Final weekend Primo Cup - Trophee Credit Suisse

by Sail-World/Gerald New on 13 Feb 2006 Close-fought tactics and battles of nerves were constants of this Second Weekend of the 22nd Primo Cup – Credit Suisse Trophy, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco. Eight rounds were completed under shifting and light winds by the 94 crews entered for the Second Weekend.

207 vessels manned by 14 nationalities competed over the Two Weekends; Northern European crews were numerous, but Eastern Europe was also present – six Russian craft participated. The event is for one design boats and the second weekend included Beneteau 25, First 40.7, Melges 24, Mumm 30 and Smeralda 888.

A very high level of competence was demonstrated in the Mumm 30 a major Category of the Primo Cup. Many crews attended as part of their preparations for the 'Tour de France à la Voile': the young sailors aboard Ile de France, and Dieppe Seine Maritime came to sharpen their experience of Mediterranean sailing. Nouvelle Calédonie was on her first official outing, skippered by Vincent Portugal. The Category always features many seasoned racers and victors of the Grande Boucle such as Bernard Mallaret and Damien Iehl, to mention but two.

Victory went to COYCH (Toulon Provence Méditerranée), from Hyéres, helmed by Tugdual Becquemie, Tour de France à la Voile winner in 2005. The Monaco-based Dangerous But Fun pulled in Second, helmed by Michele Perris, partnered with Paolo Cian, helmsman of the Italian 2002 America’s Cup challenge vessel Mascalzone Latino.

The Swiss-flagged Olympic, helmed by Julien Di Biase, turned in a smart performance and took Third Place. 'We did badly at last year’s Primo, so this year, having on-board our vessel owner, Mrs. Monica Assaraf, Head of Eri Monaco, and a YCM member, it was important for us to get a good result here in Monaco waters,' declares Julien di Biase, adding: 'As we expected, it was a very tight regatta – only 4 points separate the first 4 places. We are delighted to have beaten top-level rivals, such as the Italian Matrix, and Kismet of the brothers Leporati associated with Stefano Massimo.'

The Smeralda 888 is becoming a very popular Category; 'The number of entries this year for the Primo Cup is the highest so far. It’s true: the boat handles well and is fast. It is a very attractive craft for owner-helmsmen. I must say, competition is pretty tough!' observes Marc Pajot, winner of the Smeralda 888 event last year, and pulling in in Fifth Place this year. The Perris family was a decidedly dangerous adversary this year: Michele Perris snapped Second Place in the Mumm 30 Category, and son, Gian Luca Perris, pocketed First Place in the Smeralda 888 event, just pipping Adalberto Miani, YCM Sailing Commissioner General.

The First 40.7 Category is new to the Principality, and it shows that cruising and regatting can be combined. 'I was surprised by just how determined the crews were, crowding round the buoys – some passages were tighter-packed than even the Mumm 30s,' notes Thierry Leret, Race Committee President.

Victory went to Spirit of ad Hoc, well in front of Sayann 2, helmed by Sylvain Chtounder. Serge Paillard, Bénéteau shipyard representative, took an excellent initiative in holding a celebratory cocktail at the YCM Clubhouse for owners and crews of this newcomer vessel to the Primo Cup event.

In comparison to the number of entries for 2005, this year’s Melges 24 fleet was a record: 37 vessels. Many of the crews were readying their skills for the Melges 24 Mondial 2006 event which will be held at Hyères, 16 August to 01 September. Racing was of high quality and skilled – turns were very crowded, and there were a number of general recalls. It was not until the very last of the 8 Rounds run that the three First Places emerged : each separated by one single point and each having won two Rounds.

Victory inthe Melges went to Italian AMF Nikita, entered by 'la Fiamma Gialla' (the Italian Financial Police: Guardia di Finanza), and helmed by Andrea Casale, Italian Laser and J/24 Champion. The Swiss Blu Moon pulled in just one point behind to take Second Place, skippered by Franco Rossini, President of the Yacht Club de Lugano. Third Place went to Sandro Montefusco, a seasoned Italian Circuit 470 sailor; Roberto Benamati was tactician, a former Star Category World Champion, and a repeat winner of the 100 Miglia du Garda event.

