April 10, 2019 - Tivat and Montenegro are now on the map of all the fans of the world's competitive races because this year's season of the global RC44 competition has started in this city and our country. Nine teams on modern and ultra-fast RC44 racing sailboats started the sailing regatta "RC44 Porto Montenegro", which will last from 10 to 14 April, at the seaport of Porto Montenegro and the bay of Boka Kotorska.
It is the first of a total of five RC44 Cup races that will run until November when this year's champion team will be known. A total of nine teams are involved in the competition.
For all of them, except for the Tavatuy Sailing Team from Russia, who for the first time appeared in the RC44 Cup, Boka Kotorska is a complete unknown and challenge from a sailing point because of its particular geographic configuration, surrounded by high hills - and with specific and variable local winds, it is very challenging for every sailor. Only the Russian debutant team was in a position to run a week of test sailing in Tivat Bay, and skipper Sergei Filativs said they were delighted with the capabilities of marina Porto Montenegro, which hosted the competition but also the great bumps that they experienced during the trial February sail in Boka Bay.
"The RC44 Cup is a sailing spectacle that has awakened great interest, both for sailing professionals, but also for our VIP clients who enjoy regattas and who are active participants. With this event, we begin the summer season at the nautical settlement of Porto Montenegro, as well as in the town of Tivat," said Marina Montenegro's director, Tony Browne, at today's press conference.
The Porto Montenegro and Montenegro Sailing Club are the focus of the world sailing public at the moment, and this regatta is a great opportunity for all guests of Porto Montenegro, and the local people are watching the race at the highest competitive level in the world.
"This is the 13th edition of the RC44 Cup, which since then has been revolutionary in the world of sailing, and has preserved its specifics. Although the owners of these sailboats and competitors are private friends, all of them are oriented on the sea just as fast as reaching the goal and winning. It is a pleasure to sail in Montenegro," said Bertrand Favre, manager 44Cup. The race, which will be held for the first time in Porto Montenegro, will be the first race in the 2019 season at the RC44Cup, which promises to be long, uncertain and demanding because there are some famous names such as Nicko Poons from Holland, Igor Lah from Slovenia, Vladimir Prošikin from Russia, and Tom Slingsby from Australia.
They sail on identical RC44 class ships, whose conceptual creator is a famous sailor, winner of America's Cup Russell Coutts. These boats are 13.35 meters long, lightweight constructions, made entirely of carbonic carbon, with a sail construction designed for strong winds. So far, they have made about 30 pieces and are very popular among competing sailors around the world.
"The sporty specification of the RC44 class sailor is such that it is adaptable to professionals and amateurs. Everyone has their role in adrenaline sports as well as lifestyle racing," said Cameron Appleton, a member of the Aqua team who won the RC44 Cup five times.
"Every regatta carries its special challenge, depending on the geographic features of the location where we sail and the wind, but also team combinations. Tactics carry one of the main roles - we combine everybody in the crew using their maximum on the sailboat and achieve the best result," said Ed Baird, a tactician on Peninsula Petroleum.
The regatta’s sponsors are the Regent Porto Montenegro, where all the competitors and VIP clients will stay, and the Tivat Tourism Organization, Riana Group and VideoWorks. It has attracted over 160 people from abroad to Tivat in the past days. Organisers made sure the bidding of the RC 44 Cup participants in the Tivat Bay could also be attended from the vessels from the main town promenade Pine.
Text by Sinisa Lukovic
