Algebris 69F Cup: Groupe Atlantic (FRA) wins the second event in a row
by 69F Sailing 2 Jul 2023 07:17 BST
29 June - 1 July 2023
Three days of racing, 14 races, 10 teams from 8 nations and a whole lot of foiling and fun. This sums up the Algebris 69F Cup 2023 in Malcesine, Lake Garda, the third Grand Prix of six for the year.
The lake delivered brilliant conditions as always, with the thermal Southerly breeze blowing everyday, between 8 and 12 knots with flat water, perfect for foiling. The only circuit for one-design, full foiling monohull for crews was proudly part of the 10th Foiling Week, the only event that brings together all foiling boats and boards since 2014.
The French talented sailors of Groupe Atlantic have conducted a flawless regatta, they have been leading since the very first day of racing displaying an advantage over the rest of the fleet, both in boat handling and tactics. Clement Cron, Louis Chambet, Jessica Berthoud and Valentin Sipan proved to be the best of the 69F open circuit by winning the first two events of the season.
"It feels great to have won two regattas back to back", comments Clement Cron. "It is always great to have consistency, and in both events we had that. It has been a great event this one in Malcesine, we loved being here with great conditions. Now the plan is to go to Portorose next month and hopefully win that one too. We like very much sailing 69F, when there are foiling conditions is no doubts the best boat in the world".
The 14 races were won by many different teams: Katana (SUI) the second team in the ranking won only one at the beginning of the serie, but Alex de Weck, Jann Shupbach and Simone Salvà definitely proved great regularity throughout the week, and the season - they finished second also in April in Valencia - after a nice winter training program in Barcelona. In third place the experienced Fin1Racing (FIN), with Janne Jarvinen, Allan Norregaard and Spanish Olympic 49er crew Iago Marra Lopez, also winners of only one race on day two.
Among the ten boat fleet, there are two teams from the Netherlands training for the Youth and Women America's Cup. It's DutchSail Youth and DuthSail women, who finished respectively in sixth and 10th place, being one of the first time foiling for most of them. The 69F has been chosen by many AC teams to train and select their Youth and Women teams, being the only one-design, full foiling monohull for crew, similar to the ones used for the 2024 event.
The Algebris 69F Cup will now go to Slovenia for GP4: Portorose will host the flying fleet from the 28th to 30th of July, but before, the six boats owned by 69F will be the learning platform for 60 teenagers from 10 Yacht Clubs coming from 10 different nations at the European Dream Cup in Gargnano. It is an Erasmus + event that aims to unify Europe through sailing and teach young sailors the art of foiling, sustainability principles, inclusivity and digitalization.
Full ranking available here.