4th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series
by Isabelle Andrieux 14 Nov 2016 09:49 GMT
11-13 November 2016
Battles at the top
An Indian summer welcomed the 350 sailors from ten nationalities competing in the 4th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with technical clothing manufacturer, SLAM.
A Mistral veering to a southerly beneath sunny skies greeted the 60 boats divided into three classes for three days, a total of 22 Melges 20s, 35 J/70s and four GC32s For the latter it was the first time the fully foiling catamarans had made the trip to the Principality, invited by Pierre Casiraghi, Malizia helmsman and Yacht Club de Monaco Vice-President: "After our first season on the GC32 circuit, I really wanted to bring these new generation cats to Monaco who stole the show in the Principality."
GC32: foils take centre stage
The first day qualifiers in the fleet race format was won by Malizia with Pierre Casiraghi at the helm, after an exemplary start and having dominated three sides of the course. Despite dropping speed on the downwind leg, the locals anticipated to perfection a gust of wind to win the final race just 1.5 metres ahead of their opponents.
A match race contest followed, the first time that Pierre Casiraghi and his team have competed in this format. Modelled on that of the America's Cup, it puts the emphasis squarely on tactics and control, and is ideally suited to these speed machines.
Twitchy and quick, the GC32s react to the slightest breeze and it can be easy to make up lost ground. |In the one-on-one contest Realteam led by Jérôme Clerc played their cards right to win the finale against Sébastien Rogues (Team Engie) with Flavio Marazzi (Armin Storm Sailing Team) beating Pierre Casiraghi (Malizia).
J/70: Monegasques dominate at home
Not far from the catamarans, the Melges 20s and J/70s were champing at the bit with 57 teams lined up on the start, Brazilians, Turks, Russians, Italians, Norwegians, Austrians, Germans and French having made the trip.
In the Yacht Club de Monaco's flagship J/70 class, numbering no less than17 boats among members, the level rose another two notches, with the arrival of experienced teams like the Turk Emir Icgoren (Ameera Jet) and Vincenzo Onorato (Mascalzone Latino).
The Yacht Club de Monaco's Ludovico Fassitelli's Junda won the first Act in style, proving once again that consistency pays off. The skipper, who only discovered this boat last year is now on a par with the top of this class.
It was all very satisfying for the J/70 Monaco Association Class President, Michel Boussard: "These regattas are unique in Europe and are attracting a growing number of competitors. Six of the Monegasque boats were in the first 15 and the winner was a Club member. It's fantastic for us. The level is rising internationally, but also here." The Russian Valeriya Kovalenko (Arttube) was 2nd with Emir Icgoren's Turkish team (Ameera Jet) completing the podium.
In addition to these winter regattas held from October to March, the YCM organises intensive courses under the aegis of its La Belle Classe Sailing Academy for those who want to prepare for the upcoming season at the highest level.
Keen to get more YCM members on the race circuit, those involved in the Association welcomed them aboard this weekend as an introduction to competition. An initiative YCM General Secretary Bernard d'Alessandri praised, welcoming "the impetus given by the class's new President, Michel Boussard".
Melges 20: Valentin Zavadnikov tops the leader board
The second stage of the 4th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series was won by Valentin Zavadnikov (Synergy), the man behind this series of one-design regattas now into its fourth season.
After four races the YCM member pocketed the trophy having been 6th in Act 1. The Polish team led by Krzysztof Krempec (Mag Tiny) was 2nd with the Russian Alexander Novoselov (Victor) completing the podium.
All three fleets are already signed up for the next Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series regatta, from 9-11 December when the spectacular one-design M32 catamarans join the fleet.
Overall Results:
GC32 (Match Race rankings)
1st Jérôme Clerc (Realteam), SUI
2nd Sébastien Rogues (Team Engie), FRA
3rd Flavio Marazzi (Armin Storm Sailing Team), SUI
4th Pierre Casiraghi (Malizia), MON
J/70 (after 4 races)
1st Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda-Banca del Sempione), MON, 7 points
2nd Valeriya Kovalenko (Arttube), RUS, 11 points
3rd Emir Icgoren (Ameera Jet), TUR, 17 points
Melges 20 (after 4 races)
1st Valentin Zavadnikov (Synergy), MON, 17 points
2nd Krzysztof Krempec (Mag Tiny), POL, 20 points
3rd Alexander Novoselov (Victor), RUS, 21 points
Full results at www.ycm.org