For many this weekend was a trial run before the 11th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2023/2024 kicks off with Act 1 scheduled for 9-12 November 2023. This series of monthly regattas was launched by Yacht Club de Monaco in 2013 and brings together all the best crews in the J/70 class who descend on Monaco to take advantage of the superb mild winter conditions.
An autumnal fixture on the Mediterranean calendar, the Grimaldi Trophy always attracts a large fleet for the inshore race from Sanremo to the Principality of Monaco with a stopover in Ventimiglia. The loyalty of owners and crews were rewarded again with a 2023 vintage that was no exception to the rule with 50-plus boats turning out despite the rough weather conditions.
Adaptation key
With winds gusting over 30 knots, organisers decided to play it safe by holding an inshore regatta at Sanremo where the fleet divided into IRC, ORC and Libera classes completed two races. In the ORC 2, Andrea Statari and his Gorilla Gang flying the Club’s flag came 6th and 14th overall. They also finished 8th in the IRC, a category in which Tuiga, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s flagship and her crew of committed members, took 10th ahead of Argynne III 14th.
