On the first weekend in February, the attention of sailing and the J/70 class fans was focused on the regatta in Monaco, where the third stage of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2021/2022 and the “promo stage” of the Tenzor International Cup 2022 took place. 52 teams from 12 countries were on the start line-up of the regatta, many of which expected to improve their positions in the series, as well as continue preparing for the World Championship, which will be held in Monaco in mid-October.
Russian teams Tenzor Sport led by Milena Nikitina and Tenzor Legal with Andrey Pushkin, supported by Tenzor Consulting Group, ERSO and Vedomosti.Sport, was among them. To hold positions and continue the fight for high results in the ranking of the series – such goals were faced by our crews.
Unstable weak wind on the first race day allowed the organizers to hold only one race. Both Tenzor Sport and Tenzor Legal crews showed good results, coming 5th and 6th respectively. The next day competitorss spent on the shore, as there was complete calm in the water area. But the final day of the regatta pleased with a fresh working breeze from the southwest with a force of up to 11-13 knots. Four more races took place, according to the results of which the winners of the regatta were determined.
Milena Nikitina’s Tenzor Sport showed maximum stability, registering four arrivals in the top three (2-3-3-2), which guaranteed the Russians the second prize-winning place at the stage. There were chances to win – the Russians scored the same number of points with the leader of the fleet – the GSpot team, acting for the Monaco Yacht Club, but the Monegasques had one first arrival, which allowed them to top the stage results ranking. The 3rd on podium became the British team Brutus II.
Unstable results (14-1-14-1-17) of Ludovico Fassitelli’s Junda crew, Tenzor Sport’s main rival in the series, affected the overall ranking. The Russians overtook Junda and led the Series after three stages with 39 points in the asset against 55 points from Fassitelli. Thus, the final stage will decide the outcome of the duel between two yacht clubs – YCM Monaco and Moscow Tenzor Sailing Club.
The crew of Andrey Pushkin’s Tenzor Legal after the third stage is in the top ten classified on the 9th position just after the winner of the Act 3 – the GSpot team.
The final stage (Act 4) of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2021/2022 awaits participants from March 3 to 6, 2022.
Daniil Odintsov (Tenzor Sport tactician): “Great regatta, we are very satisfied. The final race day was the most interesting and eventful. We had four races in very comfortable weather conditions. As expected, according to the forecast, a fresh breeze came – south-west, up to 12-13 knots on gusts, it was sunny, fresh – ideal working weather for any kind yacht, and J/70 of course. We managed to complete our goals – all the races were stable with excellent arrivals in the top three, which pleased us very much. Despite the fact that we took 2nd place with equal points with the first, we were not upset at all – we performed very well, always took good starts, got out and improved where we went worse. We are very pleased with the way we are moving in general preparation for the summer season. We have 100% harmony inside the team – we understand each other without a word, we support each other, we often joke, in general, the atmosphere is amazing. It’s always nice to race in such a team and with such an attitude. Milena did a good job, she is very stress-resistant and raced great at this regatta. The second crew of the team went well in the races, there was enough speed, they made the right tactical decisions, but they were a little unlucky with the starts. Unfortunately, this is a common story in the big fleet, because all the teams are trying to get out and start faster with a clear wind. We also always started on the edge and took a lot of risks, but this time we were a little more lucky. Anyway, the main thing is that the potential of both crews is very good, and everyone is ready to fight for high positions.”