enthusiastic teams from Italy, France, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden, and Netherlands. The fleet was greeted by rather mundane conditions for the famous Hercules Bay. For the most part it was grey and overcast with moderate conditions for the weekend. 

Over the three-day series, the YC Monaco PRO managed to run a total of nine races. In the end, it was Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT that sailed a solid, very consistent series. Other than a black flag blemish on their record in the 7th race, they had four podium finishes including two race wins to take the event with 31 pts. net. 


Ludovic Fassitelli's JUNDA- BANCO DEL SEMPIONE started off the series with a black flag, and after a 2-2-1 in the next three races was looking good for the top of the podium. Thereafter, their team faltered a bit but hung on to take the silver medal with 34 pts. net. Rounding out the podium and taking the bronze medal was Claudia Rossi's PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES. Starting off with a black flag as well, she amassed a regatta-winning tally of three bullets and 2-3-5, but that was not enough to overcome a second BFD in her 7th race. 


Rounding out the top five was Gianrocco's Catalano's ALICE in 4th place and taking 5th position was Loic Pompee's SAILING RACING TEAM.

In the Corinthians Division, it was Lorenz Kausche's RHUBARBE team from Switzerland that took gold. Second was Cesare Gabasio's TINN J70 from Monaco and third was Thomas Studer's Swiss crew on JERRY. 
For more Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.

MONACO J/70 WINTER SERIES ACT II PREVIEW

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The Monaco J/70 Winter Series continues this weekend, hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco in Monte Carlo.  Thirty teams are registered for the event with most participating from Monaco, but including enthusiastic teams from Italy, France, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden, and Netherlands. 

Look for the following teams to be in the hunt at the top of the leaderboard; Claudia Rossi's PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES, Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT, Roberti Stefano's PICCININA, Cesare Gabasio's TINN J70, Ludovic Fassitelli's JUNDA- BANCO DEL SEMPIONE, and Tom Studer's JERRY. The event is a schedule for three days, starting Friday and ending Sunday in Neptune's Bay. 
For more Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES WINS J/70 MONACO WINTER SERIES ACT I

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- For the start of its eighth season, the Monaco J/70 Winter Series had twenty-one teams participating from Monaco, Switzerland, Italy, and France! As usual, the Yacht Club de Monaco rolled out the red carpet for the happy and enthusiastic J/70 teams, hosting a wonderful event despite all of the precautions put in place for Covid virus mitigation. 

Like their compatriots in the USA, the Mediterranean Sea also delivered relatively light weather for the duration of the three-day series. In the end, the YC Monaco PRO managed complete a five-race series.


The fleet was deeply talented, including the past three-time European J/70 Champion- Italian Claudia Rossi's famous PETITE TERRIBLE- ADRIA FERRIES. Hopping aboard her boat with her familiar crew must have sent chills down the spines of the other top tacticians and skippers. Not surprisingly, it was pretty clear after the first day that Claudia had not lost her form, taking a 1-2 to easily lead the fleet. Thereafter, she posted a 1-7-5 to win the regatta with just 9 pts.  

Swiss sailor, Thomas Studer, started off slowly on the first day, then quickly made the necessary adjustments with his crew to sail smarter and faster the rest of the regatta. Studer's JERRY posted a 6-8-2-2-1 tally for a total of 11 net pts, nearly catching Rossi's PETITE TERRIBLE in the end. Sailing consistently from start to finish with all top 6 finishes was Giangiacomo Serena Di Lapigio's G-SPOT, posting a 4-6-4-5-3 tally for 16 pts net. 

Winning the Corinthians Division was Thomas Studer's JERRY. The balance of the podium was determined by a tie-breaker at 23 pts each. Taking the silver based on the countback was Ludovico Fassitelli's JUNDA- BANCO DEL SEMPIONE from Monaco. As a result, Cesare Gabasio's TINN J70 took the bronze medal. 

The next regatta will take place in Monte Carlo on February 4th to 7th, 2021. For more YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/70 MONACO WINTER SERIES ACT I PREVIEW

 

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- For the start of its eighth season, the Monaco J/70 Winter Series will have around 20 boats on the water this coming weekend. Due to the current pandemic health situation, the teams present at this first official meeting of the race season will mainly comprise local teams. Virtually all the teams will be focused on preparation for the 37th Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco from March 4th to 7th, 2021. 

