Soto 40 World Championship - Pisco Sour holds narrow lead

by Soto 40 Media Team (As Amended by ISAF) on 31 Jan 2013 At the Soto 40 World Championship - taking place in Talcahuano, Chile, Pisco Sour holds a narrow one point lead over Mitsubishi after the first day of racing.

At 12:15 local time the sailors took to the start line as they got underway in a northern 10 knot breeze. Mitsubishi, helmed by Juan Eduardo Reid crossed the finish line in first place having taken the lead early on in the race. Pisco Sour came through in second followed by Itaú.

The breeze picked up throughout the day and 12-14 knots challenged the sailors in the afternoon for the second race. Just moments after the race start Almacenero had to abandon the race after a collision saw damage to its bowsprit.

Race honours was fought for by Movistar and Patagonia. Both boats stayed at the front of the pack throughout the entire race. 'We started and we've already chosen the pin, the buoy to go to the left side of the course,' said Pablo Defazio, Movistar's tactician. 'We made a good start with Patagonia and then we managed to stay at windward all the reach. We both went to the left. Then when we tacked, we saw that we were in front of the fleet. But the real rival was Patagonia and so when we arrive at windward we tacked a little bit sooner. He came into the buoy, and then we could get the first position in the stern. And so we kept the lead.'

Movistar held onto the lead but as always consistency in regattas is the car as Pisco Sour came through in third to take the overnight lead.

To follow tracking and to find out full results head to the Soto 40 website here.

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