Monaco Optimist Team Race - Day 1
by Isabelle Andrieux 15 Jan 2016 09:35 GMT
14-18 January 2016
Monaco Optimist Team Race © Franck Terlin
45 races already in the bag
Sixty young sailors divided into 15 teams from 11 nations wasted no time Thursday morning rigging up their Optimists on Quai Louis II ready for the launch of the 7th Monaco Optimist Team Race, organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco with the support of FxPro, Eventica and Fon.
After an opening ceremony that gave teams from all over Europe and Tunisia a chance to get to know each other, the youngsters aged 12-15 headed for Monaco's outer harbour to do battle all afternoon in teams of four.
The Riviera sun may not have been at the rendezvous but a 5-knot breeze filled in enough to complete 45 races under the watchful eye of race director, Alfredo Ricci and Jury President Chris Atkins.
A great performance today by the Monegasques, coached by Margaux Meslin and comprising Simon Maltcev (Team Captain), Logan Vician, Lucas Frederiksen and Andrea Tortella, all from the Yacht Club de Monaco's Sports Section. The Monaco team currently lie second in the provisional overall ranking having won four of their six matches. Only three points separate them from the Opti Denmark team who looked to be in complete control of the race area, pulling off six wins in a row. The Brits from the Cardiff Bay Yacht Club are not far behind and could yet complete the podium.
Races start again today for the Optimists, and also for the YCM's flagship class, the J/70s, competing in Act 3 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series. Thirty-plus boats are competing in this international monthly championship which runs from October to March.
Racing starts: 10.00am for the Monaco Optimist Team Race and 1.00pm for the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series.