Hublot PalmaVela Regatta - Day 1
by Eva Dallo 15 Apr 2010 19:31 BST
14-18 April 2010
Hublot PalmaVela day 1 © Nico Martinez / Hublot PalmaVela
“Magic Carpet”, “Container” and “Artemis”, first leaders of the Hublot PalmaVela
More than a hundred boats will join competition tomorrow
British “Magic Carpet”, Majorcan “Container” and Swiss “Artemis” are the first leaders of this year's Hublot PalmaVela after a challenging day of races 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.
In the TP52 class, Torbjorn Tornqvist's “Artemis” was at the lead from the very beginning. In the first race the Swedish passed “Cristabella” after a good start of British John Cook's boat. But then “Artemis” managed to open a gap and moved up to the first position, where they remained till the end of the race. Behind, Matador also moved up after passing “Wilson” of Tom Wilson.
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.
More information on the event website.