The first Act of the 2017/2018 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco got off to a cracking start, with winds up to 20-knots on the first two of three days and six races completed. Consistency paid off for the Russians on Art Tube who handled the conditions to perfection, winning five of the six races in the J/70 fleet. Winners last season, the team led by Valeria Kovalenko set the pace from the start, finishing 12 points ahead of newcomers Oman Sail 1, helmed by Stevie Morrison. The Italian Sport Cube completed the season’s first podium. The Monegasque team of Cesare Gabasio (TinnJ70) came fourth, and Remi Piazza (Levante), a youngster from the YCM’s Sports Section won first prize in the amateur category. “It is important we encourage amateurs to race,” says Michel Boussard, President of the Monaco J/70 Class Association, delighted to see that 20-plus J/70 teams are already signed up for the next regatta 10-12 November 2017. Complete event details may be found at www.yacht-club-monaco.mc.
Final rankings – J/70
1st Dennis Rozhkov – RUS (Art Tube) – 5 points
2nd Stevie Morrison – MON (Oman Sail 1) – 17 points
3rd Germano Scarpa – ITA (Sport Cube) – 19 points