Enfant Terrible-Adria Ferries win Italian J/70 Cup Act II at Porto Ercole

Italian J/70 Cup Act II Porto Ercole © Petite Terrible Sailing Team

A battle for the podium until the last gybe characterized the finale of the J/70 Cup in Porto Ercole, the second act of the Open Italian J/70 Circuit.

The event consisted of three-days of racing, with eight races completed in wonderful sunny conditions and with moderate breeze up to 18 kts for the fleet of fifty-one crews racing from nine countries (Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Russia, Switzerland).

On the last day, going into the last race, a six points gap separated the fleet leader, Alberto Rossi's Enfant Terrible-Adria Ferries from Gianfranco Noe's Calvi Network, and Claudia Rossi's Petite Terrible (a family affair, as she is Alberto's daughter); a race where there was a potential for a drastic change in team placements on the final podium.

The first boat to cross the finish line for the leading trio in the final run to the finish was Calvi Network in eighth position, four boats ahead of Enfant Terrible. But, the gap was not enough to gain the overall lead, despite a disastrous 24th in race seven for Alberto Rossi's crew that included Branko Brcin, Andrea Felci, Stefano Rizzi and Bianca Crugnola.

As a result, Enfant Terrible took the gold with 33 pts net, Noe's Calvi Network just two points back to take second with 35 pts net. Then, with an easy shot at the lead, Claudia Rossi's Petite Terrible crew could not crack the top ten in the last race, posting a 15th to remain in third overall with 41 pts net.

Rounding out the top five in the open division was Franco Solerio's L'ELAGAIN in fourth and Luca Domenici's Notaro Team Leggi D'Italia in fifth.

In the Corinthian division, the winners were Alessio Marinelli's UJI UJI, who managed to overtake Paolo Tomsic's La Femme Terrible, leader of their division for the first two days of racing. Second place went to Alessandro Zampori's Noberasco Das who maintained their position at the end of the races of Saturday. Third place went to La Femme Terrible after disastrous last day finishes of 13-39.

In the last day of racing, the two races were won by Valerya Kovalenko's Russian crew on ARTTUBE and Germany's Markus Wieser on Mission Impossible.

Maurizio Belloni, Vice-President of CNV Argentario, commented, "We are honored that J/70 Italian Class chose Porto Ercole as the location of its regatta and we were blessed with great weather conditions and the excellent work of the Race Committee."

Leaving Porto Ercole, some of the fleet will head to Vigo, Spain, where from June 12th to 16th many crews will take part in the J/70 European Championship, sailing on the open waters of the wild Atlantic Ocean. Among these, Claudia Rossi on board Petite Terrible will be there to defend her title earned in the last two years. However, this year may be her most challenging event yet. Also competing will be Enfant Terrible, Jeniale Eurosystem, La Femme Terrible, Noberasco Das and many other top European teams.

The next event organized by Italian J/70 Class will be the third act of the Italian J/70 Cup in Malcesine, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine on the fabulous Lago di Garda from July 12th to 15th.

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