Groupe Atlantic wins Valencia Mar Sailing Week, the first event of the 2023 Algebris 69F Cup
by 69F Sailing 1 May 2023 02:01 EST
27-30 April 2023
Valencia Mar played host to the first event of the 2023 Algebris 69F Cup, an open circuit for the one-design, foiling monohull for crew. Seven teams from five nations competed over four days and twenty races, battling challenging conditions that ranged from light wind and flat water to strong breeze and chops.
After a week of intense competition, the French team Groupe Atlantic emerged victorious, clinching the top spot with an impressive performance. Suisse Katana Sailing came in second place, followed by Antiguan Rum Runners in third, after having had an early lead in the first two days. CER - Banque du Léman finished in fourth place, followed by Marga in fifth, and Team Oceana Vivo and Flying Nikka rounding out the rankings.
On the final day of the event, the teams were welcomed by warm sunshine and light breeze. As soon as they reached the racecourse, the wind started to increase until it reached speed up to 15 knots from east. Groupe Atlantic dominated the final six races, with Clement Cron at the helm and Louise Chambet, Valentin Sipan, and Jessica Berthoud onboard, coached by French sailing legend Pierre Mas. Rum Runners, Katana Sailing, and Marga each won one race.
"We're super happy, it was a good event, we had quite a slow start to the regatta but managed to come back stronger, especially the two last days so with the full foiling conditions", commented Louis Chambet, team member of Groupe Atlantic. "It's a great way to start the season and to get Jessica in the team, we are very happy with that too. We gave it all as usual but we still have some things we would like to improve in different areas, we gave it all and it was just enough to win, so we're very happy with that".
The first event of the 2023 Algebris 69F Cup is now closed and the circuit will then move from May 29th to June 3rd to Lake Molveno, north of Lake Garda, Italy, with amazing alpine scenery and sailing conditions. The spotlight, though, will shine before that on the Under 25 sailors of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup, whose first European event will take place in La Grande Motte France, in about ten days.