Among the favorites for Act I of the winter series will be the leaders that started their winter season with the Christmas Regatta in December 2020. Winning that event was Ludovic Fassitelli's JUNDA- BANCA DEL SEMPIONE. Challengers should include teams like Stefano Roberti's PICCININA, Herve Maino's SOPWITH CAMEL, Jeremy Moutot's LOKOMOTIV, and the French team on Guillaume Charon's KISS & FLY.   For more YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information

J/70 Sailors Factor @ Yacht Club Monaco Awards

 

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The traditional Winter Cocktail Party, which welcomes new members before the YCM Awards - Trophée Credit Suisse are presented, went ahead this year albeit remotely in compliance with the current health situation. 

Yacht Club de Monaco President, HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II, rewarded sailors who proudly fly the Principality’s colors and have made a mark on the world’s race areas. As J/Sailors recall, Prince Albert was a J/24 sailor for two decades in Monaco and actively supports the J/70 fleet today.

A regular on the J/70 regatta scene, Pierrik Devic received a special prize for his excellent results in the Laser Master. Having embarked on this physically tough Olympic class boat, he won the Euro Master Circuit 2020 in the Laser Radial Master category and clinched 4th place in his category at the Laser Master European Championship. 

The YCM Awards 2020 also recognizes members who have best defended the Club’s burgee during the past year. In the YC Monaco’s flagship J/70 class with 17 boats flying the burgee, Ludovico Fassitelli took the honours as he did last year. He finished 3rd in the 2019/2020 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series at the end of 20 races, 1st in the Med Cup, 7th in the Malcesine J/70 Cup, 5th in the J/70 Italian Championship and winner in the Corinthian (amateur) category. 

The coveted "YCM Sailor of the Year" 2020 award went to Lord Irving Laidlaw (Highland Fling), nominated three years in a row since 2017, for the sum of his successes in the world’s most prestigious races. He talked of his passion and what motivates him, “I like new challenges, but above all I love getting a project to work and making it a success, which is not easy. It means finding the right boat, a good crew, organizing the training sessions. Everything must dovetail to perfection. What inspires me most is winning. I love competing but I prefer winning races even more”. 

Where did Lord Laidlaw first learn how to compete at a world-class level? He sailed J/24s for nearly two decades in the United Kingdom, Italy, and across Europe.

Lord Laidlaw is not only passionate about sailing, but he is also a committed philanthropist focused on young people through his Laidlaw Foundation. This revolves around three main principles: 

• fighting inequality and poverty through education
• inspiring young people to believe in their potential to be tomorrow’s leaders
• supporting young women to achieve top class business degrees and take their place in the business world. 

With the dawning of a new year, the YCM fully intends to maintain its course when it comes to innovative projects like the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (6-10 July 2021). This annual event transforms the Club into an incubator supporting R&D in the shipping sector, stimulating the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and professionals to devise propulsion systems using only clean energy.  For more YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/70 Med Cup Announcement!

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The Italian, French and Monegasque J/70 Classes are thrilled to announce the J/70 Med Cup, in its second season, will start in October in Sanremo, Italy. With thirty-seven entries to date, the six-event series will have podium awards for each leg, plus an overall series podium for the best 4 results.

Notably, the 2022 J/70 Europeans and J/70 Worlds will be hold in Hyères and in Monaco, so racing the J/70 Med Cup is a fantastic way to get to know these locations.

A bonus for all J/70 owners is that logistics are greatly simplified for the participants. J/70s can be left in Sanremo and in Monaco if teams are racing for the full Monaco Winter Series. The driving distance from Sanremo to Hyères is of about 200 km, mostly on highway, from Sanremo to Monaco about 50 km and about 150 from Monaco to Hyères.

Here is the J/70 Med Cup schedule for 2020 and 2021: 

• Oct 23-25- Yacht Club Sanremo (Sanremo - Italy)
• Nov 6-8- COYCH (Hyères - France)
• Nov 13-15- Yacht Club Sanremo (Sanremo - Italy)
• Dec 10-13- Yacht Club de Monaco (Monaco)
• Feb 4-7- Yacht Club de Monaco (Monaco)
• May 13-16- I.Y.C.H. (Hyères - France)

For any other information, feel free to contact the J/70 Med Cup organizer- email- info@j70medcup.org
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Russian J/70 Wins Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse!!

