Azzurra leads TP52's after penultimate day in Gaastra PalmaVela 2015

by Palma Vela on 3 May 2015 Tomorrow Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 will finish. Today's menu consisted of a coastal race for the Wally, Maxi 72, IRC, ORC 0, ORC 1 and Vintage/Classic fleets and windward/leeward races for the rest of them.

The debut of disabled sailing classes increased the fleet to 140 boats racing in the Bay of Palma, where the wind blew with a wide range of intensities reaching up to 20 knots. It was a pure spectacle.

Today was a big day in Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 regatta: for the first time the 140 boats registered sailed in the Bay in a fresh breeze. Although the wind took a while to show up, it eventually blew between 5-20kts, confirming the excellent reputation of the race course of the Bay of Palma.

Tomorrow will be the decisive day. On the final day of competition these teams will defend their leaderships: Y3K (Wally), Momo (Maxi 72), Quantum Racing (TP52), Grupo Clínico Dr. Luis Senís (IRC), Airis (ORC 0), Fyord (ORC 1), Pinyol Vermell (ORC 2), Sirpy (ORC 3), Fehurihi (ORC 4), Bribón-Movistar (J80), Flyinghigh (Flying Fifteen), Lazy Daisy (Dragon), Moonbeam (Classic), Fundación Disa (2.4), CVP Andratx 2 (Hansa 303 individual) and RCNP / F. Handisport 1 (Hansa 303 double).

Wally: Triple tie

Claus-Peter Offen’s German Y3K was the best in the 25-mile coastal race disputed today, which was completed in less than two hours. Alberto Palatchi’s Galma and of Piers Richardson’s J One followed him. Magic Carpet 2 retired a few minutes after the start because of equipment problems. Adding up the four races of the week, and after discarding the worst result, there is a thrilling three-way tie at the top between Y3K, Open Season (fourth today) and J One, all with seven points. Tomorrow they will be back to sailing windward/leeward races after two days of coastal sailing.

Maxi 72: Momo repeats

New victory in the coastal race for Momo, who consolidates at the top of the class Maxi 72. The Maxi skippered by Dieter Schon overtook Alexander Shaerer’s Caol Ila R for just over two minutes in the 25-mile coastal course. Tomorrow the title will be decided sailing between marks.

TP52: Azzurra’s reaction

Today was Azzurra’s day. The boat skippered by Alberto Roemmers, who started the day third overall, signed a perfect card adjusting forces with Dalton DeVos’ Quantum Racing (three - three today). They both face the last assault tomorrow tied at nine points in the fight for the final victory. Both lead by just one point over Dean Barker’s Interlodge (2-2).

IRC: Russian victory, Spanish leadership

Russian Swan 60 Petite Flame was the best on the 21 miles coastal race today, which has allowed him to score his first victory of the week. However, the leadership of the class remains with Axel Rodger’s Grupo Clínico Dr. Luis Senís, who finished third but defended his previous position thanks to four victories. Andres Varela’s Bultaco was second today and retains the same position in the overall, four points behind the leader.

ORC: Double format

The ORC 0 and ORC1 classes sailed a coastal race of just over 21 miles, while ORC 2, ORC 3 and ORC 4 completed two windward/leeward races.

In ORC 0, there was another victory for Cesare Bressan’s Airis. The Italian TP52 achieved the fastest time in real and corrected time in order to get stronger at the front of the provisional overall. He is now six points ahead of Elena Nova (sixth today) and 11 over Silva Neo (third today).

In ORC 1, Jose Luis Maldonado’s Fyord won his third consecutive victory, this time in the coastal race. The X-35 from Castellon faces the last day unbeaten.

In ORC 2, Felix Comas’ Pinyol Vermell managed to defend his lead with two second places. He now leads with one point over Presto (three - one) and three over Xalest (one - four).

In ORC 3, José Matheu’s Sirpy was the best of the day, with a first and a second place which allow him to snatch the first position from La Sirena I (two - four).

In ORC 4, Carlos Ros’ Fehurihi confirmed his good start yesterday with two more victories to consolidate its leadership.

One design: Another triple portion

The three one design classes have been able to complete the three races scheduled for today.

In J80, it was almost a perfect day for Marc de Antonio’s Bribón-Movistar (one – one - three), who has six victories out of seven possible. The defending champions discards their third in today’s last race, and leads over nearest rival, José Maria Van der Ploeg’s Náutica Watches (two – seven - four) by eight points. Two points behind Pedro Marí’s Opera Season - Team RCNP (four – four - one).

In Flying Fifteen, the leader Flyinghigh is leading more thanks to its impeccable record of two victories today. 4 points behind is Fine Fettle (3-3 today) and 5 is Speedy Gonzales (2-7).

In the Dragon class, Lazy Daisy didn’t manage to score in the third race of the day, which was discarded, so he returned to shore five points ahead of Carbajal/Riera’s Young Tiger after six races.

The beautiful 1929 auric cutter Moonbeam IV is being the reference in the Vintage-Classics class. Today she finished second in the ten-mile coastal race, which together with her first position yesterday it allow her to lead the overall one point ahead of the elegant Marigan, a 1989 gaff cutter.

Disabled Sailing: The Spanish Cup begins

The three fleets of Disabled Sailing started today their battle for the Spanish Cup. The 2.4 class sailed three races, and the best of the day was Jose Guerra’s Fundación Disa (two – two - two), followed by Fundación Damm (one – three - three and Puerto Sherry (three – one - four). In Hansa 303 Double, the RCNP/Fundación Handisport team had a great start, since its two boats are leading the provisional overall after finishing three - one (boat one) and one - four (boat two). They are ahead of the CVP Andratx 1 (two - three). In Hansa 303 Individual Toni Ferra CVP Andratx 2 leads with one point over Angel Vega’s RCNP/Fundación Handisport 3, after sharing the first two victories of the week.

Entertainment in the race village

Today’s social program includes the sailor’s party meat and vegetables BBQ meat at the Club Village, with Heineken beer and Muga wine. The music will be provided by DJ Eazy Mikel and Toni Rios’ sax from Pachá.

Tomorrow the champions will be proclaimed

Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 will be decided tomorrow with a full menu of windward/leeward races for all classes except for Vintage/Classics, who will sail a new coastal race. The first race of the day is scheduled at 12h00, and there won’t be any other starts after 15h30. The awards ceremony will take place at 18h00 in the Real Club Nautico de Palma.