Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona seized the overall lead in the 470 World Championship in Enoshima, Japan, after delivering a first and a fifth place during a challenging third day of racing.
Shifting Winds Disrupt Enoshima Course
The third day of competition began under difficult circumstances on the waters of Enoshima, where the 2020 Olympic Games were previously contested. Organizers were forced to delay the start of the racing schedule as wind speeds dropped significantly during the early morning hours. After approximately an hour of waiting on the water, the fleet managed to complete the two scheduled races to officially conclude the qualifying series. According to participant accounts, variable offshore breezes and passing rain showers created constant tactical challenges across the racing area.
Xammar, representing the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, and Cardona, sailing for the Club Nàutic Arenal, demonstrated the consistency required to climb into the top spot. Their scorecard of a first and a fifth place put them three points clear of the second-place German crew and six points ahead of the French duo in third. Xammar noted that their daily performance exceeded expectations given the unpredictable weather. «It has been a very complicated day a priori, but very positive for us. We knew how to sail well and we are happy. Making a first and a fifth is above the objective we had», Xammar stated following the races.
A Reset Leaderboard for the Final Series
Despite securing the top position heading into the next phase, the Spanish crew faces a virtually blank slate. The 470 World Championship introduces a new competition format for this edition, carrying over qualifying series results into the finals as a score equivalent to a boat’s preliminary rank. This carry-over score counts as a regular race and cannot be discarded, meaning the substantial point gaps built during qualification are effectively neutralized.
Xammar emphasized that the championship essentially restarts as the fleet transitions to the next stage. «Tomorrow with the first day of finals the championship starts again; the important thing is to stay focused and have clear keys to the day, as we have done today», the Catalan skipper explained. Cardona echoed her partner’s sentiment regarding their preparation for the decisive rounds. «After these two great days that we have had, we are going with good sensations, very strong and with a desire to continue doing our work», she noted.
Spanish Crew Secures Gold Fleet Berth
The day also brought positive results for the second Spanish entry in the championship. Silvia Mas and Alejandro «Tano» de Maqua successfully fought their way into the gold group after improving their positioning during Friday’s two races. Competing in the yellow group, the pair secured a fourth and a ninth-place finish, lifting them to twenty-first overall and securing their place among the top-tier competitors for the remainder of the event.
Mas detailed the demanding nature of the conditions faced by the fleet. «It has been a very complicated day again, with offshore wind and squalls that were passing and affecting the course, and there has also been little wind», Mas said. «They have always been very fought, very suffered regattas, always from back to front. We are happy with the way we have sailed». De Maqua highlighted the difficulty of managing the shifting cloud cover and light breezes before celebrating their advancement. «It has cost quite a bit, but in the end we have managed to pass to the gold group», he added.
Schedule and Next Steps
The final series is scheduled to begin this Saturday at 9:30 local time, corresponding to 2:30 in the morning in Spain, with three races planned for the opening session of the gold fleet. Xammar and Cardona will take to the water as leaders, though the revised scoring system leaves the championship wide open for the remaining contenders.
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