CALVI NETWORK Leads Alcatel J/70 Cup

(San Remo, Italy)- The first event of ALCATEL J/70 CUP was enthusiastically hosted by Yacht Club San Remo, a beautiful club on the Italian Riviera in the northwest part of Italy.  Mother nature was not kind, offering extremely variable weather conditions and unsteady winds.

Sixty-three boats from fourteen Countries sailed the event in San Remo, including teams from Austria (1), Brazil (2), United Arab Emirates (1), France (2), Germany (1), Italy (29), Malta (1), Monaco (9), Norway (1), Poland (2), United Kingdom (2), Russia (5), Sweden (1), Switzerland (5), and Turkey (1).

There were many newcomers racing with the J/70 fleet in San Remo, but also many veteran teams with championship credentials, like the young European J/70 Champion and woman skipper of PETITE TERRIBLE- Claudia Rossi; Carlo Alberini’s CALVI NETWORK- two-times winner of the Key West Race Week and a European Champion; and Franco Solerio aboard L'ELAGAIN, winner of the Italian circuit in the past two years!

After making a valiant attempt to get racing going over the three days, just two races ended up counting.  Nevertheless, in the extremely difficult sailing conditions, many of the top teams still prevailed to land on the podium.  Winning for the second year in a row was Alberini’s CALVI NETWORK with 5 pts total.  Perhaps the greatest achievement of the regatta was to see Russia’s top woman skipper, Lera Kovalenko, continue her winning ways (she won the Monaco J/70 Winter Series overall), posting a 4-3 with her excellent ARTTUBE team to take the silver on the podium! Third was ARRIVEDERCI, skippered by Victor DeMaison from Brazil.  Truly an international podium!

Rounding out the top five were Claudia Rossi’s PETITE TERRIBLE from YC Costa Smeralda with 14 pts and in fifth place was Gianfranco Noe’s WHITE HAWK from YC Adriaco.  For the first time in J/70 class history, there were two women skippers in the top five, an exciting development for the class!

In the Corinthian division, first place went to Noe’s WHITE HAWK, followed by the duo of Zampori & Ramassotto from CN Alassio on MAGIE DAS SAILING TEAM in second place and rounding out the podium in the bronze position was the Swedish crew of DYNAMANT RACING from Royal Swedish YC (KSSS) skippered by Anders Kemmler.  The balance of the top five consisted of Allessio Querin’s MUMMY ONE from YC Hannibal in 4th and Alain Stettler’s QUARTER TO ELEVEN Swiss crew from Regatta Club Oberhofen.

"Despite the low number of races sailed, it was a good event on water and on-shore,” explained the President of J/70 Italian Class, Vittorio Di Mauro.  “Even when weather conditions didn't allow sailing, we tried to entertain our crews in the best way possible. At all times they could enjoy food and drinks offered by Kitchen Aid and Aperol Spritz, or try the brand new cars by Alfa Romeo in thrilling test drives. We for sure hope that, in the next leg, we will manage to deliver a great event both on water and on shore.”

The winner, Carlo Alberini commented, ”It's a pity we lost the chance for two races one day because of all the general recalls.  We would have been really happy to sail in those conditions, but things can't always go as you wish! There is still a lot of satisfaction for having begun the Alcatel J/70 Cup with a victory and this repays us for all the hard work we've done through the winter. We never stopped sailing between the USA and training in the Adriatic Sea. I have to thank my crew that never lost focus even when the stress was high due to the long waits and to the continuous starting procedures.” Alberini’s crew included Branko Brcin (tactician), Karlo Hmeljak (main), and Sergio Blosi (trimmer).

The next event for the ALCATEL J/70 CUP is scheduled for May 26th to 28th in Malcesine, on the Lago di Garda.

Perhaps the biggest winner in San Remo was the Russian woman skipper- Lera Kovalenko!  Why?  She won a two-nights stay in Lazise (Verona) and a wine tasting at Cantina Masi valid for two people, to be enjoyed after the ALCATEL J/70 Cup in Malcesine!  The prize was awarded by the Italian Chamber of Commerce- “OhhItaly!”- to the top finishing foreign crew in San Remo!  No wonder she had such a big smile on her face!!   Follow Alcatel J/70 Cup on Facebook   For more Alcatel J/70 Cup Italian Championship sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.


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