Irish triumph in Primo Cup Monaco
Two Irishmen came out top in their one-design classes as the first weekend of the 23rd Primo Cup–Trophée Credit Suisse in Monaco kicked off the Mediterranean sailing season. Michael Cotter in Whisper beat off 26 competitors in the Dragon class to take first prize, while Colin Galavan at the helm of Flash walked away with top honors in the Laser SB3 series, again out of 26. Equally remarkable was the performance of three Swiss teams in the Surprise class, which was the largest fleet, with 37 entries.
Thanks to three victorious legs, Sky Sweeper, skippered by Olivier Legeret won a few points ahead of Philippe Durr and Alain Marchand, winner of the 2006 Primo Cup. A brisk easterly breeze ended the first weekend of this competitive regatta which brought together some of the best sailors from 13 nationalities divided into five classes: Dragon, Star, Laser SB3, J24 and Surprise. The wind whistled up and down the Beaufort scale, giving the 122 sailors a chance to flaunt their talents in all types of weather. Some were even forced to retire as the wind whipped up the sea, at times almost by a meter. The sight of so many yachts in the bay of Monaco was a sight to behold. Even without looking ahead to next weekend’s programme, for the Melges 24, Bénéteau 25, Mumm 30, First 40.7, Smeralda 888 and H22 classes, the 23rd edition is sure to go down in the Primo Cup’s history - and that’s in the opinion of the competitors themselves. Eight legs in total were held for this edition, programmed for the first time over four days to accommodate the Dragon and Laser SB3 classes. Top class entries. In every class, first, second and third prizes were taken by sailors whose reputation goes before them, and some who are regulars on world and olympic podiums, such as Ulli Libor, 2nd in the Dragon class, the Swiss Philippe Durr, 2nd in the Surprise category, or the Irishman Michael Cotter, winner of the Dragons. In the Star series, Régis Bérenguier finished second behind the Ukranian Vasil Gureyev who created the sensation of the week by completely dominating this class. In the Laser SB3, Xavier Leclair on Marçon Yachting clinched third place and in the J24s it was the Monaco yacht of Blandine Médecin, led by the Rodelato brothers, which beat off the competition. The second part of the Primo Cup–Trophée Credit Suisse begins on February 9th and a number of personalities are expected: Dimitri Deruelle, Jimmy Pahun, the Italian Nicola Celon, world champion in the Melges category, also the New Zealander Hamish Pepper, world champion in the Farr 40 2005, on board the Italian Mumm 30, Matrix. Numerous foreign teams from as far afield as USA, Spain (Bribon the Bénéteau 25), Russia and Croatia are expected.