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6th Monaco Optimist Team Race : Four Aces for Gstaad Yacht Club

lundi 19 janvier 2015Redaction SSS [Source RP]

Toutes les versions de cet article : [English] [français]

For the fourth consecutive year, four Swiss youngsters from the Gstaad Yacht Club won the Monaco Optimist Team Race, an international event organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, with the support of FxPro and FON that drew 13 nations.

Keen to develop this team race event, for the sixth edition the YMC had invited 16 teams of four Optimists, rather than 12 teams as in previous years, with the boats being supplied by the Erplast boatyard for the 64 youngsters, aged 12 to 15, taking part. These budding young sailors could one day be representing their countries in international contests and the Olympics.

“With 154 races held over four days, the originality of being able to race in the harbour which is rare and safe for children - not forgetting the Yacht Club’s new facilities and the entertainment on offer in the evenings, like for example the giant babyfoot that brought teams and coaches together – Monaco is ‘The place to be’ for this race format,” commented Alfredo Ricci, Principal Race Officer and the man in charge of team racing at the ISAF.

Already in the lead after the Round Robin with 13 wins out of 15 races held, the Gstaad Yacht Club again proved invincible in the final phases to take the top step of the podium. But they had a lot to contend with from the newcomers.

“It’s was hugely satisfying to retain our title. The level across the playing field was very high and our goal remains to stay N°1 among the best,” said a delighted Antonis Drosopoulos, the Swiss team coach.

Coming in a worthy second were the Finnish team from Helsingfors Segelsallskap (HSS Helsinki), followed by the Russians from the St Petersburg Yacht Club’s Sailing Academy.

A great performance, too, from England’s Parkstone Yacht Club team who for this their second visit to Monaco for the event split the two French clubs to grab 5th, just behind French regulars from the Yacht Club Aquitaine. The PACA team which brought together the four best young Optimist sailors from the league (Marseille to Menton) were making their first appearance in this very international field.


Voir en ligne : Info presse www.yacht-club-monaco.mc



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