ELF Dominates J/70 Primo Cup- Credit Suisse Regatta
(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Yacht Club Monaco's 36th Primo Cup– Trophée Credit Suisse took place last weekend off Monte Carlo, Monaco in what could only be described as "champagne" sailing conditions. For the first time in recent memory, the enormous sixty-five-boat J/70 fleet was treated to brilliant sunshine, relatively flat waters, and southerly breezes in the 8 to 15 knots range for all three days.


The regatta was the first "dress rehearsal" for the 2021 J/70 World Championship that will be sailed in the same waters and hosted by YC Monaco from 18th to 23rd October, 2021. Last year's winner, Ludovico Fassitelli on JUNDA, commented that, “you have to be constantly on the alert, always on the lookout without ever lowering your guard. Obviously, we want to win, but at the same time we are trialing new sails to decide which to use for the Worlds”.


From day one, the Russians on ELF flew into the lead, never to relinquish the top of the podium.  On the first day, they were fast out the starting blocks with three 2nd places. By Sunday afternoon, they had won their first-ever YCM Primo Cup Trophee Credit Suisse regatta; their skipper Mikhail Sheremetev and crew (Sergey Sobolev, Maksim Sheremetev, Pavel Sysoev, and Mikhail Chegurov) were overjoyed with their amazing performance. The Swiss team on CER APROTEC- VILLE DE GENEVE, skippered by Nelson Mettraux, took back to Geneva the silver medal. Finally, taking the bronze was YC Monaco's own Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio, skippering G-SPOTTINO. The balance of the top five included the "hard-luck" American team on FURIO in fourth place, they were in second place overall going into the last day, but a disastrous last race 26th dropped them off the podium. Taking fifth position was the Cyprus/ Russian team on AMAIZ, skippered by Viacheslav Martynov.


The Corinthians Division saw extremely tight racing with the winners determined on a tie-breaker at 60 points each.  Winning that tie-break on count-back was United Kingdom crew on BRUTUS- skipper Charles Thompson with crew of Tony Hanlon, Ian Southworth, and Craig Burlton. Taking the silver was Cesar Gabasio's Monaco team on TINNJ70 that included Paolo Canale, Pietro Corbucci, and Gianluca Caboni.  Third went to a well-known YC Monaco crew- Stefano Roberti's PICCININA with crew of Axelle Foucaud, Yves Drappier, and Ludovic Broquaire.   Sailing video highlights of first day   For more YC Monaco Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Primo Cup– Trophée Credit Suisse Preview

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)– The tradition continues in the Royal Principality of Monaco as the clock ticks down to the 36th Primo Cup, for the Credit Suisse Trophy and Slam garments, organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco. A meeting par excellence for one-designs, the regatta has been held every February since 1985, the month it was launched at the instigation of YC Monaco President HSH Prince Albert II.

This year again the profile of classes and competitors points to this being a regatta of a level that will live up to expectations with some 450 sailors expected. Primo Cup regulars now include a big fleet of J/70s with several Nordic teams who have based themselves in the Principality for the winter for the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series of monthly regattas from October to March.

The J/70s have a much larger fleet due to the fact Monaco is hosting the J/70 World Championship from 18-23 October 2021, a deadline attracting international teams like the Americans on Team Newport Harbor and the British on REDSHIFT. The latter will have Hannah Diamond onboard who recently cut her teeth on the Volvo Ocean Race after years in dinghy classes.


Bernard d’Alessandro, YC Monaco's Regatta Director, commented that "Monaco is an amazing destination resort and facility for international sailors. Between the sea and the mountains (we’re just an hour and a half from the ski slopes), it is an exceptional setting with conditions that vary hugely and challenge all the qualities of a good sailor. That’s not to forget the facilities we have in the Clubhouse, inaugurated in 2014, which is ideal for hosting crews and organizing high-level regattas. All these advantages attract many international teams who decide to come to Monaco to sail, as evidenced by the success of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, now in its seventh season from October to March and also organized by us.  For more Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

BRUTUS Nips J/70 Monaco Winter Series III

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- It took one small point to clinch victory, as Act 3 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series went down to the wire. The event was organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with clothing supplier SLAM.

