GAASTRA PALMAVELA FILLS THE BAY OF PALMA

Day Two of Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 saw more than 100 boats from 14 different classes in three race courses spread over  the bay of Palma. The day started with a gentle south-westerly breeze which tested the technical skill of the crews.

76 boats from nine classes premiered today in Gaastra PalmaVela, joining the 21 boats from four classes that opened the competition yesterday. The Race Committee designed a complete sports program that included coastal races for Wally, Maxi 72, ORC 2 ORC 3 and ORC 4, Vintage and Classic, and windward/leeward races for the rest. The fleet raced in a south-westerly breeze between 5 and 10 knots.

The provisional overall leaders are Open Season (Wally), Momo (Maxi 72), Quantum Racing (TP52), Grupo Clínico Dr. Luis Senís (IRC), Airis (ORC 0), Fyord (ORC 1), Pinyol Vermell (ORC 2), La Sirena I (ORC 3), Fehurihi (ORC 4), Bribón-Movistar (J80), Flyinghigh (Flying Fifteen) and Lazy Daisy (Dragon).

Wally: Three within one point
The biggest boats in the Wally fleet made the most of their length to lead the 25 miles coastal race, which begun at 13h00 with 6 knots of breeze. The first to cross the finish line was the 107 feet long (32.6 meters) Open Season, with a time of 2:53:52, just three minutes ahead of the 100 feet long (30.5 meters) Magic Carpet 3. Once the corrected time was applied, the boat skippered by Mike Atkinson also confirmed their absolute victory, a result that takes him to the first position in the tight provisional overall, just one point ahead to the tied Magic Carpet 3 and J One.

Maxi 72: Leader change
Dieter Schon’s Momo was the Maxi 72 who managed to take the best advantage of today’s conditions. After investing a little over three hours to complete the 25 miles coastal race, he achieved a victory that allows him to snatch the first provisional position from Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou, with the minimum advantage after three races.

TP52: Master stroke
Quantum Racing was today in absolute control of the TP52 fleet, leading at every mark to win with authority the two races sailed. The boat skippered by Dalton DeVos ousting to the second position Dean Barker’s Interlodge (2-3 today), who is ahead of Alberto Roemmers’ Azzurra (3-2) by just one point.

IRC: The leader, leading even more
Grupo Clínico Dr. Luis Senís reaffirms its leadership in IRC with another perfect day. The boat skippered by Axel Rodger is the only one in the fleet with four victories in their score, and it seems to only be within reach of Andres Varela’s Bultaco. Varela finished second twice today and stalks Rodger just three points behind him overall. Russian Swan 60 Petit Flame (3-5) is third.

ORC: Massive premiere
The ORC fleet is the largest in Gaastra PalmaVela, with 39 teams. Today, both ORC 0 as well as ORC 1 sailed two windward/leeward races, while ORC 2, 3 and 4 competed in an 11.5 miles coastal race.

In ORC 0 victories went to, in that order, for Christian Plump’s German Swan 45 Nova Elena and Cesare Bressan’s Italian TP52 Airis. The latter is the first leader of the week thanks to a second place as its worst result of the day. Third is the GP42 Neo Silva helmed by Dennis Gehrlein (6-2).

In ORC 1, José Luis Maldonado’s Fyord won both races held and leads the provisional overall. The X-35 is three points ahead of José Luis Francés’ Zas Sailing (3-2) and Airlan Aermec (2-3) skippered by Teo Matheu.

In ORC 2 the fastest was Felix Comas’ Pinyol Vermell, who completed the coastal race in 2:51:10, followed by Edouard Horrach’s Presto and Bernat Rossiñol’s Xalest.

In ORC 3, the victory went to Alejandro Riera’s La Sirena I (3:12:29), followed by Alberto Torres’ Bulla and José Matheu’s Sirpy.

In ORC 4, the winner was Carlos Ros’ Fehurihi after just over four hours of racing, followed by Inblau/Velamar XV and Windfang.

One design: Triple portion
The J80, Flying Fifteen and Dragon one designs made their debut with a triple portion of windward/leeward races.

In the J80 class, Marc de Antonio’s Bribón-Movistar begins defending the title with three victories out of three possible. That allows him to return to shore four points ahead of his nearest rival, José Maria Van der Ploeg’s Nautica Watches (2 -2-4) and eight over Pedro Mari’s Opera Season (5-4-2).

The battle for the title on Flying Fifteen has begun with excitement: Three boats with a victory each and a tie at the top of the leader board. Patrich Harris’ Flyinghigh (2-3-1) and Ken Dumpleton’s Fflanders (1-2-3) returned to the RCNP both with six points and only three over David Barber’s Fine Fettle (4-1-4).

In Dragon, the defending champion Robin Hennessy’s Lazy Daisy, begins the competition with a triple victory. Today he had no rival, and already enjoys a four-point cushion over Kai-Uwe Ricke’s Moonbeam (2-3-3) and five over Carlos Carvajal’s Young Tiger (3-2-3).

Double village
Starting today, the social program of Gaastra PalmaVela is divided between the Maxi Village and the Club Village. Today it consisted on breakfast for all participants in the morning and a welcome at the end of the day with food tasting of Majorcan products, Heineken beer and wine Muga, with the music offered by Pachá.

Tomorrow, full on
For the third day of competition there are 140 boats from 16 different nationalities registered in Gaastra PalmaVela 2015. This way the 17 competing classes are completed with the debut of the classes 2.4, Hansa 303 individual and Hansa 303 double, which will fight for the Spanish Cup of Disabled Sailing. The first start is scheduled for 12h00.

Media contacts Gaastra Palmavela 2015
www.palmavela.com

Alejandro Varela
+34 609 800 218
alejandro@infosailing.net

Javier Sobrino
+34 629 893 637
javier@infosailing.net

Clara Giraldo
+34 603 618 206
clara@infosailing.net
 

José Luis Miró
+34 606 444 861
jlmiro@rcnp.es

Rocío Gutiérrez
+34 609 118 071
roxcomunicacion@gmail.com