The 470 save the second day of the Christmas Race

Palamós (Gerona)

Updated:20/12/2021 18:49h

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The Regatta Committees did not have it easy on this second day of the 45th Christmas Race, an international regatta that runs until next Wednesday in the waters of Palamós. All classes maintain their leaders, in 470 Mixed, the only one that has competed is still in the lead the Italian crew of Benedetta Di Salle and Francesco Pavone.

The powerful anticyclone located on the Costa Brava is causing many complications for navigation. If they managed to save the day on the first day, this second was even more complicated. It was not until 12 noon that the fleet was sent to the water and it was not until 3 pm that all classes could start out, it was with a soft breeze from the southwest (garbí) with an intensity of just 3-4 knots.

The double classes, which sailed in the Alpha area, in front of Torre Valentina, had a little more wind and the 470 Mixed were the only ones that could finish the test. Not so the 420 who left later but the wind ended up falling. While the ILCAs, who were doing it in the Bravo area, located in front of the Palamós Lighthouse, had less pressure and although they also began their tests, the wind did not blow with enough intensity either, so the Committee had no other option but to cancel.

The 470 Mixed class, with the test held today and the three on Sunday, is the one that is the most advanced in the competition with four races disputed, with which the fleet already discards its worst result. The Italian crews dominate the podium with two teams tied at five points, that of the double junior world runner-up Benedetta Di Salle with Francesco Padovani and that of the triple Optimist world champion Marco Gradoni who sails with Alessandra Dubini and who has won the test of today, with what they climb from the fourth to the second position. The current champions of Spain, María Bover (RCN Palma) and Pablo García (RCN Gran Canaria) have climbed from seventh to fifth position after being able to rule out the black flag off-line (UFD) of the third round, today the The Balearic-Canary Islands crew made thirteenth place in the only test held. The fourth place between Spaniards and Italians is occupied by the current European champions, Israelis Nitai Hasson and Saar Tamir, who are two points from the podium.

The 420 class, which started after the 470, seemed to be able to finish the test, but the wind gradually fell, so the boats could not complete the route, as happened with the ILCAs. Thus, individual classes remain the same in terms of leading positions with Pep Cazador (CN Arenal) in ILCA7, Daniel Cardona and Cristina Vilariño (CN Arenal) in ILCA6 and Tatu Uusitalo (CN Cambrils) and Alejandra Peleteiro (RCN Sanxenxo) in ILCA4.

It was once again a day when the lighter crews were better off. For tomorrow, Wednesday, the organization has decided to advance the start of the tests one hour, since the wind reports indicate that at 10 in the morning there will be a north wind that will roll to the west as the morning progresses, with which it is sought recover the tests that could not be disputed in these first two days.

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