Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona underway
by Covadonga Muñoz 5 Sep 09:45 PDT
4-7 September 2024
Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Regatta © Nico Martinez / MartinezStudio
Barcelona once again hosts one of the Mediterranean's most iconic nautical competitions with the 17th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta.
On the first day of competition, the main contenders have already showcased their skills in a thrilling day, making history by bringing together the most significant categories of this long nautical tradition: the 12 Metres, Class P, and the 15 Metres.
On this first day, the transition from the Terral Wind (NNE) to Xaloc (SE) forced the race committee to delay the scheduled start by 45 minutes to 13:00. The Classic, Classic IOR, and Modern Classic fleets began their sequence of starts at 13:40, followed by the Época Cangreja, Época Bermudian, and Big Boats. The race covered a 15.7-mile course, starting in front of Badalona, heading towards a buoy anchored in Premiá de Mar, and returning upwind.
Recluta, helmed by Germán Frers, dominated in Classics 1 with a wide margin after time compensation. Following closely, Yanira by Andrés de León completed the course 13 minutes later, ahead of Corsario II from the Italian Navy, 28 minutes behind the winner.
Penalties for early starts altered the compensated time order in the Classics. The best of the fleet was Crivizza by Ariella Cattai, followed by Argos by Barbara Trilling, who was penalized with 3 points, dropping to third place with 5 points. Similarly, Mowgli 1965 by Vicent Harris fell to sixth place due to three extra points. Thus, El Kanavel by Javier Mestre was second with 4 points, and Alba by Ronnie Peters was fifth, tied with Mowgli 1965.
In Classic IOR, Encounter lost the victory due to a three-point penalty, falling to fourth place. Ojala II by Susan Carol leads the provisional table with 2 points, followed by Odyseus by Jordi Tusell with 3 points.
Without penalties in the Modern Classic category, the victory went to Anima II by Christian Hentschel, followed by Leloglas by Jens Rickie and Melbac-Etchellde by Belén García.
The Época Cangreja fleet returned to the docks of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona with Viola by Kostia Belkin as the leader, and Olympian by Silvian Ducuty leading the Class P. Completing the podiums were Chinook and Oriole in Cangreja, and Chips and Joyant in Class P. In the Época Bermudian category, Comet by Marc Marciano was the first leader, ahead of Sonata by Jordi Cabau by 2 minutes and Circe by Theo Danel by over 17 minutes after time compensation.
10 Big Boats started, with the three 15 Metres dominating the classification. Mariska by Dan Pojsak won by just 23 seconds over The Lady Anne by Jaime Botín, compensating 6:36 minutes from the leader, Tuiga. Viveka by Keith Mills took fourth place, followed by Cambria by Chris Barkham.
Kookaburra II and Northern Light are the first leaders in the 12 Metres category.
The two 12 Metres categories completed two races of their program, contested on windward-leeward courses, with an initial southeast wind (145º) shifting to 160º, prompting the race committee to adjust the buoy positions.
Torben Grael dominated Division A with an iron hand on Kookaburra II by Patrizio Bertelli. Two partial victories give him the provisional lead with two points, followed by Kiwi Magic by Johan Blach with 5 points (2-3). In third place is South Australia with 7 points (5-2), hampered by an early start in the first race, causing an irreversible delay. French Kiss also has seven points, relegating Crusader to fifth place.
Clear dominance in Division D as well, with two partial victories for Northern Light by Hans Eliason, helmed by Magnus Holmberg. The other seven participants in this division also repeated their respective partials in both races. Thus, Vim helmed by James Patrick is second with four points, completing the provisional podium with Jenetta by Thomas Muller. Following are Seven Seas of Porto, Thea, Eileen 1938, La Spina, and Flica II.
Tomorrow, the Puig Vela Clàssica will compete in its usual racing area, in front of the Barceloneta beaches, with the first starts scheduled for 13:00.
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