Calero Sailing Team on the ascent after 44Cup Baiona
by Calero Sailing Team 12 May 23:35 PDT
8-12 May 2024
Calero Sailing Team on the final day of the 44Cup in Baiona © Nico Martinez / 44Cup
Yacht racing at the highest level requires consistency over a series and this only comes when every box is ticked - a competitive boat; a talented crew; practice; perseverance; constant assessment to improve performance and many others.
For Daniel Calero and his Calero Sailing Team, this weekend's 44Cup Baiona, taking place in Galicia, Spain was only the second event in which they have competed after rejoining the 44Cup for the first event of the season in their own homeport of Puerto Calero, Lanzarote in the Canary Islands in March.
After a much better than expected performance on Saturday when they rounded the top mark in three races in second position, finishing second in one race in this ultra-competitive fleet of nine identical RC44s, conditions became ultra tricky in the Vigo River for today's final two races. The wind was effectively blowing from two wind directions, fighting for dominance over the magnificent Cies Islands nature reserve and national park.
"Today we felt that the boat was very slow and didn't reach the right angles and it was very difficult to make gains or maintain positions," commented Daniel Calero. "It was tough today, but we learned a lot. When you have a bad day, like today, you feel awful! But if you look at the big picture, I should be happy. I need to lay everything on the table to make an assessment - the boat, sails, everything. But I must be happy about the performance and the result."
With a superb crew put together by his tactician Lanzarote multiple world champion Alfredo Gonzalez, that included round the world and maxi yacht sailors to Olympians, Calero Sailing Team has all the ingredients to be a winning crew. They just need more time in the boat to beat the likes of Artemis Racing, winner of the 44Cup Bayona, which has mounted its own America's Cup campaign previously and has been competing in the RC44 class since 2008.
Daniel Calero thanked his crew: "They are very committed, which I really appreciate - otherwise it would be impossible. So I really need to thank them, especially Alfredo. They are professional and efficient and he played a really great role overall in putting them together."
Previously the Caleros raced in the RC44 class early on in its existence from 2008 to 2013. Remarkably many of their competitors from back then remain keenly involved in the circuit - Team Aqua, Artemis Racing, Peninsula Racing, Team Ceeref, Aleph Racing and Team Nika, along with their same owners and many of the same crew. Compared to back then Daniel Calero says: "The class definitely is at a higher level than when I left it and there is more professionalism. The class is tighter than ever if you look at the results. Until the second race of today, the last day anything could have happened, which was beautiful."
As to the future of the Calero Sailing Team on the 44Cup circuit, Calero says that they won't be able to take part in the next event in Sweden as there isn't an available boat (they are presently using the class' charter boat). However the next opportunity is for them to take part is in the 44Cup World Championship in Brunnen, Switzerland over 21-25 August. "If work and my family allow me, we will be there," concludes Calero.
Team Website: calerosailingteam.com
Event Website: www.44cup.org