The 45 teams of 13 nationalities who had made the trip were not disappointed, with five races completed in optimal conditions ranging from a 5-12 knot westerly, ending on a 10-14 knot easterly.  For the 180 sailors it was another opportunity to experience the race area that is set to host the J/70 World Championship in October 2021. A dress rehearsal which drew international competitors like the Corinthian team from Seattle Yacht Club, as well as 11 Nordic teams including four from Sweden, one from Finland and one from Denmark.


The Russians on ARTTUBE, led by the talented Valeriya Kovalenko, pulled out all the stops in an attempt to snatch victory, but their record of an 8-1-1-9-2 for 12 pts net was not enough to dethrone Charles Thompson’s British team on BRUTUS. They may be in the Corinthian (amateur) category, but the BRUTUS boys proved they have what it takes to win at the highest level. Impeccable from start to finish, the British Royal Southern Yacht Club team kept up the pressure throughout the three days, showing remarkable consistency in their record with a 2-2-4-3-5 for 11 pts net total.

It was the Bo Pedersen's Danish crew on UPUPUP that grabbed third to complete the podium with an 11-23-2-12-3 tally for 28 pts net. In fact, they were equal on points and won the tie-breaker over Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOTTINO from the Yacht Club de Monaco, their record was a commendable 6-UFD-7-8-7.


Rounding out the top five was another top Russian team, Sergey Sobolev's ELF team posted another consistent record that was punctuated by a last race win- a 13-11-10-10-1 tally for 32 pts net.

Corinthians Division
Winning the Corinthians was Thompson's BRUTUS, with a significant lead. Taking second was the Swiss team of QUARTER2ELEVEN, skippered by Nick Zeltner, and following them in third was the Netherland's JELLOW helmed by Maarten Jamin.

Winter Series Provisional Rankings
This weekend’s win was enough to propel BRUTUS to the top of the provisional ranking for the Winter Series with 43 points under their belts after 15 races. Ludovico Fassitelli's JUNDA- BANCA DEL SEMPIONE, who had led the fleet after the first two Acts, now sits in 2nd place. Winners in 2017 and 2018, Kovalenko's ARTTUBE have their sights set on a three-peat, and their 2nd place this weekend takes them onto the third step of the provisional podium after three Acts.

All eyes are now on the 36th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse which is racing in two weeks from February 6th to 9th in Monaco.  For more Yacht Club Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Gorgeous Rolex Giraglia Race

(St Tropez, France)- The Yacht Club Italiano, St Tropez Yacht Club, and the Yacht Club de Monaco hosted the 67th edition of the Rolex Giraglia Race. 297 yachts were entered in both IRC and ORC classes. The regatta format included a “feeder” race to St Tropez from Sanremo, Italy. Then the fleet sailed three days of inshore races that include three Windward/ Leeward races. Ultimately, the fleet took off on the famous Rolex Giraglia Race, essentially a straight shot from St Tropez to a port round of the Giraglia Rock off the northeastern end of Corsica/ Sardinia, and head straight back to a finish in Hercules Bay off Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Feeder Race
104 yachts were on the starting line for the coastal race from Sanremo to Saint Tropez. The starting gun went off at midnight for the 10th anniversary of the 60.0nm race. The fleet included yachts from 16 different countries, with some boats flying the Latvian, Polish, Czech, Maltese, Russian, Swedish and Turkish flags.

The forecast for the midnight start was for an easterly/north-easterly wind of around 10 kts. The strategic decision for navigators was to decide whether to hug the coast, lengthening the course but picking up more wind, or head straight for Saint Tropez. The northeast breeze held and most boats simply sailed a straight, fast, rhumbline course, with most boats finishing by noon the next day.

Inshore Races
There was only two days of racing the inshore races due to the fickle weather pattern that had setup over the Mediterranean.  The first day saw the northeasterly flow continue, with moderate 5 to 15 kt breezes. The front moved further east, leaving behind a broad, light gradient flow that was not strong enough to conduct any racing on the second day.  Then, a new front moved in and the fleet had good racing on the final inshore day with more breezes again filling in from the east at 6-10 kts.

