The most awaited regatta of the cruise season in Galicia started in Bayonne. The 37th Prince of Asturias Trophy, organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club and the Naval Military School, completed the first of three days of competition this Friday, and did so by opening the ORC 1, 2, 3 and 4 class markers .
As the reports pointed out, the wind did not miss its appointment in the regatta area located in the Cíes anchorage. Although it did so with less intensity than expected, the Regatta Committee was able to complete the first windward-leeward race with the start around half past three off Cíes, and did so in conditions of between eight and ten knots of intensity which diminished as the afternoon progressed.
The monotypes, for their part, did not have the same luck and it will be tomorrow when they open their boxes in the star competition of Galician sailing.
Portugal rules in ORC 1
In the ORC 1 division, the first day of the Prince was resolved with victory for the Portuguese Xekmatt, led by Hugo and João Prista and representing the Lisbon Naval Association. The IMX 45, which also has the Olympic Afonso Domingos among its ranks, was the third to cross the finish line in real time, but in compensated they achieved a tight advantage of less than a minute over Julio Rodríguez’s Magical (Real Club Náutico de Vigo), who placed second in the provisional general standings.
Behind, the absolute winner of the last edition, the Aceites Abril of the brothers Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal (Real Club Náutico de Vigo), started the thirty-seventh edition of the Prince closing the provisional podium in the third drawer.
“We are very happy with today’s result and the crew was very good” , began by explaining Hugo Prista at the end of the day. The leader’s pattern in ORC 1 also added that “It’s been ten years since we got our first and only Prince’s title, so without a doubt we will do everything possible to get it again, although for this it is also necessary that the rivals allow it” .
The Marías del Monte Real, first in ORC 2
Just as tight was the ORC 2 division with three teams in the lead separated by just one minute and fourteen seconds. The local team Marias, commanded by Manuel Maria Cunha, became the first leader of the class after crossing the line in third position and obtaining almost a minute of advantage over the second with the compensation of times.
Second place is currently held by the Arroutado del Real Club Náutico de Portosín, led by José Manuel Pérez Santamaría, while third place goes to the Yessito del Monte Real Club de Yates, which has a Portuguese crew led by Rui Ramada.
The ORC 3 class starts with dominance of the Sailway
The partial victory for the ORC 3 division was not easy either. Ramón Ojea’s Sailway (Club Marítimo de Canido) became the first leader of the general classification this Friday after a very tight first round.
Behind, just 30 seconds behind those from Ojea, the second position in the race and therefore in the general classification went to José Francisco Edreira’s Urbapaz (Club Náutico Cabanas), who managed to beat the Portuguese Milaneza by Diogo Talone for just a second.
ORC class 4
There were no surprises in ORC 4. Vicente Cid’s Deep Blue 2.1 from Vigo opened the classification by placing at the top, although he did so with an Alma do mar by Sadamar from José Manuel Enríquez (Club Náutico Cabanas) squeezing second place to three seconds of those of Cid.
The third position, meanwhile, was this Friday for Luis García Trigo’s Unus, also from the Real Club Náutico de Vigo.
Blank day for J80 and Ladies Cup
Less lucky were the participants of the J80 and Ladies Cup classes. Although the weather forecasts indicated that it would be a good day of wind, Eolo did not get involved in the regatta course located in Cabo Silleiro or inside the bay of Baiona, so after several attempts and with a test already underway, the Regatta Committee was forced to end the day without being able to complete the first scheduled tests.
Alfredo González, crew member of the J80 GP Bullhound and recently proclaimed Snipe world champion in Cascais, explained after returning to land that “Although the wind was very difficult, the Committee did very well and we were able to have a good attempt that helped us to see which boats are going to be ahead. We come with the aim of getting in tune for the World Cup in Newport, winning or not winning will depend on how we do it, although it is not our main objective now”.
It will therefore be tomorrow, Saturday, when the monotypes open their competition program to fight for the thirty-seventh Prince of Asturias.
Tomorrow, delivery of the National Sailing Awards
Tomorrow, Saturday, the ORC 5 and ORC Open categories will join the fleet that already debuted today in the regatta field, which will inaugurate their markers by completing the first of the two coastal regattas that they have in their program.
With the eight categories in contention, there will be a total of eighty-nine teams that will take to the water to fight for one of the most coveted titles of the cruise season in Galicia. One more year the Open fleet will include the club’s adapted sailing team with a crew from the Juan María de Nigrán Center.
The event will also feature the celebration of the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards gala. At 8:00 p.m., the village of Monte Real will host a new edition of the prestigious awards, where the best athletes and teams of the season will meet.
