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470 European Championship: Olympic spirit blows over Monaco

Excitement is building with just a few days to go before the men and women’s 470 European Championship kicks off for the 470s, a double-handed Olympic class dinghy. Barely has the World Cup ended in Hyères and teams are heading for the Principality, some keen to consolidate their results and others determined to shuffle the pack.

With 90 teams from 24 nationalities and nearly 180 competitors, 28 of whom were at the Rio Olympics, this is an unprecedented gathering in the Principality. Satisfaction for YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri who commented that “after organising the first J/70 European Championship in October 2015, then the Monaco Europa Cup in December 2016, this regatta is a perfect illustration of the competitive sailing policy our President HSH Prince Albert II wants to see in action.”

With its new facilities designed by Lord Foster to host regattas, the Yacht Club de Monaco is fast establishing itself as an instigator of high level events by organising an international meeting in collaboration with World Sailing at least once a year. The 2,000 members from 68 nationalities who are the lifeblood of the Club love it, with many involved in the smooth running of these events in the “Flotte des Commissaires”. ‎

An outstanding field

The level is on a par with the meeting. Among the women’s teams are Dutch duo, Afrodite Zegers and Anneloes van Veen, 4th at the last Olympics, and Bàrbara Cornudella Ravetllat – Sara Lopez Ravetllat from Spain, 12th in Brazil but ranked 4th in the World Rankings.

470 European Championship

In the men’s it’s impossible to make any predictions, with duos like Australians Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan, Olympic Vice-Champions, facing the Greek Rio bronze medallists, Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis. With six days of racing ahead and a medium wind forecast, competitors will have plenty of time to get to grips with the Monegasque race area, renowned for testing strategy and tactics to the limit.

It all starts Monday 8th May at 12 noon when the first race kicks-off. Spectacle guaranteed!

Programme

Saturday 6th May
6.00pm: Opening Ceremony

Sunday 7th May
2.00pm: warm-up race

Monday 8th May
12 noon: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.

Tuesday 9th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.

Wednesday 10th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.

Thursday 11th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying and final stages.

Friday 12th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying and final stages

Saturday 13th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Final stages and Medal Race.
7.00pm: Closing Ceremony

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