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Yacht Class n°27 (december 2021/jan-feb 2022)
In each issue, discover the latest news of all the yacht clubs around the world twinned with the Monegasque club.
REAL CLUB NAUTICO DE BARCELONA (RCNB) / CLUBE NAVAL DE CASCAIS (CNC)
The 52 Super Series will race in Cascais and Barcelona in 2022
It’s official, in 2022, two of the clubs twinned with the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Real Club Nautico de Barcelona and the Clube Naval de Cascais will each host a stage of the 52 Super Series. This annual event, one of the most prestigious in the world, features the TP52, fast and powerful monohulls at the cutting edge of technology. The program for this tenth season includes no less than five one-week stages, combining windward and leeward courses and coastal races. In total, between 45 and 50 races, with no discard, await the ten or so crews of more than 8 nationalities with sailors from 5 continents. To admire them, rendezvous in Cascais (Portugal) from June 19th to 25th, then in Barcelona (Spain) from October 25th to 30th.
A sixth edition for the Barcelona Winter Series
After a last fifth edition interrupted due to the pandemic, the Barcelona Winter Series is back on the usual regatta calendar of the Catalan club. From October to March, this series of monthly regattas will offer a beautiful playground and training for the J/70 and – novelty of this year – the Melges 32 class. Among the J/70 registered, the club expects up to ten top-level boats and sailors. The event will also be attended by the winner of the J/70 Open de España ‘News’ of Luis Martin Cabiedes and his great rivals ‘Bodega Can Marlès’ skippered by Jorge Martínez Doreste de Martínez, ‘Tenaz’ of Pablo Garriga and ‘Monjo’ of Ricardo Terrades. Fierce races are definitely on the menu.
CLUBE NAVAL DE CASCAIS (CNC)
A CNC crew world champion in SB20
The waters of Cascais are often the stage of major sailing competitions. Late August, the Portuguese club hosted the SB20 World Championship and more than two hundred participants from thirteen countries, including some of the top names in this very popular class in Portugal. After winning one third of the twelve races organized during these five days of intense and tight competition, CNC member “Open Bar” of Henrique Haddad, with Mário Trindade, Leonardo Lombardi and Pedro Caldas became the new world champions.
A Swedish team wins the Women’s Sailing Champions League
One week after its male counterpart in Porto Cervo, the CNC hosted the grand finale of the 2nd Women’s Sailing Champions League. During three days, nearly 100 women sailors in 23 teams representing 20 clubs from 10 European countries competed on the Portuguese waters. Despite a shortened competition due to lack of wind on the last day, the twelve races launched resulted in the victory of the Swedish club Hjuviks Bätklubb. They won the title of “Best Women’s Sailing Club”, after scoring super consistent results that only included first and second places. The podium is completed by two Portuguese clubs, Clube de Vela Atlántico and Sport Algés e Dafundo.
YACHT CLUB COSTA SMERALDA (YCCS)
The Sailing Champions League held its final in Porto Cervo
Twenty-nine crews from all over Europe converged at the YCCS last October for the final of the Sailing Champions League to win the title of “Best Yacht Club of the Year”. After regattas were cancelled on day one due to the lack of wind, the (too) rough wind conditions of the following days led the organization to held the regatta inside the marina in Porto Cervo. A first for the club! After ten “flights” – forty races – the Finnish crew Esbo Segelförening won this great final.
The end of the Young Azzurra
The adventure was only supposed to last four months, but it actually lasted a year and a half. Created to participate in the Youth America’s Cup, which should have been held in Auckland in February 2021, the team Young Azzurra has finally lived a very different adventure with its Persico 69F. This team of four young sailors has impressed the last few months with its good results in the Youth Foiling Gold Cup and the Persico 69F Cup. Winner of each round of the Persico 69F Cup it has participated in, it ended its adventure with a fourth place in the Act 3 and the Grand Final of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup. This bodes well for the future of these young Italian sailors.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup filled with life Porto Cervo
In September, a monument of nautical racing once again took up residence at the YCCS. For this 31st Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, 44 boats over 60 feet, divided according to their size and performance, made the show off Porto Cervo. At the end of a week-long competitions in various wind conditions, which allowed five races for the Mini Maxi and four for the rest of the fleet, “Velsheda” won in Supermaxi, “Magic Carpet Cubed” in Maxi, “Cannonball” in Mini Maxi 1, “Capricorno” in Mini Maxi 2 and “Lyra” in Mini Maxi 3.
YACHT CLUB ITALIANO (YCI)
Maxi yachts return to Portofino
After a successful edition in 2021, the regatta season for maxi yachts in the Mediterranean will open again in Portofino next year. From April 21st to 25th, the Yacht Club Italiano, which has its summer headquarters in this small fishing village on the outskirts of Genoa, will organize the Regate di Primavera (spring regatta) in partnership with the municipality. Note that at the same time, the city will celebrate its patron saint, San Giorgio, offering a great party and unforgettable memories to the competitors present.
