Optiorange 2025 at Real Club Náutico de València - Day 2
by Pep Portas 28 Feb 12:29 PST
27 February - 2 March 2025
The second day at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia was long, complicated by an unstable and strong wind, but with sufficient intensity to close two races in the five groups.
For the third day, the qualifying series will continue, with the aim of closing it for the final series on Sunday 2nd March.
The OptiOrange 2025 already has its first leaders in the absolute general classification. After closing the second day at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, with wind conditions somewhat better than the previous day, at least in intensity that has allowed to complete two races in the five groups. It has not been possible to close the qualifying round, so tomorrow, Saturday, the race committee hopes to complete at least two and give way to the final series on Sunday 2 March.
Unstable and choppy wind, with an average of 7 to 12 knots of intensity of 070º and with many general calls, the Yellow group fleet started more or less at the scheduled time, in which the Ukrainian Olha Lubianska (Obolon SK/JK Split/OW) was framed, which took the first victory in the Valencian event.
In the Purple group, the Peruvian Joaquin Acevedo (Team Happy/CRL) shone with his own light, two out of two. As for the rest of the 'scorers' in this first round were the Dutchman Ties de Ruiter (WV Bovenwater) in the Blue group, the Danish Carl Birgersson (Hellerup SC) and the American Jaiden Strickon (Team Happy).
After the second race, with this new triumph of Acevedo among the Purple, there have been variations, since in the Blue group now it was the Swedish Isak Kaplan (KSSS) who was going to take the victory. The same would do the Spanish Izan Rogel (RCN Torrevieja) in the green, Sisu Seliö of Finland, who made up for the BFD of the first race, and Gonzalo Sotomayo (RCN Barcelona), in the first concluded in 35th place in the yellow fleet.
With these numbers Joaquín Acevedo leads the overall with 2 points, while the second place is shared by three sailors, although Lubianska's best times leave her ahead of Mª Antonia Peñalver (CN Mar Menor) and Alejandro Valero (RCR Alicante).
On a local level, Pablo López (RCN Valencia) is in the top ten of the provisional overall. The Valencian, in the Purpura group, has had a good and very regular performance with a 5-4 record.
For the third day, the race committee expects to complete at least two races. If this is achieved and the qualifying round closes with a total of four, the final series will start on Sunday with the Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald and Orchid groups.
One of the important new features of this edition of the OptiOrange is the live broadcast of the regatta. The evolutions of the fleet, for tomorrow, Saturday, can be followed on the link: roadtogold.net/p/opti
Quotes:
Marta Mansito, ESP3640
"I love to represent my island. I would love my team to come to this regatta but they couldn't. But I'm also very happy because I'm doing very well and I expect great results. I have the help of my coach. I expect to do the top 10 for the gold fleet and not get yellow flags"
Carl Birgersson, DEN8756
"It was great, nice big waves between 12 and 15 knots. This conditions are one of my favourites.
My objective is to be in the top 5. The Spanish guy was leading most of the race, he's quite quick and it was hard to catch him. Also, all the people behind were trying to catch me. It was difficult"
More information on the official page here.