Getting ready for the 2013 Platu 25 Worlds in Portosin

by Sabrina Bonaiti on 22 Aug 2013 Platu 25 Worlds is getting nearer and nearer and the International class is preparing to the 2013 top event: the World Championship in Portosin, Galicia, North Spain. After competing Worlds in Alicante in 2010, in Gmunden, Austria, in 2011 and Cala de' Medici, Italy last year, here we are back to Spain.

As Fernando Lago, Platu 25 International Class Secretary remarkes: 'Now that the Platu 25 World Championship comes back to Galicia after seven years, it is time to see the evolution of the Class in good perspective. Back then, the organization was able to put together a fleet of 83 boats, and in 2013 we are likely to be around half of that. Well, 2006 was a great success, but I say that it is even better in 2013, and much much harder.

Our sport has been seriously hit by the crisis, with sponsors vanishing or moving away, and even yacht clubs being affected. But we rely on owners who can still race a technical one design, improve their skills and have fun with a very limited budget. You will see that Portosin 2013 is not just another world championship, but the one that will show the strength of the Class in the worst times ever. And next year, off to the Côte D’Azur to enjoy the French hospitality… what else could we ask for?'

From the 22nd to the 28th of September, crews coming from all over Europe will take part to the 2013 World Championship. Of course the most of them will be Spanish, but some boats are also expected from Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Portugal. Very competitive and strong crews will take part to the next Worlds. Among Spanish there will be many Olimpic Champions: 'Leaseplan Industrial' skipered by the Volvo Ocean Race member Gonzalo Araujo, and with the Olimpic champion Sofia Toro on board; 'Mar de Frades', World Champion in and two times on the second step of the podium, with the Olimpic Champion Antón Paz; 'Pazo de Cea', with the America's Cup Skipper Laureano Wizner; 'Bribón-Movistar' with the Olimpic Member Gustavo Martínez Doreste. And 'RedBull Racing Eyewear' with the 15 times Spanish Champion and Olimpic member Toni Rivas. Portugal won't be less so Spain and lines up 'B Douro' with the Olimpic medallist Alvaro Marinho and 'Credite EGS' with the Olimpic Alfonso Domingos.

All of them will have to face 'Euz II Monella Vagabonda' owned by Francesco Lanera and helmed by Sandro Montefusco: the Italian boat had already won two Platu 25 World Championships (in Gmunden and in Cala de' Medici) and three Italian Championships. They took part in the Italian Cup and they won all three acts, conquering the 2013 Italian Champion title.

They also conquered two previous Italian Championships in 2011 and 2012. They are from Monopoli, Puglia, and they became stronger and stronger. For sure, in Portosin they will strenuously defend the title against the Spanish payback attempts. Last year, in Cala de' Medici, an enthralling head to head between 'Euz II Monella Vagabonda' and the Spanish 'Mar de Frades' took place. And two years later, the Spanish 'GAES Mundo Marino' had to be content with the second place, behind 'Euz II Monella Vagabonda'.

From Italy, an other boat should take part to the Worlds in Portosin: 'Five for Fighting 3' owned by Tommaso de Bellis and helmed by Andrea Airò. That's an other very competitive crew coming from Monopoli, Puglia. It has just obtained a second place in the Italian Championship and it's getting ready to give their Italian adversaries a hard time.

From Germany three teams will take part to the Worlds: GER 231 'Kamlade' from Stade, North Germany, a very strong crew with Gordon Nickel at helm. 'Kamlade won at Newcomer Cup 2012, third place at Kiel week 2013, third place German Open. 'WikiWiki' from Brandeburg, close to Berlin with Robert Heyman at helm, it's at seventh place in the ranking overall 2012, fourth at Mai Offshore Race and sixth German Open. An other very competitive boat is GER 76 'GRÜN' from Berlin, with Jens Ahlgrimm at helm. It conquered a second place in the ranking overall 2012, a second place at Primo Cup in Monaco and a brilliant second place at Kiel Week.

Last eighth of August, in Santiago de Compostela the World Championship Honour Commite met. So the official celebrations started, preparing the 2013 Platu 25 World Championship in Portosin that will take place from 22nd to 28th of September. Last week all the Honour Commiteee members gatered and got a photo in the centre of the Plaza de Obradoiro, in front of the marvelleus Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. There were Alberto Núñez Feijo (Galicia Council President), Ángel Currás (Santiago de Compostela Mayor), José Ángel Rodríguez (Real Spanish Sail Federation President), Manuel Villaverde (Galicia Sail Federation President) and many others. There were also personalities linked to Santiago de Compostela, Institutional partners and sponsors, and businessman representatives. All Galicia, Santiago de Compostela and Portosin are ready for receiving crews and their families for the Platu 25 World Championship.