A meeting synonymous with results
Barcelona was transformed into a beautiful floating museum for the 17th Puig Vela Clàssica that gathered 77 iconic boats from the 19th and 20th centuries. More than 800 sailors representing 17 countries were competing in the event which for the first time brought together the most prestigious historic categories. A loyal participant at classic yacht regattas, Yacht Club de Monaco’s gaff cutter Tuiga was there in the Big Boat category. YCM’s flagship crewed by enthusiastic members came 4th after three races in mostly tough conditions. Joining the throng of fabulous classic yachts was YCM’s Kostia Belkin’s Viola. After three exemplary races, the William Fife design came 2nd in the final overall ranking of the Vintage Gaff group, tied on equal points with the winner.
Consistency at all costs
TF 35 – Les Voiles de Choisi – Geneva
Another event, another superb result for Esteban Garcia from Yacht Club de Monaco. His TF35 Realteam Sailing, led by Jérôme Clerc with Sébastien Col on tactics, won Les Voiles de Choisi with a comfortable five-point lead over Sails of Change 8 to put the crew on the podium’s top step. This was an important win for the Realteam Sailing formation to stay in contention for this contest. Next stage is again in Geneva for the Realstone Cup when two teams face off in a finale that promises to be spectacular.
Penultimate stage of the season
With the Louis Vuitton Cup fast approaching in Barcelona, the TP52s were already set for the fourth regatta of their season. For this event there were two new entrants to the fleet bringing the number to 13 teams in competition for the Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week. After winning one of two warm-up races, Alegre led by Yacht Club de Monaco’s Andres Soriano finished 7th overall at the end of nine races, having come in the top five in three races. It was a repeat of the boat’s 5th place at the TP52 World Championship late July. The fleet will be back out on the water for the last event of the season in Valencia in a few weeks’ time.
4th place for Tuiga
At the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época, Yacht Club de Monaco’s gaff cutter Tuiga flew the flag high to finish 4th in the Big Boat category. The event drew 45 classic sailing yachts in five categories representing 10 nations.
Organised by Club Marítimo de Mahón the event was celebrating its 20th anniversary and despite difficult weather conditions, that tested the skills of crews on all boats, Tuiga demonstrated her potential during the three races. Thanks to clean committed starts and controlled mark roundings YCM’s flagship held her own against the competition.
Louis Vuitton Cup kicks off this Thursday
The Louis Vuitton Cup starts Thursday in Catalan waters off Barcelona and marks the true beginning of the 37th America’s Cup. As it is this phase when five Challengers compete for the right to challenge the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand for the Silver Ewer, led by Matteo de Nora, member of Yacht Club de Monaco’s Management Committee.
Downwind all the way for YCM’s young racers at the France Espoirs Championship
Organised by La Rochelle Nautique under the aegis of the French Sailing Federation, the France Espoirs Championship saw 600 young contestants aged 13 to 25 competing across 12 categories. Among them was a delegation of six sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section who made the trip to Porte Océane.
Vladimir Prosikhin the new World Champion
The RC44 World Championship ended on Sunday on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland after a fierce battle between Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika from Yacht Club de Monaco and Igor Lah’s Ceeref Vaider who finally conceded victory after four days of racing. “It was one of the happiest events of my life as to be honest it was so difficult,” said Vladimir Prosikhin after he was pushed into the water as is tradition for the winners. “It’s a really tough class as everyone is on the same high level – almost any boat could win the Worlds which is why it’s so rare”.
Emirates Team New Zealand win the louis vuitton preliminary regatta
Emirates Team New Zealand, headed by Matteo De Nora, a member of the Monaco Yacht Club’s Board of Directors, came away as winners of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta after a day that was always going to be a tricky. A Mistral wind emerged out of the north of the Mediterranean and pushed down the coast, causing a build in the sea state of up to 1.1m and breeze out of the east at 10-13 knots.
19th Palermo-Montecarlo: an unforgettable edition
Be they seasoned pros or they just love sailing, those competing in the 19th Palermo-Montecarlo will remember this edition for a long time. Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this offshore race never fails to throw up memorable moments such as the extraordinary duel between event favourites Black Jack 100 and Lucky.
19th Palermo-Montecarlo: record broken after nine-year wait
They had to wait nine years for the Palermo-Montecarlo record to be beaten. The accolade goes to the Maxi Black Jack 100 helmed by Tristan Le Brun from Yacht Club de Monaco who covered the 500 nautical miles separating Palermo in Sicily from Monaco in 1 day 20 hours 34 minutes 22 seconds, that’s three hours faster than the previous record set in 2015 by Esimit Europa 2, the former name of Black Jack 100.