505 Exhibition Regatta Barcelona
by Michael Quirk 10 Jun 2019 13:17 BST
7-9 June 2019
505 Exhibition Regatta Barcelona 2019 © Christophe Favreau
In what ended up being a game of two halves the Barcelona Exhibition Regatta was won convincingly by newcomers Penny and Russ Clark (GBR). Second was ever present American Howie Hamlin sailing with Ian Mitchell (GBR) and third went to Malcom Higgins and Nick (Camel) Johnson from Australia.
On Day 1, in 15 -20 knots and choppy seas Higgins and Johnson (AUS) gave everyone a lesson in how to sail a 505 in windy conditions with 4 firsts and 1 second place.
Day 2 was somewhat lighter with 7-12 knots but the chop had, if anything, increased on top of a rolling swell which bounced back off the seawall of the Barcelona International Sailing Centre. In what can only be described as a clinical demolition, Penny and Russ Clark (GBR) dominated day two in conditions described by the highly experienced and successful multi class Australian Mal Higgins (AUS) as "the most difficult sailing conditions I have ever had to race in".
In the end Penny and Russ won the event in convincing fashion with an impressive display of consistent boat speed and intelligent racing against some of the best dinghy and skiff sailors around. Penny, an Olympic medallist said " Russ and I have raced 470s, fireballs, and many other dinghies and skiffs together but the 5o5 is the only one that really suits our weight. It's also an awesome boat and great people to sail with. We were able to borrow the UK association boat to go to the Worlds in Australia which was an easy way to experience the class before we bought our own boat. Everyone has been so helpful with tips, logistics and resources we have been able to go to great regattas and get up to speed quickly.
The Barcelona International Sailing Centre was the perfect host for the event which, for the international teams, was the perfect end to a family holiday combined with great racing which started the week before with the Euro Cup event in Riva del Garda.
"An international event in Northern Spain will become an annual event for the 5o5 Class" said International President Michael Quirk. " We are also looking for a suitable venue in Spain for our European Championship in 2021 and World Championship in 2022. In the meantime there will be some great opportunities for racing in Spain and for Spanish sailors to try out what is generally considered as the best two person sailing boat on the planet."
The next international event for the Class will be Leg 3 of the Euro Cup in Kiel Jun 22nd to 25th. The 5o5 European Championships will be held from August 6 - 10 in Sonderborg Yacht Club, Denmark.
For more details on this event and the other International 505 Regattas visit www.int505.org
Top 5 Results:
1st Penny Clark (GB) and Russ Clark (GB)
2nd Howie Hamlin (USA) and Ian Mitchell (GB)
3rd Mal Higgins (AUS) and Nick Johnson (AUS)
4th Ian Pinnell (GB) and Norman Byrd (GB)
5th Michael Quirk (AUS) and Reeve Dunn (USA)
Full results [PDF]