15 days to go and already 73 teams have confirmed their registration for the first ISAF-recognised J/70 European Open Championship, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with the J/70 Monaco Class Association, presided by Jacopo Carrain, from 12th to 17th October 2015.
Some 80 boats are expected to line up on the one start line, that’s nearly 350 sailors hailing from all over Europe representing 11 nations, not counting the Mexican team led by Julian Fernandez (Flojito y cooperando), World Champion title holder who has confirmed his participation.
The Germans will be out in force with 18 teams heading to the Principality. Many of them will be leaving their boats here ready to participate in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, from October to March, a high level training programme to prepare for the 2016 season. Note also the presence of Johannes Polgar (Reality Distortion Field), who represented Germany in the Tornado class at the Beijing Olympics and is Star European Champion, and Philipp Kadelbach (Rio), German Match Raciing Vice-Champion, sailing with Hendrik Kadelbach, a member of the United Internet Team Germany at the America’s Cup in Valencia.
Four teams will be crossing the Channel from Britain to compete. They include Anthony Hesse (Baby J); Allan Higgs (ESF Energy); Ian Wilson (Gill Race Team); and Andrew Creighton / James Davis (J Star) who came third in the class during Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight.
Meanwhile from Sweden, one of three boats is led by Ingemar Sundstedt (Rocad Racing) who has form on the Monegasque race area, having won the first stage of the Italian Championship hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco in March.
The ‘Mediterraneans’ have not been slow in coming forward with 11 Italian teams confirmed, including Francesco de Angelis (B2), architect of three America’s Cup campaigns and winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000, Carlo Alberini (Calvi Network), winner of Key West Race Week 2015, and six Spanish teams, among them Hugo Rocha (New Territories) who won Kiel Week.
From Monaco, where the J/70 is a flagship series, there will be 17 boats on the start, and they are not there just as extras. Having competed in the Worlds at La Rochelle, they continued their preparation in Riva del Garda early September in the final stage of the Italian Championship and have organised a final training “clinic” the weekend before, 1st to 3rd October.
Given the high level, international umpires will officiate throughout the week which will be attended by Neven Baran, member of ISAF’s Racing Rules Committee.
The J/70s will be moored in the YCM Marina, the outer harbour located in front of the Yacht Club de Monaco’s building. The public can watch the races from different locations in the Principality, including the Luciana Jetty, the slopes and promenades on the main harbour wall, Fort Antoine, the Oceanographic Museum’s terraces, Casino Gardens, etc.
With the Credit Suisse Trophy for the winners and SLAM’s Advanced Technology clothing for all crew members in the first three teams, prize-giving is on Friday 16th October at 8.00pm.
A championship where generosity reigns
During the championship the J/70 Monaco Class Association and the YCM want to support the Lenval Foundation, which among other projects works with the paediatric department at the Princess Grace Hospital (Monaco) to assist their actions for sick children. They are counting on the generosity of all the participants and other donations to raise the funds.
Provisional programme (subject to change – as of 28th September 2015)
Monday 12th October
9.00am-12 noon Cranage & confirmation of registrations
2.00pm-5.00pm Cranage & confirmation of registrations
1.00pm Practice race
7.00pm Opening Ceremony (by invitation)
Tuesday 13th October
10.00am Skippers Briefing
9.00am-11.00am Cranage & confirmation of registrations (by reservation)
1.00pm First warning signal
Wednesday 14th October
10.00am First warning signal
After racing Crew Party (by invitation)
Thursday 15th October
10.00am First warning signal
Friday 16th October
10.00am First warning signal
8.00pm 8.00pm
