(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Ninety international teams from twenty-three nations (Australia, USA,France, Italy, Germany, Chile, Sweden, Monaco, Mexico, Uruguay, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, Denmark, Great Britain, Brazil, Argentina, Poland, Norway, Ireland, and Finland) descended on the Principality of Monaco for the 2022J/70World Championship, organized for the first time by Yacht Club de Monaco.
Practice Race
It was a warm-up race in name only as competitors pulled out all the stops to showcase the full potential and talent of an exceptionally competitive fleet. In a 4-7 knot breeze, 90 teams tested out a race zone set to be the scene of extraordinary confrontations over the next five days. And the least one can say is that from the start the Monegasques showed they know the ins and outs of a tricky setting as evidenced by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) who won this first contest, a race in which YC Monaco Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi and his team came 4th (he's Grace Kelly's grandson, Princess Caroline's son, and uncle is HRH Prince Albert II).
Casiraghi is part of Richard Mille sports watch marketing program
Day One competitor's briefing
Tuesday, 11th October, was the official start of the regatta. YC Monaco General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri said on the first day 0900 hrs competitors briefing, “all eyes are riveted on Monaco. I didn’t think it was possible that you can bring together so many talented sailors together in the same place and at the same time. We are very proud to organize this regatta. It’s been 46 years since the last Worlds in Monaco, that being in 1976. We wish you all the best in the next few days, Bon chance!"
Cream of the crop
Sailors who have descended on the Principality have extraordinary track records in the sport of sailing. Nearly half the competitors have already seen their names on trophies be it at the Olympics, America’s Cup, or other one-design circuits. Luis Bugallo, Marshall King, Ian Wilson, Peter Duncan, Jud Smith, and Paul Ward, who’ve been crownedJ/70World Champions in recent years roam the quays. Luca Domenici, José María Torcida Seghers, and Jonathan Calascione complete the class line-up with theirJ/70European results.
Olympic stars are shining, like Will Ryan, silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo in the 470; Saskia Clark, Olympic 470 silver in London and gold in Rio; and Brazilian legend Torben Grael who has five Olympic Gold medals to his name. There are around 20 sailors here who’ve had the honor of representing their country at the Olympics, testifying to the extraordinarily high level of the event.
Youth triumphant
Some boast a string of meetings and results like the young Danish girl Anne-Marie Rindom, well-known in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) class with bronze in the Rio Olympics, then gold in the Toyko Olympics, and who was crowned Laser Radial World Champion in the USA last weekend. For others, theJ/70Worlds is a family affair as evidenced by the Ducasse Sailing Team from Chile, comprising a father and his four sons, including Andres Ducasse who cut his race teeth at the Rio Olympics.
Monegasques in position
Nine teams from Monaco complete the tableau including favorites Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda), bronze medallist at theJ/70European Championship 2022 in the Corinthian category, and Loïc Pompée (Sailing Racing Team), 5th in the 2021 Europeans. Pierrick Devic (Leonteq), Stefano Roberti (Piccinina), Ferdinando Matteo Scandolera (Irruenza), Cesare Gabasio (TinnJ70), and Anne Rodelato with her PINK WAVE crew of ladies are also at the event, as is Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot), crowned European silver medallist in the Swan 36 just a few days ago.
Sailing challenges- Days 1-2-3- "AP over A"
Since the start on Tuesday, the fleet spent time offshore and ashore waiting for the breeze to materialize, ending in AP over A flags being flown every day until Thursday. It has been a difficult and anxious time for the sailors, who can only sit around and wish for more breeze. According to the YCM PRO for theJ/70Worlds, American Mark Foster, "it has been a very trying, exasperating few days so far. The winds simply have not settled into a steady direction with an average anywhere near the class minimum of 5 kts. We have come close, but then we'd get a 40-degree wind shift, and the wind would die. Having a current up to a half knot from the west has not helped us either. We're hopeful winds materialize soon!" Formore 2022 J/70 World Championship sailing information