The Beneteau 25 series has just been officially recognised as an International class by ISAF under the name of Platu 25. The regatta was unequivocally dominated by the Italian Fra Martina TNT – the crew’s fifth consecutive win of this annual event in Monaco. The vessel was entered by the brothers Pavesio, and helmed by Lorenzo Bressani.

Along with various awards of Slam apparel, the Credit Suisse (Monaco) Gold Ingot, presented by Alain Ucari, Manager of Credit Suisse (Monaco), was won by the Melges 24, Docteur Jigolo, at a draw held at the Clubhouse. Monica Assaraf presented Spirit of Ad Hoc, victor in the First 40.7 Category, with a Hublot / Tuiga chronograph, valued at Euros 8.800.

Final Leading Results from the second weekend:

Beneteau 25 after 8 races:
1  ITA 25021 FRA MARTINA  1 2 1 1 2 1 1 DNF 24pts 7pts
2  ITA 25018 BITIPI  2 1 2 3 3 2 2 6 21 12
3  DEN 396 ZIRRA  OCS 3 4 2 1 4 5 1 35 15
4  FRA 31110 ATELIER DE LA VOILE  3 7 9 4 5 6 7 5 46 30
5  SUI 235 LIKE A VIRGIN....  4 5 13 10 6 10 4 2 54 31
6  ITA 25364 GOODY PENGUIN  5 14 7 6 4 7 3 7 53 32

First 40.7 after 8 races:
1  FRA 28144 SPIRIT OF AD HOC  3 2 6 2 1 4 2 7 27pts 14pts
2  FRA 21818 SAYANN 2  2 DNF 3 4 3 2 6 9 45 20
3  ITA 9741 HEAVEN CAN WAIT  1 3 1 5 DNF 3 8 12 49 21
4  FRA 27580 PATURLE NAUTIC  8 DNF 2 1 5 5 4 5 46 22
5  FRA 9553 LOVIN'IT  9 1 5 7 4 6 13 4 49 27
6  FRA 25640 CELINOU  OCS 4 7 3 6 1 14 8 59 29

Melges 24 after 8 races:
1  ITA 627 AMF NIKITA  2 1 6 DSQ 1 4 2 11 65pts 16pts
2  SUI 521 BLU MOON  1 DNF 2 7 3 1 7 3 62 17
3  ITA 481 LIOCORNO MELSINEO  5 4 5 3 10 3 1 1 32 17
4  FRA 389 BIG SHIP - MARSEILLE  7 2 1 2 4 8 5 6 35 20
5  MON 601 SOGETI  DNF DNF 4 8 17 2 6 2 115 39
6  GBR 435 WILD THING  3 DNF 10 10 19 10 4 9 103 46

Mumm 30 after 8 races:
1  FRA 83 TOULON PROVENCE MEDITERRANEE  4 2 1 5 4 3 4 7 30pts 18pts
2  MON 2003 DANGEROUS BUT FUN  8 4 5 2 3 4 6 2 34 20
3  SUI 304 OLYMPIC  7 1 9 3 1 11 8 3 43 23
4  FRA 51 ILE DE FRANCE  1 DNF 2 4 5 6 7 5 48 23
5  ITA 3111 MATRIX  5 5 8 1 9 9 2 8 47 29
6  FRA 18306 KEEP COOL  6 DNF 3 6 8 10 9 1 61 33

Smeralda 888 after 8 races:
1  MON  4 DANGEROUS BUT FUN  1 8 1 6 3 4 2 1 26pts 12pts
2  MON  8 BOTTA DRITTA  3 2 6 9 1 1 3 3 28 13
3  ITA  5 SMERALDA IV  5 3 2 1 6 3 1 4 25 14
4  MON  6 VAMOS MI AMOR  4 4 5 3 7 2 5 5 35 23
5  MON  7 EXTRAVAGANZA  9 9 3 4 4 6 4 9 48 30
6  MON  3 BEAR ESSENTIALS  7 7 11 2 2 9 8 6 52 32

Event website: http://www.yacht-club-monaco.mc