Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act I

It was a great start for the 20-plus teams competing in Act 1 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series. A 13-17 knot easterly saw three races completed in quick succession. No downtime for the teams who were delighted to be out racing at the foot of the Rocher. This evening the top three are neck and neck, separated by one point.

A podium by the millimetre

Everyone played by the ball, not one general recall, every start fiercely contested and surfing the swell embraced by all. From the start, Monegasque Stefano Roberti on Piccinina laid his cards on the table. With a well-deserved tally of 3^rd place, 2^nd place and a win for the three races, the YCM member left little room for discussion.

On his heels, Raph Seven Yacht, helmed on this occasion by the young Bodhi Van Der Linden, a Laser competitor in the Sports Section, who came 2^nd with 7 points. Same total for the Hyères team on Euro Voiles in 3^rd on the same number of points.

At loggerheads

In the rest of the leading pack, predictions are only just beginning to shape up with the podium still wide open. Moonlight II led by the talented Graeme Peterson, a YCM member, remains a serious contender who will do everything he can to climb the ranking.

Tiny gaps reflect how much on a par is this J/70 fleet which gets better with every season. In the Corinthian category, the French Euro Voiles are dominant at this stage, followed by Monegasque Matteo Scandolera (Irruenza) and the Swiss on Antique.

Another two days of racing gives everyone a chance to confirm or turn the tide on predictions for this first regatta of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series.

Rendezvous tomorrow at 11:00 for the first warning signal on this second day.

(*Result before the Jury)