Rolex Giraglia Race
The start for the famous 241.0nm race was blessed with a crisp southwesterly wind of 15 to 20 kts that would carry the fleet all the way to the Giraglia Rock in near record time.

It was thrilling as ever to see such a mixed fleet leave the quays of Saint Tropez head out of port for the long race: 241.0nm with still uncertain weather keeping up the suspense that reigned on the quayside this morning.

The weather outlook remained uncertain, as anything could happen, especially with the stronger wind expected for Friday the 14th. Navigating on board Rambler 88 was Silvio Arrivabene, who reckoned that they were likely to arrive at the Giraglia rock "before dusk" on Thursday evening and cross the finish line in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Thursday). "There is a relatively fresh westerly, which will hopefully get us to Giraglia in the afternoon. It is downwind, so maybe we will put in a couple of gybes. Then we will come back on port tack all of the way to Monaco where we can expect the usual park-up. That will depend on if the westerly remains strong during the night." The course from Giraglia Rock to the finish line off Monaco is 297 degrees, which made for a quick fetch/tight reach.

In the end, several J/Crews had good outcomes for their week of sailing in the Mediterranean in some of the most historical, famous, and enjoyable, “watering holes” in the world- St Tropez and Monte Carlo.

In ORC A Class, Chile’s Nicolas Ibanez Scott sailed his J/122E ANITA into 4th place in the huge forty-four-boat class in the Rolex Giraglia Race, a great showing for their team. The only teams to beat them were flat-out carbon fiber races, like the winning canting-keeler, a Cookson 50. Then, in the ORC B class of thirty-six boats, Marcello De Gaspari’s Italian crew on the J/109 FREMITO D’ARJA sailed an awesome first inshore race, taking third place, but got black-flagged in the second race, ending their bid for a podium finish in a no-discard-race series.

In the IRC Division, Frenchman Yves Grosjean’s RORC race-winning J/133 JIVARO sailed a steady series to take 6th in IRC A Class of forty-eight boats, by far the highest placing production racer-cruiser in a class comprised of custom carbon racers such as the half-dozen TP52s! Not far behind them in 8th place was the British team on the J/122 CREME ANGLAISE skippered by John Rainger. Then, in the enormous fifty-boat IRC B Class, David Estoppey’s new J/112E NINOTCHKA from Switzerland started off slowly in the first inshore race, but sailed well to close the series with a 6-9 to take 7th place.  For more Rolex Giraglia Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Irish Luck @ Monaco J/70 Winter Series- Act V

Yacht Club Monaco Team Wins Overall!
(Monte Carlo, Monaco)– The 6th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series held from October 2018 to March 2019 ended in style this weekend with the fifth and final Act taking place in spring conditions (sunshine and wind) to the delight of the J/70 contestants that set up their winter base in the Principality.

Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with technical clothing supplier SLAM, the regattas were important for J/70 one-design teams to prepare for the season.  Already, many of the crews from Europe and the rest of the world are focused on the 2021 J/70 Worlds in Monaco.  That was evidenced by all the foreign teams, some from across the Atlantic.  Among the favorites in the J/70 fleet was the Brazilian sailing star Marcelo Ferreira, loyal teammate of Torben Grael, two-time Olympic gold Medallist and bronze Medallist in the Star class.

In the J/70 class, it was only fitting that on St Patrick’s Day, victory went to Marshall King’s Irish team on SOAK RACING, led by the International J/70 Class President. The team dominated the weekend with two race wins and always in the vanguard, despite determined Swiss opposition on CDE CH, helmed by Nicolas Anklin. Russian Sergey Sobolev on RUS 1271 took 3rd, although two poor results cost him dearly, as fewer than two points separated him from his pursuers all the way down to 7th place. Notably, SOAK RACING also won the Corinthian category, ahead of the Swiss armada.

For the fourth season, the YC Monaco Race Committee, managed by PRO Thierry Leret, managed twenty-nine races. Amazingly, they averaged nearly six races a weekend. It was a notable accomplishment by YC Monaco’s commitment to provide world-class sailing all winter long to their J/70 fleet.  It was greatly appreciated by sailors across Europe, Russia, and the rest of the world. Can anyone imagine that the vision of YC Monaco’s yacht racing evangelists (including HRH Prince Albert- himself an active J/24 sailor for decades) four years ago would lead to sixty-one teams participating in the 2018-2019 winter series?