CIRCOLO DELLA VELA SICILIA (CVS)
The 16th Palermo-Monte-Carlo won by Guido Miani
This is the must-attend summer event for ocean racing enthusiasts. In August, the 16th Palermo-Montecarlo, organized by the CVS, in collaboration with the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, attracted 54 boats. After 59 hours, 3 minutes and 8 seconds and 480 miles in often difficult conditions, the Maxi Arca SGR of Guido Miani (YCM), associated with Furio Benussi, crossed the finish first in elapsed time – his 4th victory after those of 2007 and 2008 on corrected time and those of 2013 on real time. The race record is still held since 2015 by Esimit Europa 2 in 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds.
YACHT CLUB OF GREECE (YCG)
A few busy months
After a few complicated months due to the Covid-19, Yacht Club of Greece relaunched its main activities in style in June 2021, starting with the glamorous Spetses Classic Yacht Race that gathered more than 60 beautiful classic yachts and traditional Greek boats in this iconic lsland. The sailing schools re-opened as well, driven by the thirst of students to start sailing and enjoying outdoor activities again. In August, the club also staged the 54th Andros International Yacht Race, which as usual assembled the cream of the Greek ORC racing boats, with all-star crews and well-known skippers, combining olympic medalists and corinthian sailors. As always, the crews were hosted in style on the island facilities of the co-organiser, Yacht Club of Andros. The fall racing continued with Hydra Race end of October and the Winter Racing series every weekend of November. The YCG expect its clubhouse, still being constrained, to resume full-service operations from early 2022.
SOCIETE NAUTIQUE DE GENEVE (SNG)
A symbol of the Swiss yachting at the Nautique
She does not fail to catch the eye of passers-by and enthusiasts. Since the extension of the Société Nautique de Genève marina inaugurated in 2020, the Walkyrie, the oldest motor boat on Lake Geneva still sailing, has made the Geneva club her new home. This 19-metre long yacht, built in 1882 in Liverpool by the G. Forrester & Co shipyard, is a jewel of Lake Geneva, where she has always sailed. This museum piece, which had belonged to Gustave Eiffel, has undergone many changes throughout her history. In 1925, her steam engine was replaced by a diesel one, while the cabin on deck housing the wheelhouse and the canopy were created. Refit in 1965 by François and Jacques Naef, she was used during several years by the later, a biologist for the University of Geneva, to collect planton samples, before she was refurbished again in 1996 after having hit the shore following a storm. Today, this old lady belongs to the former Swiss banker and enthusiast Charles Pictet. She was entirely stripped down and reassembled in 2015, and now boasts a new engine and modern navigation equipment, that blend with her large wooden steering wheel, brass compass and megaphone. This has given her a new lease of life on the lake she knows so well.
ROYAL SWEDISH YACHT CLUB (KSSS)
KSSS is preparing its Gotland Runt Offshore Race 2022
This is the highlight of the Swedish summer, if you ask sailors in the Baltic Sea Region. The Gotland Runt, the offshore race created in the 1930’s by the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS), will be held between June 30th and July 6th, 2022, with the start 3rd of July, on the first Sunday after the Swedish midsummer, as the tradition predict. For the occasion, a proper race village, with activities services and equipment, will be established right in the middle of Stockholm, at KSSS new harbor at Djurgården. The start of this 352 NM long challenging course will also be held in the very city center of The Swedish capital, followed by tight inshore sailing though the archipelago and passing the island of Gotland on starboard before finishing at the legendary sailing island of Sandhamn. Note that this year, KSSS will also run ORC Doublehanded European Championship 2022 on this same track. In 2021, it only took one week for Gotland Runt to be sold out. What about 2022 ? To find out, rendezvous on the registration open date, on December 10th.
IATE CLUBE DO RIO DE JANEIRO (ICRJ)
The ICRJ hosted the Central and South American Championship of the ILCA class
Thirty years after hosting it for the first time, the ICRJ once again welcomed the Central and South American Championship of the ILCA class (Laser), which took place from August 28th to September 2nd for the ILCA 4 (4.7) and 7 (Standard) classes, and from September 9th to 13th for the ILCA 6 (Radial). A total of 155 sailors from Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay and several Brazilian states participated in the event, including Olympic sailors, Pan American medalists and South American champions. After four races for the standards and 4.7s and eight for the radials, the competition, which counted for the general classification of the class, was won by Uruguay’s Santiago Pacheco and Dolores Moreira in ILCA 4 and ILCA 6, and by Peruvian Stefano Peschiera in ILCA 7. Brazilian sailors completed the three podiums.
