Another American victory!
12th Monaco Optimist Team Race – 13-16 January 2022
Sunday 16th January 2022. They did it – after their victory in 2020, the American national team clinched another win at the 12th Monaco Optimist Team Race that saw 60 young sailors out on the water from 15 nations. Organised by Yacht Club de Monaco with support from FxPro, Eventica, Fonbet, technical clothing supplier Slam and boatyard Erplast, this regatta has been a reference for international sailors in this discipline since 2010. “It was a success. By putting our Club at the service of youth, we are building the future. It’s about passing on a passion. Seeing these youngsters from different backgrounds interacting and creating bonds of friendship sends a strong message of peace, all values that are part of our Club’s Monaco Capital of Yachting approach,” said YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.
Victory within their grasp
12th Monaco Optimist Team Race – 13-16 January 2022
Saturday 15th January 2022. For the 60 young sailors in competition these two days of the 12th Monaco Optimist Team Race have followed a similar pattern, with 19 match races held today in a light easterly under sunny skies, conditions conducive to a range of strategies.
Top trio is not an illusion
Is it possible to cut the Americans invincibility down to size a little? Hard to believe the results table at the end of the round robin phase’s second day. The provisional leaders are looking unassailable and with zero defeats they are clearly sailing a notch above the others. “They are really strong and sailing faster than everyone else,” concedes Matteo Asscher from the Yacht Club de Monaco team which is lying 8th this evening.
Americans take the lead
12th Monaco Optimist Team Race – 13-16 January 2022
Americans take the lead
Friday 14th January 2022. The 12th Monaco Optimist Team Race, an international regatta for the team racing elite in this class kicked off today, organised by Yacht Club de Monaco with support from FxPro, Eventica, Fonbet, technical clothing supplier Slam and boatyard Erplast.
Fifteen nations and 60 under-14 sailors are in Monaco for this meeting which got off to a flying start. “It’s a real pleasure to welcome the new sailing generation to our race area and so satisfying to see how enthusiastic they are about this international event,” said YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri at the opening ceremony yesterday.
Racers in the arena
First into battle were the Swiss in a duel with the Netherlands, galvanised by the impatience of youth. In all, there were 60 team-on-team duels on this first day in a 12-knot southwesterly, ideal for bringing out the best in these talented youngsters. Tomorrow, all meet again for the next phase of the round robin that will take the total to 105 encounters. The best go through to the quarter finals for a place in the semis and on to the finals.
2022’s all about competition!
YCM sailing rendezvous
Friday 7th January 2022 – The new year kicks off a busy programme of popular international regattas at Yacht Club de Monaco with back to back one design meetings. Without a doubt, 2022 looks set to be synonymous with outstanding events for the Club, a reference on the international sailing scene.
Monaco Optimist Team Race (12-16 January 2022): future promise
First up, 60 under-14s will be descending on the Principality next week for the 12th Monaco Optimist Team Race which attracts the world’s team racing elite in the Optimist class. The 15 nations represented include Uruguay, USA, Finland, Turkey and for the first time Chile whose young team have just arrived in Monaco.
This original format enables teams of four to compete on equal terms in the form of duels. A round robin phase when all teams get to compete against each other is followed by the quarter- then semi-finals before the highly anticipated grand finale. “This international challenge for young sailors is all part of our Monaco Capital of Yachting approach,” explains YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri. “Beyond the sporting aspect, the event is a great opportunity for these budding young athletes to meet others of their own age from different cultures and backgrounds – all passionate about sailing – around unifying values of conviviality, fraternity and solidarity”.
By way of a warm-up, the teams from Ukraine, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Monaco and France will take part in a Clinic (10-12 January) run by Philippe Gomez, jury and big name in the team racing world who is also responsible for the regulatory aspect for French teams. The focus will be on team-work, communication and consistency.
A reminder that the last edition was won by the USA’s national team, with the Swedish KSSS in 2nd and the Monegasques completing the podium.
Tenzor Consulting Group
New partner of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (2021/2022) organised by Yacht Club de Monaco
In recent years, Russia has been increasing its presence in the sailing world and since 2020 a major new project has seen the light of day. A leading company in the yachting sector became the Russian-based financial company Tenzor Consulting Group, with its Tenzor Sport LLC structure responsible for a brand new regatta series. Since 2020 the company has successfully organised the four-stages Tenzor Cup Series which earned J/70 Russian Cup status, attracting the best teams in this class.
Keen to further develop and expand the geographical reach of Russian sailing, the Tenzor Consulting Group and Yacht Club de Monaco agreed to a collaboration to share their common interests, experience, values and rich traditions of sailing.
For 2022, the Tenzor Consulting Group presents its international programme and a new series called the Tenzor International Cup (TIC). The presentation and “promo stage” of the new series, with a separate ranking for competitors, will take place 3-6 February 2022 in Monaco as part of Act 3 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2021/2022, organised by Yacht Club de Monaco.
Entry is free, all competitors of ACT 3 of MSWS 2021/2022 are invited to join the Tenzor Intrnational Cup “promo-stage” to fight for the podium and a special prize fund which will be established for the top three winners.
For the 2021/2022 season, the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, when many international teams make the Principality their winter training base, takes on a new dimension as one of the stages in the Tenzor International Cup. This series of monthly regattas, organised since 2013, will culminate with the 38th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse. All these regattas represent a great opportunity for teams to familiarise themselves with the Monegasque race area, ahead of the J/70 World Championship, organised in Monaco by YCM 14-22 October 2022.
