Foto copyright Carlo Borlenghi
Foto copyright Carlo Borlenghi
Foto copyright Carlo Borlenghi
Foto copyright Carlo Borlenghi
Foto copyright Carlo Borlenghi
A steady south-westerly breeze meant the Race Committee were able to run four races today, much to the delight of competitors on the final day of racing which ended the 27th edition of the Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse.
After the first round last weekend which gathered five one-design classes (Dragon, J24, Surprise, Melges 20, Esse 850), Monaco bay again produced balmy spring-like conditions for four other series: Longtze Premier, Platu 25 and Smeralda 888, alongside the X35s which were taking part for the first time in the Monaco event.
Every year for the last 27 editions, the Primo Cup regatta has always come across as an innovator, both on water and ashore. This year was no exception as organisers, the Yacht Club de Monaco, hosted the first ever round table on the health and safety of sailors at sea at the same time as the regatta. A panel of 11 international multi-disciplinary speakers took to the floor, together with solo sailor Bertrand de Broc. “The ocean is a school for Man, an apprenticeship where he learns how to cope by himself vis-a-vis nature. Nature is powerful and one has to respect and fear it at the same time,” said the French sailor. All the conclusions reached will be available on the Yacht Club de Monaco website (www.ycm.org).
A Chinese delegation, on a trip to the Principality to learn more about Monegasque expertise in naval architecture and construction, also enjoyed the spectacle put on by competitors, particularly the Longtze Premiers which are built in China in Qingdao.
At the prize-giving the Primo Cup’s partner, equipment and clothing manufacturer Slam, presented the first three teams in each series with clothing from their Advanced Technology Sportswear range. The winner of the X35, a new series at the Primo Cup, received a Hublot watch, as had the first in the Dragon class last weekend, it having been the most international class. The always highly anticipated draw for the gold ingot presented by Credit Suisse was won by the young Myst team, lead by the Stimamiglio brothers, competing in the Smeralda 888 class.
X35: the most powerful and fiercely fought
This was the most competitive of the four series, both on the passages between the marks and at the finish line, as the majority of teams arrived within two minutes of each other throughout the weekend. The level was the most consistent and the highest, as evidenced by the presence of Tommaso Chieffi (Mag Jackpot Sailing Team) or Matteo Savelli (Lelagain).
The stable conditions of the last day of racing made for an even closer contest, as crews fought hard to get round the buoys. In a tense final race an element of luck separated the three leaders. In the end it was Mag Jackpot Sailing Team who snatched victory by one single point ahead of Spirit of Nerina and Lelagain, helmed by Alessandro Solerio, manager of the class at European level.
Longzte Premier: Happy Birthday to the winner!
In this young series which was first introduced here in Monaco three years ago, everyone expected Nicolas Berenger (Un maillot pour la vie) to shine as he fought to make it three victories in a row in Monaco, but it was not to be. He ceded victory to the German Eckard Kaller (Wet Feet) “just because it’s his birthday” he joked, “but also because I made too many mistakes.” These two leaders dominated the event with three race victories each; the Swiss Frank Beat (QI) was third, eight points behind the Frenchmen.
Platu 25: strong German presence but an Italian leader
With only one outright victory in a race, the Italians on Nanuk still won the overall ranking, following a consistent performance which saw them among the front runners every time. Throughout the weekend they held off attacks by Falkone and Farr Bar, last year’s winner; these two German boats each won three races, totalling six of the eight that were run.
Smeralda 888: Botta Dritta beats the favourites to win
“It was a fantastic week-end with at least five or six of us on the same level which produced a real battle on the water; the standard was outstanding,” commented the winner Adalberto Miani (Botta Dritta). The Racing Officer of the YCM’s Sports Section put in a fine tactical performance to outwit and hold off his two closest rivals, Money Time and Vamos mi Amor. These two teams had on board very experienced sailors like Vasco Vascotto (Money Time) and François Brenac (Vamos mi Amor), but it was Botta Dritta who won the overall ranking with Lorenzo Bressani on tactics.
Money Time (second in the final rankings) lost his first place on the podium in the last race on the final approach to the buoy, finishing behind Vamos mi Amor. “It’s a pity as we were in the lead from the start to the last mark before the finish line. That’s racing for you but it was a lovely weekend, the Smeralda 888 is a great one-design series as all the contestants are on an equal footing. It’s the quality of the crews that make the difference and the standard continues to rise which makes racing all the more interesting,” observed Vasco Vascotto.
The Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse 2012 will be on the same dates, from 3 to 6 and 11 to 13 February
Resultados finales click acá
