41e Primo Cup – Trophée UBS

& IVe Acte des Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series

 

 

This 41st Primo Cup-Trophée UBS is shaping up to be a memorable one for sailors and spectators. Sunshine and a brisk 10-15 knot easterly throwing up a complex chop made for a demanding session requiring finesse and total control at the helm. An ideal setting for this first day of competition.

More than 400 sailors divided across five classes, J/70, Smeralda 888, Longtze Premier, ClubSwan 28 and Cape 31, battled it out as if each race were their last. Once again what has become a major event for one design racing since its launch in 1985 is on course for another successful edition.

 

 

“Newcomers” in the big league

The Cape 31 entrants with their asymmetrical spinnakers were on form again, having made a splash at their first participation last year. Renowned for being very quick, the 31-footers take up to six crew from a range of profiles, as Virgil Aubriot, racing on Terrible Joy helmed by Loïc Pompée from Yacht Club de Monaco, explains: “It’s a really interesting class as sailors of different levels can race together. There are great champions but also young people discovering the boat. It’s really great to be able to pass on our expertise to new generations”. This evening after two races, Give me Five lies in first place just ahead of Adrenalin followed by Solano.

As is tradition, the event attracts classes keen to get into the international circuit, as is the case this year for the ClubSwan 28. “We are delighted to be making our début here in Monaco, because as well as being our club this regatta is a marvellous gathering of many classes,” says Lorenzo Bortolotti (Black Swan), Managing Director, Nautor Swan Monaco, and a YCM sailor. “This event marks the start of the season. All crews are seeing how they measure up to each other and if they need to make any changes”. The latest boat to come out of the Finnish shipyard is a relatively small but high-performance sportsboat where the owner/helmsman rule prevails. After three races, the provisional podium this evening is very international comprising the Swiss on Anya Race, the Japanese on Hatari and Lorenzo Bortolotti’s Black Swan in third.

 

 

Regulars out in force

In the Smeralda 888 class which completed two races, Giada tops the leaderboard this evening while Be Cool flying the Monaco flag kept up the suspense all day to lie in ambush in second ahead of YCM’s Charles de Bourbon des Deux Siciles’ Vamos Mi Amor. In the J/70, Euro Voiles set their stall out with conviction, more than living up to their own expectations, as the crew from Hyères lead after three races. YCM’s Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) is hot on their heels in second by one point, followed by the Swiss on Jerry.

 

As for the ever-popular Longtze Premier they lit up the race area, their colourful sails providing a striking contrast with the inimitable Mediterranean blue of Monaco’s bay. Despite fierce competition, the Swiss on Shensu emerged as the leader this evening.

 

The festivities continue tomorrow for the second day of racing, with the first warning signal scheduled for 11.00am.

 

Provisional programme (subject to weather conditions)

Saturday 8th March:             11:00: First warning signal for all classes

Sunday 9th March:                11:00: First warning signal for all classes

15:00: Final possible warning signal

After the races: prize-giving ceremony