Porto Cervo, July 13th, 2003
Monaco Yacht Club was the winner of the Coppa Europa Smeralda 888, held during the past two days in Porto Cervo and organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
In this Interclub Team Race the team from Monaco, which readfiled three Smeralda 888 type yachts, confirmed its superiority over the other three participants: the Cowes Royal Yacht Squadron, The Gstaad Yacht Club and YCCS. The sailors from Monaco were better prepared and more up to date on the rules and strategies that characterize this Team Racing format.

Team Racing typically opposes a group of boats to another and the one which ends with the best score as a team wins; this is not completely new in the Mediterranean sailing circles but is only now starting to become more popular after the success seen in America and Great Britain. It is a way to challenge a rival club but also a means of strengthening friendship ties between members of different yacht clubs. The Coppa Europa was won by the team that proved itself as the best in the two races sailed today, defeating the English team, winner of the previous day. In the two 50 minute windward leeward races sailed today in light airs the Monaco team dominated the first and controlled the opposition, maintaining the lead, in the second.
Here are the final standings according to the points scored:

1) Yacht Club di Monaco: points 58
2) Royal Yacht Squadron: points 74
3) Yacht Club Costa Smeralda: points 78
4) Gstaad Yacht Club: points 102