The season kicked off in February with the 40th Primo Cup-Trophée UBS when the crew on Canard à l’Orange helmed by Achille Onorato dominated the competition. Next stop was Alassio, Italy, for the Trofeo Luigi Carpaneda in April where Giada helmed by Germano Scarpa from YCCS triumphed in a hard-fought contest marking the fleet’s rise to prominence. The third stage in Saint-Tropez at the Coupe de l’Hippocampe allowed Canard à l’Orange to consolidate their lead with Achille Onorato again at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Morten Kielland’s Mathilde. In Porto Cervo for the Invitational 888, the crew on Timofey Sukhotin’s Beda prevailed in variable wind conditions, putting their boat back in the running for the title.