Accompanied by a stiff 20-knot easterly, choppy seas and mist, the 42nd Primo Cup-UBS Trophy wasted no time raising the stakes. The first day of racing served up a challenging start for crews with two races completed. An ideal setting to launch three days of racing for the J/70, Smeralda 888 and Longtze Premier classes, with over 350 sailors from nine nations gathered for the first big Mediterranean one design season event, organised by Yacht Club de Monaco. The Primo Cup is also the fourth and final Act of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2025/2026 season for the J/70s. The awards ceremony for the Monegasque championship is on Saturday 7 March after the races.
In the J/70, the French on Euro Voiles dominated the relatively crowded fleet. A regular on the Monegasque race area, skipper Louis Barbet even admits to enjoying the conditions: “We particularly like sailing here. The conditions at the Primo Cup are often very challenging which makes for an interesting regatta”. Also on the provisional podium are the Monaco teams of Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot), 2nd, and Samuel Poons (Charisma V H992 Sailing Team), in 3rd, but it is too early to make any predictions. In the Corinthian category, Euro Voiles leads ahead of Pierrik Devic’s Fraser Yachts, also from Monaco, who is ahead of the Italians on Caim#Jeniale Team.
A Primo Cup regular, the Longtze Premiers put on a spectacular show in these first few hours of confrontations. Skimming along at speed, stringing together some epic surfs, the class lived up to its reputation. The Belgians on Exocet, currently in 2nd place, are caught between two Swiss teams this evening, Shensu, 1st and Crescendo, 3rd.
The Primo Cup kicks off the season for the Smeralda 888s and is a prime opportunity to get the championship off to a good start. As always in this class, nothing is set in stone, although Class President Charles de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles (Vamos mi Amor) tops the leaderboard ahead of Marco Favale (Millenium Falcon) and the Italians on Ziva.
On this first day of the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy, conditions may have been unforgiving, requiring competitors to be in masterly control of their boats. For many the Primo Cup is also a learning experience. American sailor, Dawn Riley, first woman to head up an America’s Cup team, sees this event as a rite of passage in a sailor’s progress: “This kind of regatta is essential. We find university teams, young sailors and also experienced crews. It’s exactly what’s needed to bring on the next generation of sailors”. Between choppy seas, a steady wind and tight-packed fleet, this spirited first day set the tone. For one design classes, the Primo Cup is not one to stand still, but immediately sets the pace and this 42nd edition is no exception.
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