Winter Series regattas culminated this past weekend in Monaco

The Principality is a magnet for winter sailing competition

This past Sunday, March 11, 2018 did not offer favorable weather conditions, but athletes were very busy in the Principality, where runners were competing on the streets and sailors were racing on the sea. It was the culmination of the 5^th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series regattas organized from October to March by the Yacht Club de Monaco.

These series were a magnet for over 260 sailors representing 11 nationalities on board 180 boats, who came to Monaco during the winter to compete in a total of 58 races. After the Melges 20s mid-February, that saw the crowning of the Russians on Alex Team, it was the turn of the J/70s to kick around in their final Act of the season in a southerly veering easterly wind meeting competitors’ hopes.

J/70 Monaco Sport Boat Winter Series 5th Act March 2018@mesi_BD

J/70 Monaco Sport Boat Winter Series 5th Act March 2018 (2)@mesi_BD

Art Tube tops the J/70s ranking  

Led by the talented Valeria Kovalenko, Art Tube follows a tacit rule: don’t take anything for granted until the finish line. Constantly alert, eyes riveted on their opponents and the course, the team is like a well-oiled machine, nibbling away at the meters with each maneuver. Valeria Kovalenko has certainly set the bar high as the irrefutable sovereign of the Monaco race area, winning all Acts in this 5^th edition to bag the series by a clear 84 points: “I want to thank my crew from the bottom of my heart for helping me win here in Monaco, and the YCM whose superb facilities are ideal for organising this type of event.”

Stefano Roberti (Piccinina) came in a well-deserved 2^nd, an enormous satisfaction for the YCM sailor: “I am really delighted with this result which I owe to my team,” he said. The Italian Germano Scarpa (Sport Cube) completed the podium in 3^rd. (Photo below: The J/70 podium March 11, 2018@Mesi)

Results for this final Act remained almost unchanged, with Art Tube topping the ranking, ahead of Alice followed by the Swiss on Cde.Ch.

The J/70 class remains very dynamic in the Principality with 20 boats flying the YCM ensign, looking forward to the future: “In 2021, we will be hosting the J/70 World Championship,” announced Monaco class President Michel Boussard, and added: “From today till the event, we will continue to organize regattas, training sessions and clinics run by professionals in order to be ready.”

YCM sailors won amateur category

In the Corinthian amateur category, competitors pulled out all the stops and managed to upset some of the best teams. The Swiss on Quarter2Eleven won this regatta and finished 4th in the overall ranking all categories combined. Rémi Piazza, a young sailor from the Sports Section made excellent progress and is now a loyal fan of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series. He won the season in the amateur category with a team comprising all YCM sailors.

Another Russian victory in the Melges 20

The final Act for the Melges 20 in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series was at the last Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse in February. At the end of 28 races, it was the Russians on Alex Team who stepped up to the top of the podium ahead of stage local, Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda). Maxim Titarenko (Leviathan) clinched 3rd for the 2017/2018 season.

Stars shine in Monaco

Loyal to the Principality, the Stars, a former Olympic class, joined the party for the fourth stage of their winter circuit. German duo led by Steffen Rutz (Jaguar) lived up to their reputation by winning the event and all the races. Olympic sailor, Christian Nehammer (8423), was 2^nd just ahead of the YCM’s Filippo Orlando at the helm of Furiosa.

Star class Monaco Sport Boat Winter Series March 2018@mesi_BD

Star class Monaco Sports Boat Winter Series March 2018@mesi_BD

Star Podium March 2018@mesi_BD

Mark your calendars

The Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series returns 8-11 November 2018 for the first Act of the sixth season. Meanwhile, one-designs will again take center stage 27-31 March when the Principality hosts the first Monaco Swan One Design, a gathering of these fast competitive, elegant boats. A first to be followed by another premier June 1-8, when the Yacht Club de Monaco organizes the first Monaco Globe Series for the IMOCA 60 class. The event is a double-hander non-stop offshore race of 1,300nm and a qualifier for the Vendée Globe 2020, embracing the most emblematic marks in the Western Mediterranean.