The 34th International Sailing Week pulled in the crowds
Last September, the ICRJ’s 34th International Sailing Week was once again a great success, bringing together no less than 280 boats from four South American countries and nine Brazilian states in the Star, 29 er, 420, Finn, ILCA (4, 6 and 7), Snipe, 49 er and Optimist classes. The latter alone had the largest number of participants with 131 units, including 32 newcomers. Wind conditions allowed all the races to be held (12 for the 29 er and 49 er; 8 for the others). The daily briefings also provided enriching exchanges between young people and technicians. “This edition confirmed our decision to focus on youth sailing classes, as each year the number of participants increases, consolidating this event as the biggest one-design sailing week in Brazil”, said Ricardo Baggio, ICRJ sailing advisor. This event also served as the first selection stage of the Brazilian youth team (U19) of the 29 er and ILCA 6 classes, as well as the second stage for the 420 and 29 er for the Youth World Championship, in December.
IATE CLUBE DO RIO DE JANEIRO (ICRJ) / IATE CLUBE DE SANTOS (ICS)
Xamã wins the 71th Santos-Rio 2021
Blue skies, firm and mild weather, good sailing conditions and a southeast wind of 8 to 10 knots… everything was in place to make the start of the Santos-Rio a great event. And not even the headwinds that accompanied much of the route discourage the 27 yachts participating in this 200 miles race between the ICS and the ICRJ. After almost 38 hours of sailing, “Xamã Matrix” (ICS) crossed the finish line first, winning the ORC and VPRS classes. The Classics, a race competed under the flag of the Belle Classe, in reference to the Yacht Club of Monaco’s classic sailing regattas (the ICS has been an ambassador of the Belle Classe since 2013), was won by ICRJ’s member “Aries III”. Other victories: “Dona Bola” in RGS, “OKA” in Bico de Proa and Daddy-O” in Mini 6.5. Note that for the ICRJ, co-organizer, this regatta was also part the 52nd Rio Circuit, one of the most anticipated offshore racing events in Brazil that attracted more than 35 boats and renowned sailors from the main Brazilian ocean racing centers. In addition to the Santos – Rio regatta, this event also included a medium course (the Victor Demaison Regatta with 30 miles) and five smaller races (8 miles on average) in the waters of Guanabara Bay and its surroundings. And after the effort came comfort with many festivities – award ceremonies and social meetings – organized between sailors and guests.
IATE CLUBE DE SANTOS (ICS)
A nice edition of la Volta da Ilha dos Arvoredos
October saw the return of the Volta da Ilha dos Arvoredos (Arvoredos Island Regatta), the third stage of the Copa ICS 2021. The race, idealized in 1958 by club member Fernando Lee, pitted 62 boats against each other on a 17-mile course that leave the Santos Bay to Arvoredos Island, with a finish near Moela Island. This year, the first to cross the finish line was Marcelo Bellotti’s “4Z Phytoervas”, while “Asbar IV” of ICS vice-commodore Jonas de Barros Penteado won the ORC class. In the RGS and Mini 6.5 classes, “Gaia III” of Adagamos Sartini and “Daddy-O” of José Carlos de Souza were the first to cross the finish line. The winners of each category received the traditional Phoenix trophy, inspired by the gigantic concrete phoenix that supports a crane system that allows access to Arvoredos Island. This is an important environmental research laboratory, pioneer in the use of solar and wind energy and rainwater recovery, currently managed by the Fernando Lee Foundation and the University of Ribeirão Preto.
YACHT CLUB PUNTA DEL ESTE (YCPE)
YCPE abroad
In this issue, the Yacht Club of Punta del Este takes us on a journey through Europe. First to the Voiles de Saint-Tropez, where the Commodore, Juan Etcheverrito, was invited by the Rolex head office to represent the club. Immediately afterwards, Juan Etcheverrito went to Barcelona, where he attended the European Conference of the International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICOYC) in Barcelona. Yacht Club Punta del Este, which is the first South American club to join such an important international organisation, was introduced and welcomed to the Council. Finally, let’s stay in Europe, but on the French Riviera, where an Uruguayan crew will participate in the Monaco Optimist Team Race that will take place at the Monaco Yacht Club from January 12 to 16th 2022. This is a great opportunity for the four young sailors, selected last November during a regatta, to gain experience, while competing and sharing with crews of more than 15 nationalities.
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE YACHT CLUB (RSYC)
The youth is back on water
While major events are still put on hold in Singapore, last September the RSYC introduced back the Opti-Junior Sailing Courses, after more than a year of hiatus, to the delight of young Singaporeans, ever more numerous to take an interest in sailing! The program of this introductory course for kids aged 7 to 13 years old provides structured theory and practical lessons, of course, to learn the basics of sailing while supporting them to learn at their own pace in a safe environment and through fun exercises. Once they master fundamental skills such as capsizing and righting, and they know how to control the boats on their own, they begin to sail alone and do mark rounding basics using game and eventually do a mini racing activity with each other! This is also an opportunity to detect future talents and those interested in more advance training in the future training. More courses are planned during the December holidays.
Written by Aurore Teodoro
