Palamós Optimist Trophy 2024 - Day 2
by Jaume Soler 17 Feb 2024 18:14 AEDT
34th Palamós Optimist Trophy © Alfred Farré
The second day of the 34th International Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy sees three Spaniards provisionally occupying podium positions as they head into the Final Series starting this Saturday.
Oriol Costabella (RCN Barcelona) has taken the lead in the overall standings after a full day of racing, which featured three races. He is followed by two other Catalans, Iker Mújica and Joan Domingo (CN Cambrils), in second and third place overall.
With the inclusion of a discard after four races, there was an interesting shake-up in the standings, with the initial leader, Swedish sailor Oscar Wetter, who was undefeated, plummeting to 33rd place overall, effectively out of contention for the victory.
Meanwhile, Costabella, with two first-place finishes and a second, discarded an eleventh-place finish and will start Saturday as the leader of the Gold Fleet. One point behind him is one of the top favorites, Tarragona native Iker Mújica, who achieved the same results as Costabella, with two firsts and a second. Meanwhile, the third place goes to another Catalan, Joan Domingo, who briefly held the provisional lead after the third race but ended the day third overall with two third-place finishes and a second, trailing by six points, keeping the competition wide open.
Following closely behind with their sights set on the podium are Polish sailor Maurycy Kosmoswki, Swiss sailor Elvinn Lofterod, Dutch sailor Maurits Melens, and European bronze medalist, Mateo Carbonell from Alicante (CN Jávea), separated by just four points.
Rounding out the top ten are Pepe García Grandille (RCN Barcelona), French sailor Mathias Krauss, and the top female sailor, Amalia Coll (CN S'Arenal).
Starting today and until the end, the fleet is divided into five groups: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald, and Pearl, with only those in the Gold Fleet having a shot at winning the International Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy.
The Gregal wind, blowing from the northeast, has been consistent throughout the day, with intensities ranking between 12-17 knots and waves measuring 1-2 meters.
Full results available here.