Monaco Optimist & Laser Academy | 11-13 November 2022

 

Friday 11th November 2022. After Act 1 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series attracted some 30 J/70s last weekend, it was time for the youngest sailors to strut their stuff at the foot of the Rocher. With the goal being to pursue its sports policy and maintain its positioning as a winter training base, Yacht Club de Monaco is hosting its 4th Monaco Optimist & Laser Academy (MOLA) this weekend.

This year again around 30 ILCA 4 and 6 (Laser 4.7 and Radial) have been invited to the party alongside 123 Optimists, representing 26 clubs and ten nations. Note that for the French, MOLA is a qualifier stage of the Monaco Optimist Team Race for the top teams in this discipline, 11-15 January 2023.

Unusual and useful format

For the new generation rigging up in the Principality, this training regatta is a great opportunity to fine tune skills under race conditions, as coaches are allowed to follow their charges during races to give them invaluable tips and advice on techniques and tactics.

 

 

Implacable

Starting Friday, the whole fleet was out on the water in a 4-7 knot easterly that produced some very close racing on a tricky Monaco race area. French Louis Jallabert and Louis Gerriet clearly had no problem reading the course, holding off the competition to win this race in the Optimist Minime and Benjamin categories respectively. In ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7), Dimitri Rodde led the dance ahead of YCM’s Matteo Asscher. In ILCA 6 (Laser Radial), Mailys Radulic leads the provisional ranking in this group. YCM’s Leo Boisvert and Noah Garcia are in 4th and 5th position.

This coaching regatta looks set for some tough battles at sea tomorrow, Saturday 12th November, with the first warning signal scheduled for 10.30am.