Paco Riveras and Helena Alcaraz secured the 420-class title at the A Coruña Náutical Festival after winning a tiebreaker against Luis Wizner and Celia de la Fuente, tournament organizers announced. The event concluded three days of dinghy sailing on the Galician coast that brought together fleets from Galicia, Asturias, Canary Islands, and Madrid.
Tense Tiebreak Decides 420 Class Victory
Riveras and Alcaraz finished level with Wizner and Celia de la Fuente on 18 points at the top of the 420 standings following nine contested races across the bay. The winning pair claimed the trophy thanks to four individual race wins compared to three for their Real Club Náutico de Vigo clubmates. Alejandro Pérez and Martín Díez, representing the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo, rounded out the podium in third place.
Conditions across the three-day competition remained cooperative for the sailors. The bay of A Coruña delivered steady southern winds averaging eight knots, allowing race committee officials to complete the full scheduled program without weather delays.
World Champions Dominate Snipe Fleet
In the Snipe class, which featured a fleet of roughly 30 boats across six races over two days, world championship sailors Roberto Bermúdez de Castro and José Ramón Galdo captured first place. Sailing for Club Náutico Marina Coruña, the pair relied on consistent finishes and a crucial race win to secure the top step of the podium.
Mario Stinga of the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife de Lanzarote, sailing alongside José Baamonde of Grupo Bazán de Ferrol, finished in second place. Miguel Rodríguez of Ribeira claimed the bronze medal. The fleet also saw strong performances from Club de Villaviciosa competitors who led the standings through the opening two days, alongside pre-race favorites Martín Bermúdez and Beatriz Díaz from the Real Club Náutico de Madrid.
Race Management and Official Supervision
The Real Club Náutico de La Coruña organized the multi-class regatta. Jano Toro served as race director, supported by Arcadio García Tizón as principal judge and Carlos Sardiña as chief umpire.
Upcoming Dragon Boat Racing on Sunday
The A Coruña Náutical Festival schedule continues on Sunday with the Cidade da Coruña de Piragüismo. That event will bring several hundred dragon boat paddlers from northern and central Spain to the venue, organized by Club Náutico Marina Coruña with technical support from the Federación Galega de Piragüismo.
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