30th Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse - Weekend 1 Overall
by Isabelle Andrieux 2 Feb 2014 23:34 PST
31 January -2 February 2014
Swiss have a field day
Once again the Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse confirmed its reputation as a top class event, with variable conditions throughout the three days proving difficult for some, while others appeared to make light of the elements to produce convincing victories. A great start to the season at this first big winter regatta.
With a total of eight races, of which seven counted, for the one-designs competing in the first weekend - Star, Dragon, Surprise and J/24 - and seven races, of which six counted, in the two IRC categories, competitors had plenty of opportunities to rediscover their reflex actions, sail trimming skills and get the feel of the helm again, so crucial to pulling off a win.
Unstoppable since the start of this first weekend with five race wins, the Swiss Jean-Jacques Chabard (Team Vision Future) dominated in the IRC 1&2 category, ahead of Frenchman Olivier Maubert (Esparlica 3) and Monaco resident Roberto Tamburelli (Forrest Gump III).
All in all the Swiss had an excellent regatta, with a double 1-2, not only in the Surprise class with Nicolas Groux (Signaterre) beating his compatriot Michel Glaus (Teo Jacob), but also Lorenz Zimmermann (Squalo Bianco VII) pipping Christoph Gautschi (Fram) to the post in the Stars. YCM society member Andrea Orlando (Acciuga Jr) clinched 3rd place.
In the other categories, the Russian Anatoli Loginov (Strange Little Girl), was victorious in the Dragons, ahead of Monegasque Michael Kurtz (Activists); the Frenchman Adrien Follin (Give Me Five) in the IRC 3&4; and not forgetting victory in the J/24 for the Greek Dimitrios Altisiadis (Evniki) ahead of four-time European champion in the series, Jan Southworth (Il Riccio), and YCM society member Ian Ilsley (St Andrews Securities), European vice-champion 2013. Also competing in this class were two teams from the Manhattan Yacht Club here to take on the best European sailors, with their Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh, who sailed with Mathieu and Nicolas Bouchet, two young sailors of the YCM's Sports Division, who race at a high level in 470s and lasers.
The first three in each series were presented with the Trophée Credit Suisse and SLAM Advanced Technology Sportswear by Alain Ucari (CEO of Credit Suisse Monaco) and Italian actor Ezio Greggio, surrounded by members of the Yacht Club's steering committee.
Once again it's proved a very competitive weekend for all six classes in competition. From next Friday it will be the turn of the SB20, Smeralda 888, J/70, Melges 20, Platu 25 and Longtze Premiers to pick up the baton for another weekend on the water which, as every year, should prove to be at a high level again.
IRC 1 & 2 - perfect vision (11 registered, 6 nationalities)
From the first day Jean-Jacques Chaubard's Team Vision Future proved a formidable opponent. With five wins out of seven races, the orange and black GP 42 claimed the first step of the podium from the start and never left it. A domination contested by Esparlica 3 (with two wins) and Forrest Gump III, both on 14 points.
IRC 3 & 4 (13 registered, 3 nationalities): 5 in contention for 1 first place
Adrien Follin's Sainte-Maxime team on Give Me Five can congratulate themselves on keeping their first place in this class, as from day one of the Primo Cup there was strong competition from five other teams that could have claimed that elusive top step on the podium.
It was an excellent weekend for the tactical Follin who had a great start to the season. In 2nd position, the Mediterranean class President Jean-Claude Bertrand (Tchin Tchin) snatched 2nd place from No Limit helmed by Marc Pajot who surrounded by his girls was hoping to string together a 3rd consecutive victory in the Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse.
J/24 - an international podium (21 registered, 8 nationalities)
A hugely popular class worldwide, the 2014 field of J/24s almost mirrored this international fleet, with eight nationalities present (England, Greece, Monaco, Germany, Sweden, Italy, USA and Holland). In imperial form from the first day, the Englishmen on Il Riccio lost out to the consistency of the Greeks Evniki helmed by Dimitrios Altisiadis after a tightly fought duel.
"We are very happy to be here. This is our second time at the Primo Cup and it really is our favourite regatta," commented the Greek skipper. After some technical problems (broken spinnaker pole) on the first day Ian Ilsley, supported by François Brenac on St Andrews Securities completed the podium, climbing back to be just 11 points adrift of the top.
Surprise - no surprises for first place (19 registered, 4 nationalities)
In the Primo Cup's most loyal series Italian Andrea Vailati on Twins managed a good 3rd behind the victorious Swiss duo. Michel Glaus took 2nd behind the consistent Nicolas Groux on Signaterre, who was never lower than 5th and won three races.
Star - no let up to glimpse victory (10 registered, 4 nationalities)
A former Olympic class, the Star series always attracts a high level fleet with everything to play for to the last race. While none of the teams on the podium managed more than one race win, it was the Swiss Lorenz Zimmerman on Squalo Bianco VII who snatched victory from regatta regular Christoph Gautschi on Fram and the young Monegasque Andréa Orlando (who learned his skills with the YCM Sports Section) who stole a promising 3rd place from under the noses of big names in the series.
Dragon - a Russian-Monegasque match (8 registered, 6 nationalities)
Less than two points separated the 1st from the 3rd after a fierce contest over all eight races. In the end, one of the favourites in this series, the Russian Anatoli Loginov on Anapurnna clinched it by 1 point ahead of Monegasque Michael Kurtz on Activists and by 2 points from compatriot Dmitry Samokhin on Strange Little Girl. It's highly likely these three will be on the podium at the next European championships for this class.
Overall Results: (top three)
Dragon (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Anapurnna (RUS): 12 pts
2. Activists (MON): 13 pts
3. Strange Little Girl (RUS): 14 pts
IRC 1 & 2 (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Team Vision Future (SUI): 7 pts
2. Esparlica 3 (FRA): 14 pts
3. Forest Gump III (MON): 14 pts
IRC 3 & 4 (7 races, 6 discard)
1. Give me Five (FRA): 10 pts
2. Tchin Tchin (FRA): 19 pts
3. No Limit (FRA): 26 pts
J/24 (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Evniki (GRE): 18 pts
2. Il Riccio (GBR): 20 pts
3. St Andrews Securities (MON): 29 pts
Star (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Squalo Bianco VII (SUI): 18 pts
2. Fram (SUI): 20 pts
3. Acciuga Jr (MON): 21 pts
Surprise (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Signaterre (SUI): 17 pts
2. Teo Jacob (SUI): 26 pts
3. Twins (ITA): 26 pts
Full results can be found at www.primo-cup.org