Sun and wind dominated the 2015 J/70 World Championship, and the J/70 ensured the show this week in La Rochelle, France. Superb sailing conditions and fierce competition have marked the week, which ends with the victory of the Mexican team FLOJITO Y COOPERANDO (MEX 384) and its skipper Julian Fernandez Neckelmann. The crew included: Erik BROCKMANN, Bill HARDESTY and Willem VAN WAAY. In the Corinthian fleet, it was the Englishman Simon LING on the TEAM RAF BENEVOLENT FUND SPITFIRE (GBR 123) who won the amateur trophy with crew Craig BURLTON, Ian SOUTHWORTH and Tony HANLON.
On Saturday, the 78 J/70s from 16 nations ran the last two rounds of the championship. With a slightly cooler temperature than Friday and a 5-10 knot wind at 300 for race 9 and 260-270 for the last race, the conditions allowed a final intense game day. It was the Australian Steve McCONAGHY (AUS 007) on VAMOS who won race 9, followed by the English LITTLE LOUISE (GBR 769) and Elisabeth Vaillant on TRISKELL (FRA 39412). Peter Duncan’s RELATIVE OBSCURITY (USA 49) victorious in the tenth and final race of the championship was closely followed by FLOJITO Y COOPERANDO (MEX 384) that ended up a very nice round.
FLOJITO Y COOPERANDO (MEX 384) has therefore succeeded a near perfect World Championship. In the overall lead since the start of the competition and with only one race in which they did not finish in the top ten, the crew undoubtedly won the title. The Italian Carlo Alberini on CALVI (ITA 456), 2015 J/70 Midwinter Champion, ensured second place in the championship. In third place and after a fierce struggle with the English BOATS.COM (GBR 557) Ian Atkins, Tim Healy on the American boat HELLY HANSEN (USA 2) went on the third step of the podium.
Of the French teams, LULU LA NANTAISE (FRA 257) with the crew Ludovic SENECHAL took 20th place, ahead of HEMON CAMUS (FRA 722) and its skipper Laurent SAMBRON (22nd) and ENTENTE CORDIALE (GBR 836) with Philippe Briand (25th).
As amateurs, the English dominated the standings all week. Arriving in the top 10, Simon LING’s TEAM RAF BENEVOLENT FUND SPITFIRE (GBR 123) won the Corinthian Trophy, followed closely by GILL RACE TEAM (GBR 259) with Ian WILSON.
Photos: Christophe Breschi, http://breschi-photo-video.com/
Videos: Overlap, http://www.j70worlds2015.com/media/videos/
Results: http://www.j70worlds2015.com/