Platu 25 World championship - Changing places

by Platu 25 Worlds on 24 Jul 2010 Platu 25 World championship, organized by Real Club de Regatas de Alicante is approaching its final stage and it's doing it in grand style with emotion, spectacular racing and an ever changing ranking. Still the Greeks on Modus Vivendi-3Alfa have been leading since the very first day.

Kostas Karageorgiou's crew today was less consistent than usual, especially in the first two races. Their first start was nearly perfect, they defended the right side of the racecourse, leading until the second upwind leg when Iberdrola helmed by Manu Weiller stole them the front spot getting their second win in the Worlds. The first two places taken, it was Xacobeo 2010 Galicia owned by Ero Pons and La Revoltosa by Jaime Pont to fight for third.

The wind got stronger for the second race reaching 14 knots form 120°, the fleet had a clear start, it was Xacobeo 2010 Galicia to show the best tactics and dominate the race and obtain its first victory in Alicante. Those fighting for the Championship title Modus Vivendi-3Alfa, Iberdrola, and Bribón-Movistar (still waiting for a decision from the Jury on his incident with the Swiss Aranis) and a surprising Mundo Marino Team.

Manu Weiller got in second, thus improving neatly his overall ranking while Iberdrola stepped on the second step of the podium and Bribón-Movistar on the third. Behind them the followers crossed the line in this order: Mundo Marino Team, Mexillón de Galicia-Movistar, Ziving –Badía (their best partial results); Modus Vivendi-3Alfa; Fermax; Carpantxo and Recrea 2 Medilevel.

The wind still getting stronger and topping 20 knots allowed the Committee to start the procedure for a third race, probably the most exciting one so far. The fleet was unwilling to take risk and there was no need to hoist a black flag. Xacobeo 2010 Galicia showed again their strength in good breeze, leading from the beginning in a day that looked especially suited to them. History repeated itself, with the other Spanish boats trying to control the Greeks and succeeding as Xacobeo 2010 Galicia won followed by PIX1-Anna Mora and Iberdrola.

To note that during a race a collision had to be reported, Bruno de Pepequín was dismasted and the rig fell on the German Murtfeldt, luckily nobody was hurt.

Thanks to the three races completed today the total number goes up to ten: the leader is still Modus Vivendi-3Alfa with 26 points Mexillón de Galicia Movistar at 34 while the 'virtual' provisional bronze would go to Iberdrola at 31 points. Carpantxo is in fourth place at 46, Fermax fifth at 50, that is to say just one point away from La Revoltosa.

Tomorrow will be the last and decisive day at the Worlds, hopefully two race will be sailed. The prize giving ceremony is scheduled for 19.30 in the building of the Real Club de Regatas de Alicante.

Javier Jaudenes - Tactician on Bribón-Movistar (Spain):
'We are not sailing at 100% and it is costing us dearly. We had good partial results but we are missing that something to be more competitive. We would surely be better placed on the scoreboard. We were also not very lucky in a couple circumstances, but I must say that we started always well, especially if you consider that there are 66 boats on the line. Just one more day and we hope to be able to close with a good performance.'

Antón Paz - Tactician on Mexillón de Galicia-Movistar (Spain)
'We've completed the fourth day, and I reckon this is one of the series with the highest level I ever participated to. Until now, the organizers and the Commitee proved to be top and the conditions for all tastes, offering us something new and surprising every day. Despite not having a win on our record. Facing the final stage of the Champs we have to do our best and try to steal the leadership, putting pressure on our rivals. We know we can make mistakes but we have to play our cards for the end of the Worlds.'

Torfou Patrick - Helmsman on Goofy (France)
'We took part to two World Championships and despite not being an official class in France, we only have a 10 boats-strong fleet, but our aim is to grow stronger. We work hard to pronote the Platu 25 because it's fun, it's a physical and exciting boat and allows you to sail at a high level. We sail on a lake and we found the conditions we consider 'ideal' for us here, even if with the strong breeze and the choppy seas we had today we enjoyed ourselves very much. Ours it's a 'mixed' crew, the youngest being 19 and the oldest 60.'

Overall Results:

1 – Modus Vivendi (Greece) : 1+3+67(DNF)+2+6+1+7(7)+2+7+4 = 26 puntos
2 – Mexillón de Galicia-Movistar (Spain) 6+31(31)+2+4+2+5+OCS(67) +5+5+5= 34 puntos
3 – Iberdrola (Spain) 15(15)+9+1+7+12+6+OCS(67)+1+2 +3 = 41 puntos
4 –Carpantxo (Spain) : 2+4+10+3+(10)+9+1+ 25(25)+9 +9 = 46 puntos
5 – Fermax (Spain) 10+17(17)+3+9+1+BFD (67)+4 +8 +8 +7 = 50 puntos
6.- La Revoltosa (Spain) 4+12(12)+8+1+4+17(17)+8 +4+11 +11= 51 puntos
7 - The Collection /Coppel Dental (Spain) : 11+1+6+5+8+21+11+3 +13(13) +12 = 57 puntos
8 - Xacobeo 2010 Galicia (Spain) 8+24+4+13+7+13+7+13 +67(DSQ) +14 +1 +1= 61 puntos
9. -Bribón-Movistar (Spain) 16+7+9+DSQ (67)+3+24(24)+9 +13 +3 +8 = 64 puntos
10.- Flexi (Germany) 3+10+26(26)+16+5+8+6 +21(21) +12+21= 81 puntos

Full Results click here.
Protests are pending.