Another podium for Vamos mi Amor
Fifth stage on the calendar, the Coppa Europa is one of the last major stage events before the grand finale of the Smeralda 888 Championship held in Monaco 11-13 October. Another regatta that saw some superb results from the Monegasques with 2nd place for Vamos mi Amor helmed by Charles de Bourbon des Deux Siciles just behind Django.
Monegasques out in force
Laser sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section made another trip to Breton shores for the France Open, a key event in the calendar for the ILCA 6 class in particular as it’s here where the French Men’s Championship takes place. Mathis Duplomb acquitted himself well over the course of eight races to come 14th overall having finished in the top ten in five of them.
Beda the big winner
The Smeralda 888 fleet were in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, 27-30 June for the Invitational 888 which is the third stage in their 2024 championship. Eight races were run for the eight teams in competition in sometimes strong wind conditions.
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.