First J/70 Europeans

Italians dominate in Monaco

The first J/70 European Championship saw six races sailed in widely varying conditions, with a steady wind filling in for the last races and light airs for the first, testing the skill of even the top sailors. 

Of the 60 teams competing, representing 11 nations, any one of the top 25 boats could have claimed victory. Mexican World Champion Julian Fernandez Neckelmann on Flojito y cooperando for example won the fourth race which was his team's best performance, evidence of how fierce the contests were. Not once did the crew leading at the first mark win the race, with the downwind legs proving as tactically difficult as the upwinds. All the finishes on a reach saw some dramatic luffs with spinnakers flying, delighting spectators and getting the adrenaline pumping.
 
The top ten fought right up to the last race as the slightest mistake risked any hope of being on the podium. For example the Bretons Quentin Delepierre and Mathieu Salomon Chariot Plus – Vannes Utilitaires, the J/80 European Champions who finished third in the fifth race, will no doubt be regretting their performance in the sixth race when they were OCS. This evening they lie 8th.
 
Ultimately Italian Luca Domenici on Notaro Team, who is used to the Monaco race area having participated in the last Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series and Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse, is the first ever J/70 European Champion ahead of his compatriot Franco Solerio on L’Elagain, winner of the 2015 Italian Championship. Spain's Hugo Rocha on New Territories, winner at Kiel Week completes the podium ahead of his compatriot Gonzalo Araoeja on Sailway.
 
In the Monaco fleet, the objective was reached with a fine performance by Jacopo Carrain, local Class President and head of the 15-strong Monegasque fleet, all members of the Yacht Club de Monaco which comprised the largest national group of these one-designs. He finished tied in 5th.
 
Leading the 18-strong German fleet was Moritz Bohnenberger on Touring Junior who came 10th.
 
At the prize-giving, with the Credit Suisse Trophy and SLAM Advanced Technology clothing, first prize for the Corinthian teams went to the one Swedish boat, Fanny, skipered by Oscar Lundovist.
 
Thanks to the generosity of all the teams, the Championship raised 10,000 euros for the Lenval Foundation which supports sick children, with a cheque being presented to its president, Arnaud Pouillart. The money will be used to buy paediatric equipment to detect bacterial and viral infections in A&E or after an operation. Another donation will finance the Christmas show, Conte sur Moi at Le Patio nursery which has 36 toddlers.
 
More than half these J/70 European teams are leaving their boats here for the winter to take part in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, alongside the Melges 20, with their sights set on victory at the Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse.
 
Final results (after 6 races, 1 discarded)
1st      Notaro Team       Italy                16 points
2nd     L’Elagain            Italy                20 points
3rd      New Territories   Spain               25 points
4th      Sailway                Spain               33 points
5th      Carpe Diem        Monaco           36 points
 
Corinthian Final overall results (after 6 races, 1 discarded)
1.      Fanny                     Sweden                      15 points
2.      Marnatura              Spain              17 points
3.      Touring Junior      Germany         17 points
4.      Pensavo Peggio     Italy                24 points
5.      Baby J                     UK                 30 points

Photo below by Francesco Ferre / Studio Borlenghi. The rest by Stefano Gattini / Studio Borlenghi