Monaco Europa Cup – Day 2

by Icarus Sailing Media on 4 Dec 2016 The first day of racing did not disappoint the 228 entrants competing in the Monaco Europa Cup. The Laser Standard fleet opened the proceedings in a five-knot easterly, with a starting line favoured by the Committee leaving contestants with no choice but to take the right-hand option to the windward mark.

No surprise to see Marco Gallo at the top of the table after two races, the Italian being a favourite having trained in the run-up to two Olympics (2012 and 2016). Hard on his heels is compatriot Pietro Ranotto and the Czech Jakub Halouzka. Note, too, a promising 14th place for Juan Alberto Casalone from the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Italians on top
In the Laser 4.7 Boys, the youngest fleet in the Europa Cup, sailors were jostling for position right from the start, the number of general recalls and vocal protests, as they fought to stick to their strategy, proof of the intense level of competition in this group. After two races, Italians Riccardo Lister Arkwri, Cesare Barabino and Lorenzo Collo dominate the podium in the provisional ranking, while Simon Maltsev from the Yacht Club de Monaco finished 30th. Italian supremacy spilled over into the Laser 4.7 Girls with Maria Giulia Cicchina in the lead. The YCM’s Pauline Lepoivre is lying 14th.

War of nerves
The Monegasque race area lived up to its reputation as a tactically testing venue forcing competitors to constantly change tack to cope with the wind shifts. Jacopo Scornaienghi and Guido Gallinaro in the Laser Radial Boys are first and second ahead of the Swiss Nicolas Rolaz, Yacht Club de Monaco member, who has been training all year with the Sports Section and knows the area well. Jérémy Moutout, also a member of the Monegasque team is ninth.

Among the girls, the Swiss pulled off a winner, with Maud Jayet topping the leader board ahead of Joyce Floridia and Carolina Albano, fifth in the recent Laser World Championship, finishing third.

The final day looks set to deliver with steady winds forecast for tomorrow, Sunday 4th December, enough to satisfy entrants from all over Europe. Racing starts at 10.00am.



Provisional overall ranking

Laser Standard (after two races):
1st Marco Gallo – ITA - 3 points
2nd Pietro Ranotto – ITA - 4 points
3rd Jakub Hlouzka – CZE - 9 points

Laser Radial Boys (after one race):
1st Jacopo Scornaienghi – ITA - 1 point
2nd Guido Gallinaro – ITA - 2 points
3rd Nicolas Rolaz – SUI - 3 points

Laser Radial Girls (after one race):
1st Maud Jayet – SUI – 1 point
2nd Joyce Floridia – ITA – 2 points
3rd Carolina Albano – ITA – 3 points

Laser 4.7 Boys (after one race):
1st Riccardo Lister Arkwri – ITA – 1 point
2nd Cesare Barabino – ITA – 2 points
3rd Lorenzo Collo – ITA – 3 points

Laser 4.7 Girls (after one race):
1st Maria Giulia Cicchina – ITA – 1 point
2nd Sara Martina Arseni – ITA – 2 points
3rd Elisa Navoni – ITA – 3 points