In the final overall ranking for the 2018-2019 season, it was clear that HRH Prince Albert and his team at YC Monaco are producing great outcomes supporting their sailors on the European and International J/70 circuits.  Consistency and competitiveness paid off for Ludovico Fassitelli’s JUNDA BANCA DEL SEMPIONE. It was a successful return to the J/70 for the YC Monaco member, which bodes well for the J/70 World Championship in Monaco in October 2021.

Another YC Monaco member took 2nd place, Loïc Pompée’s ALLO III, who continues to progress and will be a team to watch out for in the next J/70 Europeans. The Swiss Corinthian team, Bruno Zeltner’s QUARTER 2 ELEVEN team, hung onto their 3rd place and 1st in the Corinthians after nearly 30 races.

Following the Swiss team in the Corinthians were two Russian teams; second was Dimitri Zaritskii (RUS 1271) and third was Andreï Malygin’s MARIA. Notably, MARIA had no worse than a 2nd in the middle two regattas of the series, winning both of them easily.

Dates have already been set for the 7th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series with five Acts and more than seventy boats are lined up to participate.

• Act 1: November 7-10, 2019
• Act 2: December 5-8, 2019
• Act 3: January 16-19, 2020
• Act 4: February 6-9- 2020- (Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse)
• Act 5: March 5-8 2020

For more Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Monaco J/70 Winter Series V Preview

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The fifth and final event of the Monaco J/70 Winter Series will be taking place this weekend from March 14th to 17th, hosted by Yacht Club de Monaco, with sailing taking place offshore on Hercules Bay in front of the famous Casino.

A fleet of thirty-nine highly competitive J/70s from across Europe and other parts of the world will be participating in up to ten races over the course of the weekend. Those teams hail from Monaco, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Ireland, Brazil, Great Britain, Finland, Ukraine, and Sweden.

The previous regatta for this fleet was the Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse that took place three weeks ago. Winning that event was Monaco’s own Ludovico Fassitelli on JUNDA- BANCA DEL SEMPIONE, with the Irish crew of SOAK RACING (Marshall King) and the Swiss team of JERRY (Tom Studer) rounding out the podium.  However, the two stalking horses behind this trio were perhaps the most formidable of all.  The winner of Act III was the Russian Andreï Malygin skippering MARIA, taking both the Open and Corinthian titles. And, the winner of Act II was the YC Monaco team of CHARISMA, skippered by Nico Poons.

With all five crews hoping to take the overall Winter Series title in the grand finale, it will be quite a battle amongst those teams.  All are well-prepared and are hoping to gain valuable experience as they keep a weather eye out for how they stack up against the world’s best for the 2021 J/70 World Championship that will be hosted by YC Monaco.  For more Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Fassitelli Crowned J/70 Primo Cup Champion

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Over 400 sailors on ninety-three one-design sailboats in five classes made the trip to Monaco for a long weekend of racing in the 35th Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse, from February 7th to 10th.

Launched in 1985, at the instigation of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, a year after becoming the Yacht Club de Monaco’s President, the Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse has established itself as the principal meeting that opens the yachting season in the Mediterranean for Europe’s one-design elite.  It’s no wonder that “Albert” loves to support one-design sailboat racing, for nearly two dozen years, he loved racing his favorite J/24 in the local Monaco fleet amongst “friends and family” in the Mediterranean.

With eight races completed in the J/70 class, the 35th edition lived up to its reputation as a demanding, high quality event that every year draws sailors from all over the world to kick-off the season. With the J/70 World Championship set to descend on the Principality in October 2021, nearly sixty teams turned out for the Primo Cup. In fact, the huge fleet of fifty-four highly competitive J/70s from across Europe and other parts of the worlds included; Monaco (14), Switzerland (11), France (6), Germany (7), Italy (6), Russia (5), Ireland (2), Brazil (1), Great Britain (1), Finland (1), Ukraine (1), and Sweden (1).

To say the outcome would have been pre-ordained amongst this incredibly competitive group would be considered an oversight.  Anyone could have won the event in the top ten, which is how close the racing was going into the last day.

