What a nice start of the Esse 850 IC Cup 2017! A friendly round of six teams enjoyed lots of wind and some big waves at the Mediterranean Cup 2017 in Lerici. Seven races could be sailed in only three days and the battle for victory was pretty damn close.

With the SUI 172 of Alain Marchand taking all three bullets on day one, the outcome of the regatta seemed to be obvious very early on. Instead it turned out that these three bullets should remain the only ones for team «Ottocinque Due» as the next four races were alternately won by the SUI 135 with Jérome Butty and the SUI 079 of longtime Esse 850 IC committee member Donato Perucchi.

However, the experienced team of the SUI 172 still managed to defend their one point lead until the end, improving their result of last year’s Esse 850 Mediterranean Cup and deservedly taking the overall victory. Logically, the podium was completed by the SUI 135 in second and the SUI 079 in third place (full results).

Is this going to be year when the living legends of team «Ottocinque Due» recapture the trophy of the Esse 850 IC Cup total ranking? It would quite certainly be – alongside the revival of Roger Federer and Gianluigi Buffon’s forthcoming Champions League victory ­– one of the biggest comebacks in sport. If you wish to find out, follow the action at the Esse 850 Geneva Cup from 26th – 28th of May 2017. See you there!