23 nations, 90 boats, 400 sailors and a field worthy of the wildest dreams heralded the J/70 World Championship, organized for the first time by Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with the J/70 International Class and partnered by Monegasque Sailing Federation, FxPro, Xerjoff, Sebago and SLAM. There was no shortage of superlatives to describe the mastery, helmsmanship and tight mark roundings achieved by the crew on Killian Wagen’s Decouvertes Geomod. The Swiss boat, winner of the 2022 Primo Cup, blew the competition away in the Open category with characteristic Swiss consistency in the light airs. With more than 50 trophy-winning sailors from the Olympics, America’s Cup and other one-design circuits, the level was so high it was impossible to make predictions. But another team that did spectacularly well was Monaco boat Leonteq led by Pierrik Devic who emerged this Worlds vice-champion at home, with the Americans on Peter Duncan’s Relative Obscurity completing the Open podium. The level was such that gaps never widened. Everyone understood that if they got the start right, the race was half-won; and while a dozen impatient boats paid the price, others showed great skill like Australian Tim Ryan’s crew (Vamos) in the One Pro category who beat the Monaco-based Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda) second and Spaniard Mon Canellas (Outlier) in third. After the victory in the Open, it was another win for the Swiss this time in the Corinthian group with a well-deserved first place for Nick Zeltner’s Quarter2eleven. He snatched victory from under the nose of Spaniard Luis Bugallo (Marnatura), while the French Team Youth FFV led by Timothe Rossi was third.
Final ranking – Open
1st: Kilian Wagen (Decouvertes Geomod) – SUI – 14 pts
2nd: Pierrik Devic (Leonteq) – MON – 36 pts
3rd: Peter S. Duncan (Relative Obscurity) – USA – 41 pts
Final ranking – One Pro
1st: Tim Ryan (Vamos) – AUS – 64 pts
2nd: Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda) – MON – 87 pts
3rd: Mon Canellas (Outlier) – ESP – 102 pts
Final ranking – Corinthian
1st: Nick Zeltner (Quarter2eleven) – SUI – 45 pts
2nd: Luis Bugallo (Marnatura) – ESP -50 pts
3rd: Timothe Rossi (Team Youth FFV) – FRA – 58 pts
For complete event details, visit https://yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/events/world-championship-j-70/.