Nevertheless, lying in third place after the first day, Ludovico Fassitelli’s JUNDA- BANCA SEMPIONE generated the surprise outcome for the event; taking the top step of the podium, without having won a race, but having been the most consistent overall.

“I am delighted for two reasons.  First, because I had the chance to race with fantastic friends, and secondly, what a joy to win at home,” said Ludovico Fassitelli.

Taking second was the Irishman and J/70 International Class President- Ian Wilson (SOAK SAILING), with the Swiss Thomas Studer (JERRY) in third place.

Rounding out the top five were two former winners of the YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series; Andrei Malygin’s Russian crew on MARIA RUS 1405 and Nico Poons’ CHARISMA MON 730, finishing 4th and 5th, respectively. As a result, for the first time in Primo Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse sailing history, there were six nations in the top ten (Monaco, Ireland, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, & Italy)!  Sailing photo credits- YC Monaco- Stefano Gattini/ Carlo Borlenghi  Follow Yacht Club de Monaco on Facebook here  For more J/70 Primo Cup Trophee Credit-Suisse sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/70 Primo Cup- Trophy Credit Suisse Preview

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- The premiere offshore one-design keelboat event of the spring, the very popular Primo Cup- Trophy Credit Suisse, will be taking place this weekend for a huge fleet of fifty-four highly competitive J/70s from across Europe and other parts of the world. Those teams hail from Monaco (14), Switzerland (11), France (6), Germany (7), Italy (6), Russia (5), Ireland (2), Brazil (1), Great Britain (1), Finland (1), Ukraine (1), and Sweden (1).

As they have for years, the Yacht Club Monaco is welcoming the enormous fleet with their extraordinary red carpet treatment, welcoming all sailors to their gorgeous setting on Hercules Bay.  The tempo and the competitiveness level of the J/70 fleet continues to increase as many teams are increasingly focused on the fact that YC Monaco will be hosting the 2022 J/70 World Championship.

Based on what happened in Act III of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series for J/70s two weekends ago, most competitors will be wondering if the theme of “the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming” will repeat itself in the face of heightened competition.  Surely, the winner of both the Open and Corinthian Divisions, the Russian Andreï Malygin skippering MARIA, will be doubling down their efforts to stay atop the leaderboard.

And, the balance of the top five that included two YC Monaco crews (Loïc Pompée’s ALLO III and Ludovico Fassitelli’s JUNDA- BANCA DEL SEMPIONE), two Swiss crews (Florian Geissbuehler’s ATTAQUE and Laurane Mettraux’s CER APROTEC VILLE DE GENEVE), and the top Irish team (Marshall King’s SOAK RACING) will all battle hard to remain in the top five.  For more J/70 Primo Cup Trophee Credit-Suisse sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/70 Monaco Winter Series Act III Preview

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- A total of forty-plus teams will be participating in Act III of the J/70 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, from January 17th to 20th, sailed on Hercules Bay just off the fabulous, majestic, mountainous setting off Monte Carlo. Hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the international contingent of teams from Finland, Denmark, Russia, Brazil, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine, Ireland, and France are looking forward to yet another amazing weekend of racing off the famous Principality of Monaco.

Will the all-Monegasque podium hold together like they did in the first two regattas?  Or, will there be more intense battles for the top of the leaderboard? In the previous event, it was an intense battle between Nico Poons’ CHARISMA (winner of Act II in December), Roberto Stefani’s PICCININA and Ludovico Fassitelli’s JUNDA (winner of Act 1 in November). Perhaps there will be other protagonists that step into the field of battle to tip the results in another direction?!

In the all-amateur Corinthian J/70 class, it was Swiss sailor Bruno Zeltner’s QUARTER2ELEVEN, a regular at the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, that pipped Monegasque Cesare Gabasio’s TINN J70 for the win.  Can the Swiss sailors do it again after a massive New Year’s Celebration and skiing with too much kirsch and delicious cheese fondue in the Swiss Alps?  Time will tell.

The next events in the five Act J/70 Winter Sportboat Series are:

• Feb 7-10- Act IV PRIMO Cup- Trophee Credit Suisse XXXV
• Mar 14-17- Act V Finale

For more J/70 Monaco Winter Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.