- Moonbeam III, Amorita, Kelpie of Falmouth, Argos and Alba have been the leaders of the day
- The heat and the initial lack of wind were the stars of the day that has been carried out with a coastal course of five sections
- Ship owners and crew diligently take care of each of this boats considered historical pieces, in order to maintain its original spirit
Barcelona, 17th July, 2015. The Port Olímpic of Barcelona has been the venue that hosted the start of the second day of the VIII Barcelona Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta. The yachts have sailed close to the coast, in front of Hotel Wela, so the audience from the coast of the city has been able to enjoy one more day, this unique spectacle of nautical jewellery.
One of the main attractions of the regatta is that, due to the characteristics of the competition, the boats sail close together, making it possible for the crews to look closely at the sailing manoeuvres of their competitors and make the regatta even tighter.
Heat and breeze
The heat wave did not want to miss the Barcelona Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta, which today has celebrated its second day. Although the wind was timely and in good direction, South, it was not hard enough to allow the start procedure scheduled for 13 hours, causing a postponement until 13:40 hours. Then, with a 7-8 knots wind, the fleet has begun the regatta of the day, sailing on a coastal course of five sections (through stern, tight, stern, tight, close reaching) and another section to initially distance themselves from one another, totalling about 17 miles distance. But the fall of the wind to 5-6 knots and the unbearable heat advised to shorten the regatta by deleting the last section, with a finally sailed distance of 13,7 miles.
This morning, the Organizing Committee has decided to recover the Big Boats category, which in yesterday’s rankings punctuated in the category Cangreja Époque. The two ships from the Moonbeam saga have offered again a pretty sight, playing at a match race mode. Thus, in the long upwind of the third section they have repeated several rounds of tacking, marking and distancing one another, despite the weak wind conditions. While Moonbeam IV has won the game in the first section, Moonbeam III was ahead it in the second section and they have exchanged positions again in the next one. In the final run, again the performance of Moonbeam III, thanks to its asymmetrical spinnaker, has allowed it to cross first the finish line and secure the first place on corrected time, and the leadership in the overall rankings with two first partial positions and 2 points, compared to the 4 points of its opponent, thus being the virtual winner of the category, when there is still the final day to sail.
The Italian Amorita, now first, and the Irish Halloween, now third, have confirmed their credentials to the final triumph in Marconi Époque. Amorita (2-1) with 2 points leading the provisional podium in front of Halloween (1-3) that accumulates a point, although Sonata has not thrown in the towel yet. Yesterday downgraded in third and fifth positions, today it has achieved 8 points, harassed by the French Oiseau de Feu (6-4), with 10 points.
The British Kelpie of Falmouth and Marigold have exchanged results in Cangreja Époque. The British ship today has bowed in real time and has compensated Marigold, thus being tied at three points in the provisional rankings, despite some ships of this fleet are still pending to be classified.
In Classics 1, Argos has completed again a great regatta, which has allowed it to finish the second in real time, but it has been dominated in compensated time by its rivals for more than 12 minutes. With two first positions in its partial classification, it dominates the general provisional ranking. 12 minutes behind the winner of the day, and in a tight period of three minutes, three ships have been classified. The French Emeraude was second, while the locals Guia and Yanira got the third and fourth positions respectively. While Argos (1-1) accumulates 2 points, the battle for the remaining podium places tomorrow promises to be intense. Emeraude (3-2) with 5 points, Guia (2-4) with 6 points and Yanira (5-3) with 8 points will leave for the regatta course knowing they are close to the three bands play they should settle.
The Classics 2 fleet has surrendered after the persistence of Alba, which after a poor start has patiently put the fifth gear to be placed first and start stretching its lead to finally cross the finish line, 24 minutes before Diana and 30 before Kanavel. Just two pursuers have maintained an intense duel during the four hours required to complete the regatta. Kanavel has gone flawlessly, and it has not been until midway through the third long upwind section that Diana has been able to overcome it, although its lower rating required it to get enough to prevail in the compensation time. Finally, 5:30 minutes ahead have not been enough for Kanavel, which was the second in the final rankings. The combination of results positions Alba (1-1) with 2 points, compared to the 5 points hoarded by Kanavel (3-2) and Diana (2-3), that tomorrow will make all their best to reach the second step of the podium or even to win, if Alba has a bad day.
A David against dozens of Goliaths
They say the great perfumes come in small bottles. This could well be the definition of Anne Bonny, a wonderful sailboat only 7.53 meters length that appears this year among the great classics of the Barcelona Puig Vela Clàssica.
The soul of this classic ship is the shipbuilder Niklaus-Matthias Stoll, a Swiss man living in Catalonia who bought the original drawings of the 809 design, created by the renowned William Fife III in 1935 in 1998.
Once the plans purchased, Niklaus began building this classic boat in his yard in Palamós, respecting the methodology of the 30s: brass rivets and African mahogany. Since then he has built four classic replicas that preserve the spirit with which he created the great Fife.
Namely Anne Bonny, in honour of the legendary Irish pirate of the eighteenth century, it was launched in 2001 and it has been six years competing in the Barcelona Puig Vela Clàssica regatta.
RESULTS SECOND RACE PUIG VELA CLÀSSICA BARCELONA
DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE
NP_2nd day- VIII Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona
PHOTOS:
Share