It is all part of the ‘Monaco Capital of Yachting’ drive, initiated by Yacht Club de Monaco in 2012, the ambition being to position the Principality as a centre of excellence in this sector.
Andrey Pushkin (General Partner of Tenzor Consulting Group):
“Implementing serious sports projects, such as the Tenzor International Cup, requires compliance with high standards of organisation, safety and media-coverage, as well as constant work to modernise the event’s concept. Our collaboration with YCM is a very important step to achieve the goals set. I am sure that it will give everyone great new opportunities for further development. It will increase the level of competition among participants by strengthening the composition of foreign teams, as well as creating a basis for the development of international sports ties, and thereby increase the significance and reputation of the series in Russia and the world. Thanks to YCM for your confidence in us and this privileged relationship”.
Registrations now open
38th Primo Cup Trophée Credit Suisse – 3-6 March 2022
Sunday 12th December 2021. It is one of the great classics on the winter regatta calendar which since 1985 has been attracting the very best in one design. This year sees three classes racing at the Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse. Alongside Dragons and the Smeralda 888 fleet will be J/70s, an extremely dynamic class in the Principality which boasts one of the largest fleets in the Mediterranean with 18 teams.
38 editions
Monaco therefore maintains a tradition with this international event, number 38, which runs from 3-6 March 2022. As well as being the fourth and final Act of this season’s Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series it’s the final opportunity for J/70 teams to get some top-level training in at the venue of the J/70 World Championship being organised for the first time by Yacht Club de Monaco (14-22 October 2022).
Down to the wire!
Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act II – 9-12 December 2021 – J/70
Sunday 12th December. Fifty one international teams, 15 nations and three days of racing were on the menu for Act II of the 2021/2022 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series. Launched 2013, these monthly regattas have become established as events not to be missed for many high level teams, with the added spice of familiarising themselves with the race area of the upcoming J/70 World Championship (14-22 October 2022) organised by Yacht Club de Monaco.
Stubborn to the end
While some were experiencing Monaco bay’s particularities for the first time, others seized the opportunity to perfect team coordination during the five races completed in a moderate southwesterly flow. The first races quickly set the pace and outcome for the regatta, with YCM’s Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) topping the provisional ranking on the Friday, followed closely by the Russians on Tenzor Sport and Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda). The game of musical chairs began the next day as the Russian team led by Milena Nikitina muscled in, winning the day’s one race to move into 1st place.
On Sunday, the southwesterly breeze was back in force to produce some superb tussles between Découvertes, Tenzor Sport and G-Spot. After a clean start under the U flag, competitors pulled out all the stops in a battle won by Tenzor Sport, putting them at the top followed by G-Spot then the Moscow team on Dolce Vita. YCM’s Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda) was 4th. In the Corinthian (amateurs) category, the Swiss on Jerry beat their compatriots on Jalla jalla who in turn pipped the Germans on Wikiwiki to the post.
Having won Act 1, Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda) maintains his lead in the provisional ranking for this Winter Series, five small points ahead of his pursuers: the Russians on Tenzor Sport and Dolce Vita. In the Corinthian category, YCM’s Cesare Gabasio (Tinnj70) is lying 2nd just a point behind the Irish on Wild Card after ten races.
A Russian-Monegasque duel
Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act II – 9-12 December 2021 – J/70
Saturday 11th December 2021. For this second, and final event for the year, the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series is hosting the cream of the one design crop. A total of 51 international teams, the majority of which have a track record to make the best skippers blush, are here to compete, test and master the race area that will host the J/70 World Championship, organised for the first time by Yacht Club de Monaco (14-22 October 2022).
50 teams out on the water!
Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act II – 9-12 December 2021 – J/70
Friday 10th December 2021. Pressure is mounting with each Act. For the second meeting, nigh-on 50 teams descended on the Yacht Club de Monaco with 15 nations represented on the Monegasque race area.
Strong showing by Monegasques
From the start, Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda), winner of Act 1, set the pace. The Yacht Club de Monaco member and his crew won the first race hands down in a brisk 12-16 knot southwesterly. But the men on Junda who this evening are lying 3rd in the provisional ranking, after three races, are not the only ones with big ambitions.
After a short break due to a 90° wind shift, the fleet set out on the second race, won this time by another YCM member, Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) to put his team in 1st place, with the Russians on Tenzor Sport squeezed between the two in 2nd at the end of the first day.
Winning at home
Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act I – 4-7 November 2021 – J/70
Sunday 7th November 2021. With 15 nationalities represented and around 40 teams, including the best Europeans, Act 1 of the 9th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series set the tone for the season. With the J/70 World Championship scheduled here in Monaco 14-22 October 2022, this international Winter Series of regattas, instigated in 2013, showcased the high level of this class.
From start to finish
Friday kicked the event off in style with a steady 15-18 knot easterly, warm sunshine defying autumnal weather, and a well-formed swell that saw some memorable surfs downwind under spinnaker (speeds up to 18 knots clocked by some). The three races completed were enough to reveal the level and challenges facing even the best teams, here to try out and get to know the race area where the Worlds will be held in just under a year. Monegasques also have everything to fight for as the four stages of this Winter Series are qualifying events for them.
From the start, Monegasques showed their teeth like Ludovico Fassitelli and his crew on Junda, comprised of sailors as talented as they are complementary including young Leonardo Bonelli from the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section. “It was a great start to the season. The level has increased across boats from all nations,” notes Ludovico. “We pulled off some good things for this first act with a newish crew as we’d changed tactician. It was the first time we’d sailed together”. The YCM member was delighted as they won the trophy after a nail-biting five races.