17 ranked crews, eight nations represented, seven events including a Gold Cup, this is basically the successful recipe for this new season of the Smeralda 888 which has just ended on Monegasque territory.
Under the impetus of Adalberto Miani and Charles de Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, President of the class, this one-design series has been structured with the establishment of a genuine Mediterranean circuit, which has the advantage of offering events on sites as prestigious as Saint-Tropez, Porto Cervo, Cannes and, of course, Monaco, where the International Smeralda 888 Championship traditionally ends, with the organization of the last event of the year.
Vamos mi Amor
It took three races covered at 5-10 knots to witness a new success of the president of the class, Prince Charles de Bourbon of the Two Sicilies on Vamos mi Amor. He is closely followed by Beda led by Timofey Sukhotin and Botta Dritta with Francesco Vauban and Guido Miani on board. Paolo Rotelli (Black Star) completes the predictions for this last event of the year by finishing 4th ahead of Loïc Pompée (Kazimodo) 7th, Roland Trim (Trim) 8th and Kathrin Hoyos (Pink Wave) 9th. It is also the first participation of a Pink Wave women’s team in a Smeralda 888 event.
A thrilling season
From the first stages of the championship, the crews set the tone with the clear victory of Black Star of Paolo Rotelli during the Primo Cup-Trophée Crédit Suisse. The rest of the season was a series of twists and turns. The Trofeo Luigi Carpaneda, the second event on the circuit, notably registering as the Gold Cup of the series, had allowed Francesco Vauban on Botta Dritta to regain control. But that was without counting on the formidable pugnacity of the other Gentlemen Sailors who officiate at the helm of these 8.88 m one-designs.
Halfway through the calendar, the Coupe de l’Hippocampe saw some high-level encounters between Timofey Sukhotin (Beda) and Francesco Vauban on Botta Dritta, who finished neck and neck just ahead of Charles de Bourbon of the Two Sicilies (Vamos mi Amor). Unable to reverse the course of this event, the fleet in pursuit did not have a leading role to play and did not worry the leading men for a single moment. The Corsica Cup, the Coppa Europa Smeralda then the Régates Royales de Cannes, three regattas won in quick succession by Charles de Bourbon of the Two Sicilies and his Vamos mi Amor, only served to reduce the doubt on the final outcome of the classification raced over October 28th to 30th. Yet more great racing is happening now – in November.
10th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series
The Yacht Club de Monaco is once again giving sailors an opportunity to test their mettle with the first act of the 10th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (November 3rd to the 6th) a series of monthly regattas that have become a tradition in the winter calendar of international crews.
