J70 European Championship - Calvi Network emerges victorious

by Elena Giolai on 28 Sep 2014 Carlo Alberini of Italy on Calvi Network takes top prize in the first European J70 Championships. On the last exciting day of competition the outstanding Rochas of Spain wasn’t able to topple the leader. Fraglia Vela Riva was well satisfied in its organisation of the first championships of the J70 class with the maximum number of races executed, varied wind conditions and a large fleet of competitors of an excellent technical level.

It was a long last day of sailing for the first European Championships of the new monotype J70 class, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva of Riva del Garda, Italy, with the best of 10 races. Racing started this morning on a clear day with winds from the north giving the fleet of 33 boats from eight nations their first opportunity to race with the north wind which is usually present in the morning on Upper Garda.

The previous nine races had all been raced with the winds from the south. Racing started at around 8.45 after a general recall and the fleet was able to complete the ninth and pen-ultimate race. A stiff breeze brought out the most prepared of the competitors who tactically played between the shore and the centre of the lake. The wind, however, soon dropped forcing the race committee, chaired by Ennio Pogliano, to hold off further racing until the wind changed, which it did at 12.30 for the tenth and final race.

Carlo Alberini and his crew managed to keep their cool despite Rochas of Spain closing in on them. After the morning race Rochas had come to within four points of Alberini, but in the last race Alberini left no doubt and won by a margin of six points to become European Champion over Olympic bronze medallist and World Open Sea Champion on the B ORC class, Hugo Rochas on New Territories. In spite of a collision in race 9, Alessio Marinelli of Italy on Uji was able to hold on to third place overall due to an average of points awarded by the jury for the damage suffered and consequent withdrawal. Showing excellent form and climbing into fourth place was Charlie Esse of Great Britain on Baby J who also came first in the non-professional 'Corinthian' category. In second place in the same category was fellow Brit David Atkinson on Jawbreaker who placed fourteenth overall. Dropping into third place, however, was Italian Andrea Magni on 'Pensavo Peggio', who didn't show up on the starting line this morning.

While the European J70 Championships were coming to an end, on the same Lake Garda Trentino, the International Optimist Team- Itas Trophy Regatta was getting under way, also organised by Fraglia Vela Riva. Ten determined teams completed the first session with winds from the south of 14-18 knots. The Italian National team are in front in an event that provides excellent training in preparation for the World Optimist Championships which are to be held in Argentina at the end of October. The event ends tomorrow.