Russia’s J/70 ARTTUBE Continues Monaco Domination

(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- J/70 sailors from nine nationalities were out again in force for Act III of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, organized once a month by the Yacht Club de Monaco from October to March, in collaboration with technical clothing supplier SLAM. It was a particularly testing weekend, with winds alternating between east, west and south, with everything from 3 to 30 knots of breeze!

Russia’s top women keelboat skipper, Valerya Kovalenko, guided her team on ARTTUBE to yet another profound win in the third event of the series, a consistency worthy of a metronome.  The Russian team has put in a faultless performance since the start of the season.  It seems that it is impossible to distract the lady helmsman from Eastern Europe whose strategy seems to get better and better with every race. Kovalenko’s ARTTUBE team posted a 3-1 to dramatically increase their lead for the overall series as well.

Nevertheless, for this particular regatta, the Russian ARTTUBE team was feeling the pressure from other teams.  Second place was determined by a three-way tie-breaker on 7 pts each between YC Monaco’s Stefano Roberti on PICCININA, Jacques Leveque on the Swiss W.A.T.C.H. and Andi Lachenschmid’s skippering the German ISI-JET. After countback, it was Roberti’s Monagesque crew on PICCININA that won the tie-breaker and securing second place for Act III, while Leveque’s Swiss W.A.T.C.H. team took the bronze on the podium, followed by Lachenschmid’s ISI-JET team from Augsberger Seglerclub in fourth place.  Rounding out the top five was another German team, Michael Grau’s PAINT IT BLACK from Norddeutscher Regatta Verein.

As a result, the provisional ranking after three Acts show that Kovalenko’s ARTTUBE crew has a commanding lead, with just 18 pts counted.  However, the scenario behind her is dramatically different, with a battle brewing between several boats for the remainder of the podium.  Currently in 2nd place for the series is Roberti’s PICCININA with 65 pts.  But, in the hunt and, in fact, just two points in arrears is Germano Scarpa’s Italian crew on SPORT CUBE!

Some teams had come a very long way to compete.  For example, the Brazilians on MANDA CHUVA that were 2nd overall last season. And, as well, the presence of French sailor Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, the Laser star for France at the last three Olympics.  And, another top competitor was Elliot Willis, a member of the British Olympic Sailing Team and a brilliant 470 sailor, “I was here for the previous Act. Every time, it’s a real pleasure both in terms of the conditions and organization. It’s great to meet new teams and be able to race here in the middle of winter, this J/70 fleet is tough!”

Every year, the YC Monaco’s regatta facilities attract newcomers. For the fifth consecutive year, Monaco has established itself again as a winter training base for many of the major one-design teams come to do battle.  For example, the two OMANI Sail J/70 teams that arrived in October for the entire 2017/ 2018 winter sailing season are out practicing every weekend and sailing in every regatta.

The final Act of 2017 for the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series comes to an end on the 19th to 21st of January 2018.  Thereafter, the principal opening regatta for the 2018 European sailing season is YC Monaco’s Primo Cup - the Trophée Credit Suisse from 9th to 11th February 2018.  For more YC Monaco J/70 Winter Series sailing informationAdd to Flipboard Magazine.


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