Persico 69F Cup Grand Prix 2.1 - Overall
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 10 Jul 22:30 PDT
5-10 & 12-17 July 2021
Young Azzurra racing at the Grand Prix 2.1 Persico 69F Cup © Marta Rovatti Studihrad / 69F Media
Saturday was the final day of racing at the first event in the foiling Persico 69F Cup organized by the YCCS together with Team 69F. The home team, Young Azzurra wins the Grand Prix 2.1 followed by the Swiss team Okalys Youth Project in second place and the Italian team team FlyingNikka 74 in third.
The third and final day of racing was very intense for all of the teams who, to recover the races that were postponed yesterday, started the day early at 7:00 AM at the YCCS Centro Sportivo for their briefing before heading out to sea. The Race Committee evaluated the conditions then set the course off Romazzino, where the Persico 69F fleet completed 8 races in Mistral breeze at 15 to 18 knots.
Right from the first race the YCCS home team showed that they were determined to make up for the first, complicated day of racing that saw them in fifth place overall. In today's first race, after getting a less than perfect start, Young Azzurra began gaining ground and ended up finishing the first race in second place. In the second and third races the team got two bullets leaving the rest of the fleet more than a leg behind. The following races saw Young Azzurra finish fourth, get two more bullets and then two second places. With placements like these Young Azzurra dominated the scoreboard and won the Grand Prix 2.1, adding this victory to the one already captured at the circuit's first event in Malcesine. The Swiss team Okalys Youth Project started the day in first place overall but had uneven performance today and finished the event in second place. They placed fifth three times, third three times, and second and fourth once each. It was a very good day for FlyingNikka 74, a team that managed to push their way up to third place overall thanks to a bullet, three second place finishes, one fourth, two fifth places and one sixth. The final score is calculated on the basis of points overall plus electronic points and added points for fair play.
Michael Illbruck, Commodore of the YCCS: "Today, the final day of racing and this first foiling boat event, was fantastic! The Race Committee did an excellent job and all of the participating teams had a chance to prove themselves and measure up their adversaries in the Costa Smeralda waters. I want to congratulate team Young Azzurra for their result and especially for bouncing back, they gave it their all and had fun too."
Ettore Botticini, skipper of Young Azzurra: "We're glad that we managed to get 8 races in today in Porto Cervo's typical Mistral. We were sailing in a sheltered area that is very tricky because there were wind holes and gusts. The team sailed really well, and we managed to win the major part of today's races, rounding the final mark ahead of the entire fleet. We couldn't feel better and are charged up and ready for next week's event."
David Biedermann from the Swiss team Okalys Youth Project: "The Race Committee did a great job today and found us a spot with lighter air that was a bit shifty. It was interesting to sail in these conditions. When we headed out this morning we were in the lead, at the end of the event we're in second place, it's a good result for us. Young Azzurra deserved their win!"
Monday July 12th will see practice sessions for the Persico 69F fleet ahead of the Grand Prix 2.2 event in the Persico 69F Cup that will be held at the YCCS from July 15 to 17. There will be three days to win this event and Young Azzurra will be sailing against eight other teams: Okalys Youth Project, Sailing Performance and Tixwave/Timeon that they sailed against in this event and five new teams: Groupe My Ambition, Section 16, Balthasar, Swiss Dental Solutions and GoatPower by Ulika.
For the results , entry list, the official documents, event programme, photos and further information please visit the dedicated section on the YCCS website or contact the YCCS Press Office .