Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series at Yacht Club de Monaco ends on a high for 2018/2019

Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series Act 3 © Martin Messmer

The 6th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series of monthly regattas held from October to March ended in style this weekend with the fifth and final Act taking place in spring conditions (sunshine and wind) to the delight of 50 teams divided between the J/70 and Melges 20 contestants who set up their winter base in the Principality.

Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with technical clothing supplier SLAM, these regattas are important for one-designs to prepare for the season, as evidenced by all the foreign teams, some from across the Atlantic like the Brazilian, Marcello, three-time Olympic medal in the Star class. For this sixth season, 29 races were launched by the Race Committee presided by Thierry Leret, averaging nearly six races a weekend.

In the Melges 20, the class that launched the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series at the instigation of Valentin Zavadnikov, the Russians were again on the podium, with Alexander Mikhaylik's Alex Team winning Act 5 after six races to clinch the 2018-2019 season.

In the J/70 it was only fitting that on St Patrick's Day victory should go to King Marshall's Irish team on Soak Racing led by the International Class President. The team dominated combats this weekend with two race wins and always in the vanguard, despite determined Swiss opposition on CDE CH helmed by Nicolas Anklin. Russian Sergey Sobolev on RUS1271 took 3rd, although two poor results would have cost him dear, as fewer than two points separated him from his pursuers all the way down to 7th place.

Soak Racing also won in the Corinthian category, ahead of the Swiss armada not only on the podium but down to 7th place.

In the final overall ranking for the 2018-2019 season, consistency and competitiveness paid off for Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda Banca del Sempiene), already a winner on this circuit in the Melges 20, who took the title. It was a successful return to the J/70 for the YCM member which bodes well for the J/70 World Championship in Monaco in October 2021.

Another YCM member took 2nd place, Loïc Pompée (Allo III) who continues to progress and is a team to watch out for in the next Europeans. The Swiss Corinthian team Quarter Eleven hung onto their 3rd place and 1st in the Corinthian, as even after nearly 30 races only a fistful of points separated the top five.

Behind him, two Russian teams Dimitri Zaritckii (RUS 1271) and Andreï Malygin (Maria) reflect the international field in this championship.

Dates have already been set for the 7th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series with five Acts and more than 70 boats lined up to participate.

• Act 1: 7/10 November 2019
• Act 2: 5/8 December 2019
• Act 3: 16/19 January 2020
• Act 4: 6/9 February 2020 (Primo Cup Trophée Credit Suisse)
• Act 5: 5/8 March 2020