The first races on the Monegasque race area kicked off today with the official start of the Monaco Optimist Team Race. After three days of an International Clinic focused on preparation, rules and team cohesion, the competition is well and truly underway. On a demanding race area, with a light easterly breeze, the atmosphere quickly changed. Young sailors are discovering what it really means to sail under pressure and in close contact.
At the end of this opening day, the Danes from Danish Dynamite are leading the provisional rankings. Tied on points with Yacht Club Italiano and the Gstaad Yacht Club, they have however raced more matches, which puts them at the top of the leaderboard this Thursday evening.
The Yacht Club de Monaco team, made up of Océane Schroeder, Joséphine Dobbelaere, Pietro Carlevaris and Louis Faivre, also made a strong start in these first races on the Monegasque race area. Up against Circolo della Vela Sicilia in their opening match, the Monegasques delivered a very high-level performance securing an impressive team result with a clean sweep of 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
A total of 22 races were completed, allowing all teams to get off their starting blocks in the competition. These first races on the Monegasque race area immediately set the tone with short, intense duels often decided in the final metres. Teams from 12 countries are discovering each other, observing and adapting their tactics accordingly. Some are at the top of their game, others are still fine-tuning their coordination, but race after race strategies are being honed during briefings and post-race debriefs.
On the water, situations can develop fast. Whether having to cover, slow down or make tactical handovers, team racing requires constant awareness of the positioning of both their teammates and opponents. Young sailors must make quick decisions, communicate clearly and sometimes accept sacrificing their own position for the benefit of the team.
From this very first day, the essence of the Monaco Optimist Team Race is already on display.
Nothing is decided after this opening day. Everything remains wide open and every race counts in a format where gaps can open up very quickly. Racing will resume tomorrow, Friday, from 10.00am, with a packed schedule and confrontations that already promise to be decisive for the rest of the competition.
