The curtain fell on the 39th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse in partnership with Sebago, Monaco City Hall and clothing supplier Slam who every year awards the top three teams with sailing gear. Twelve nations, 300- plus sailors and three classes gathered for this one design regatta that has become a classic since its launch by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco in 1985. In all 15 Smeralda 888s, a dozen Longtze Premiers and over 50 J/70s raced in this event which also doubles as the fourth and final Act of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series.
Idyllic conditions continued to the final day with a steady 8 knots more than enough for teams to get the maximum potential from their boats. In the J/70, YCM’s Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-Spot appeared all but unbeatable in the first four races before conceding final victory to the Italians on Alice. “The level was high, first given the presence of so many boats in the Monaco J/70 Class Association, but also top Italian and Swiss teams,” noted the G-Spot helmsman. Alessandro Molla’s Viva completed the podium. In the Corinthian (amateur) category, the Swiss on Aiola snatched top step of the podium ahead of the Brits on Brutus and the Swiss on Rhubarbe-3Nuits.com.
Sailing is often a family affair as evidenced by father and son, Vincenzo and Achille Onorato from YCM, who were racing against each other at the helms of Smeralda 888s for six hotly contested races. Achille’s Canard à l’Orange finally got the better of his father on Mascalzone Latino who came 2 nd. Recognised as an excellent sailor, Class President, Charles de
Bourbon des Deux-Siciles (Vamos mi Amor) added another trophy to his impressive record by winning the event.
No surprises today in the Longtze Premier that was again dominated by the Swiss led by a faultless performance from Jarmo Wieland’s Shensu to win all six races. Torsten Muller’s crew on Le Petit Frère d’Emile Bleu and Stefen Schneider’s Outsider were 2nd and 3rd.
Launched 2013, this series of monthly regattas from November to March is the ideal opportunity for international teams to prepare for the upcoming season. Overall winner of this 10th anniversary season after 24 races was Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda), followed by Samuel Poons (Charisma V) and Graeme Peterson (Moonlight II), all three are members of YCM.
Under the aegis of the collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach, high level sports events continue to take centre stage at Yacht Club de Monaco. While waiting for the 40th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse (7-10 March 2024), some crews can now hang up their sailing gear for a few weeks, apart from those sailors who will meet again in Monaco, 25-26 March 2023, for the first Women Leading and Sailing, an all-female regatta on J/70s.