2016 Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse - And they’re off

by Yacht Club Monaco on 6 Feb 2016 2016 Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse - Seventy-six boats in Port Hercule for the first weekend of the Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse were on the starting blocks today.

Spring-like conditions in bright sunshine saw the Race Committee complete two races for all the one-designs on one course, and one for the 22 IRC boats on another course.

Patience, tactics and above all concentration were the order of the day in a light south-south-easterly which never ceased to surprise competitors, attentive to the slightest gust and chop.

Surprise (16 registered): Swiss already topping the leader-board

The Surprises, for whom the Primo Cup is also Act One of their European circuit, were as always impatient to be off, with a general recall for both races before the fleet got underway under the black flag rule. It was a day largely dominated by the Swiss, with Etienne David (Mirabeau 1), Nicolas Groux (Cer 2 Genève Aéroport) and Sebastano Baranzini (Seal Consulting) in the first three spots on the provisional overall ranking.

SB20 (15 registered): everything to play for

A very international fleet put up a fight in this class which seems wide open. However, the consistency of the Italian team on Un’Altra Claudia skippered by Carlo Brenco has paid off, and they top the leader-board this evening after a third and second place, ahead of Johan Ravier (Oceanteam) and class president Ed Russo (Black Magic).

Star (14 registered): German-Monegasque duel

In this very technical-in-light-airs Olympic class, the German Rotermund Philipp proved very determined throughout the day to take the lead ahead of Monegasque Filippo Orlando (Junior), a regular on this race area as he learned sailing at the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Smeralda 888 (Nine registered): 100% Monegasque

In this flagship class for the Yacht Club de Monaco, Melges 20 specialist Guido Miani (Botta Dritta) proved he is equally at ease on a Smeralda 888, winning the first race and finishing second in the second race.

Although the Primo Cup has been the regatta to open the season for one-designs for 32 years, the IRC classes have been in it since 2012 and are out in force this weekend. In the IRC (One - Two), YCM member Orel Kalomeni (Arcora) sailing with Dimitri Deruelle confirmed his ambitions by winning the first race ahead of the Latvian Vadim Yakimenko (Amber Miles).

Racing starts again tomorrow, Saturday, at 11am.