Hublot Palmavela - Magic Carpet, Container, first leaders of the Hublot PalmaVela.

PALMA DE MALLORCA. British "Magic Carpet", Majorcan "Container" and Swedish "Artemis" are the first leaders of this year's Hublot PalmaVela after a challenging day due to the little wind, in spite of which one race could be run. The Maxi Wally, TP52 and Mini Maxi classes raised the curtain today, whereas more than a hundred boats belonging to the RI, ORC, Classic, Platu 25, Flying Fifteen and J-80 classes will join competition tomorrow.

Today's start was due at 12:00, but the committee decided to postpone it, which resulted in a half an hour delay with regard to the original schedule. When the TP 52 and Maxi fleets reached the Delta Area, opposite to the Arenal, the clouds and the cold persisted and prevented the wind from building. It was not until half past two when Arianne Mainemare's committee gave the signal that announced the start of the competition.

The spectacular starts of the maxi wallies were worth the waiting. "Kenora", "Nikata" and "Magic Carpet 2" challenged each other during the first tacks on the left side of the racing area. Majestic "Esense" of Luca Bassani went to windward, but "Y3K" of German Claus Peter-Offen stayed on the right side and won. Behind her were Luca Bassani's "Esense", "Magic Carpet" and "J One". But the shifty wind that prevailed all over the racing area spoilt the job done during the first beat, and helped "Magic Carpet" of Daniel Gallichan win the race, five minutes ahead of "J One" and "Y3K".

In the Mini Maxis, Udo Schutz and his "Container" were at the lead from the beginning to the end. Second was Sir Peter Odgen's "Jethou", and third was Monaco flagged "Allegre". The wind dropped after the day's first race, and the committee decided not to run any more races until friday.