YCM at the rendezvous
The J/70 World Championship this year was organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the J/70 International Association, bringing together 25 nationalities. The 98 teams competed in eight out of the ten races scheduled in winds that varied in both direction and strength. Every boat had to carry an electronic device which, via GPS, transmits the exact position of the boat as it crosses the start line and signals within a second contestants who are over the line. Douglas Newhouse and Jeremy Wilmot’s boat Yonder grabbed the lead on the first day by winning the first race and held on to it throughout the competition.
YCM on great form
Rolex Swan Cup – Porto Cervo
Variable weather conditions and stiff competition ensured another busy schedule at the Rolex Swan Cup 2024 held 17-23 September in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. With 101 boats on the start, teams competed on inshore courses ranging from 15 to 24 nautical miles resulting in some thrilling tactical battles.
In the B S&S Racing Division, Yacht Club de Monaco members came out on top, with Vincenzo Onorato on Mascalzone Latino winning the event hands down after three wins out of three races. Martin Baum on his Swan 48 Elan came 2nd. IN the Swan50 category, Graeme Peterson dominated aboard his Moonlight to clinch the top spot, with Leonardo Ferragamo on Cuordileone coming in 8th in the final overall ranking.
Warm up before the Europeans
Sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section were competing yet again this time in a series of Optimist Team Race events. Before the elite match racing teams meet in Monaco for the Optimist European Team Racing Championship, YCM sailors demonstrated again their mastery of team race rules and a tremendous team spirit.
Leopard 3 a winner
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International Maxi Association ended in style this weekend. Reserved for 60-foot and over boats the event this year was part of the first edition of the Rolex Maxi World Championship. Those competing were grouped into different classes, according to type and performance, and all took part in coastal races winding their way through the La Maddalena islands. The Maxi 1 and 2 classes also demonstrated their potential on windward courses.
Final rehearsal before Vendée Globe for Malizia-Seaexplorer
IMOCA – 14th Défi Azimut – Lorient
For five days the IMOCA world are in Lorient for the 14th Défi Azimut – Lorient Agglomération. It is the last chance for these racing machines to compete against each other weeks before the start of the next Vendée Globe. Among them is Malizia-Seaexplorer, helmed by Boris Herrmann from Yacht Club de Monaco.
A win for Vamos mi Amor
The penultimate meeting of the season saw the Smeralda 888 fleet competing in Barcelona for the second year in a row. It was an opportunity for these gentlemen racers to see how they stand up against the competition before the grand finale in Monaco 11-13 October.
Ehlen on target
Kitesurfers were to be found on the magnificent Lake Traunsee in Austria from 4-8 September for the Upper Austria Kitefoil Grand Prix.
This major competition marked the start of a new Olympic cycle in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles games. For contestants it was a highly anticipated event with the introduction of new equipment approved for Formula Kite racing on the Olympic circuit. Sail size limits also now apply, the maximum size for men is now 21sqm and for women 19sqm. The Monegasque Alexander Ehlen more than held his own in this competition finishing 6th after 12 races, seven of which he was in the top five.
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.
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”.