Success in tough conditions
After a successful event in Bonifacio, Corsica, less than a month ago, the Swan Sardinia Challenge met up in Alghero in north Sardinia, Italy, for the third stage of the 2024 Nations League. Throughout the week, 11 ClubSwan 50s and eight ClubSwan 36s battled it out in a competition where 25 nations were represented on a race area where weather conditions tested the entire fleet’s skills to the limit. Only three races were completed for each class. In ClubSwan 36, Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) from Yacht Club de Monaco won the event. In ClubSwan 50, Graeme Peterson (Moonlight) came 2nd ahead of Leonardo Ferragamo (Cuordileone) 6th.
YCM flirts with the top ten
The second event on the Italian circuit saw 35 teams in action at Riva del Garda including two from Yacht Club de Monaco. Louis Poons on Charisma pulled off a well-deserved 6th place in the overall ranking as well as in the Garmin Cup. In eight races on a Lake Garda at its best he was in the top ten of five of them including a win. Lorenzo Bortolotti’s Black Swan was also competing managing a 9th place in the overall ranking. In a few weeks (26-28 July), the J/70s will be in Malcescine for the next stage on this circuit.
Two in a row for Viola
Another superb win concludes the Italian season for the crew on Viola, the 1908 gaff cutter led by Kostia Belkin from Yacht Club de Monaco. Just days after triumphing in the 21st Vele d’Epoca in the Gulf of Naples, Viola made it a double on the Tyrrhenian coast during the Grandi Vele held in the gulf of Gaeta. An experience that adds another dose of the Dolce Vita for Kostia Belkin who topped the Epoca ranking but was also overall winner. He and his crew are now heading over to Catalonia, Spain, to line up on the start of the Vela Classica that runs from 12-15 July.
A super busy week
The 130th Kieler Woche that brings together the cream of dinghy sailors. Yacht Club de Monaco’s Jérémy Moutout was on the start lines in ILCA 7, finishing 58th overall after eight races.
Raw potential
A delegation of 10 young sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section were on the starting lines of the 49th Trofeo Optimist d’Argento. An event that revealed the potential of the Principality’s young racers, with a special mention for the Benjamins (younger group) who tackled three races on Lake Garda with aplomb.
Riding high
Charisma led by Nico Poons from Yacht Club de Monaco was back on top form at this meeting in Sweden. “We had two poor results after changing the crew at the start of the year,” explained Nico Poons, “We reinvented ourselves – there is still room for improvement – but I think we’re back”. So a fresh start that put them in first place even before the last race, an ultra-rare feat in this class where the ranking is always very tight.
Viola on fire!
The 21st edition of this classic event was held in the Gulf of Naples. Organised by Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, in collaboration with Circolo Nautico Punta Imperatore, the regatta is part of the CIM (Comité International de Méditerranée) Circuit. Between inshore races, an elegance parade and entertainment ashore, it was much enjoyed by all the crews including those on Kostia Belkin’s Viola from Yacht Club de Monaco who won hands down in the Vintage category. A superb result that reflects the team spirit aboard this lovely 1908 yacht which is on the maritime heritage list.
Superb 2nd for Malizia-Seaexplorer
Malizia-Seaexplorer skipper Boris Herrmann crossed the finish line of the New York Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne in 2nd place on Sunday 9th June, having covered 4,112 nautical miles at an average speed of 12.15 knots in 10 days 20 hours 52 minutes and 32 seconds of racing. This is Boris Herrmann’s second podium finish this spring after his 2nd place in the Transat CIC (formerly the English Transat).
Light winds send the children on their way
After 730 days of preparation the 12th Voiles de l’Espoir, sponsored this year by Christian Millette from the TV ‘Dance avec les Stars’ show, got underway on Sunday 16th June from Saint-Raphaël. A hundred children in remission from cancer and leukaemia aboard 50 boats are sailing along the French Riviera for a week. On Wednesday 19th June, these young sailors aged 8 to 14 called into the YCM Marina for an exceptional 24 hours.
Preview presentation at YCM
Nautor Swan chose Yacht Club de Monaco to present an exclusive preview of one of its latest models. The ClubSwan 28 is the smallest boat ever produced by the Finnish yard and was unveiled in the presence of Nautor Swan Monaco Managing Director Lorenzo Bortolloti, alongside Federico Michetti, head of Sports Activities and Swan Product Manager, both members of the Club. Designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, the one design is positioned as the ideal boat in varied conditions with a preference for light airs. This latest product from Nautor Swan combines simplicity, quality and pure speed without compromising the quest for performance.