One hundred years of history reunited in Sanxenxo for the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans 2021
by Xacobeo 6mR Europeans 2 Sep 2021 15:06 BST
10-18 September 2021
`Bribon 500`, to defend their 2018 title in Sanxenxo - Xacobeo 6mR Europeans © Maria Muina
"Acacia" and "Ian", built in 1929, the two oldest boats in the fleet due to compete on the Ria de Pontevedra, will also contest the continental title in the Classics division.
The defender of the title and winner of the last two World Championships, "Bribon 500," and "Alibaba," bronze medal-winners at the London Olympic Games in 1948, as well as "Toy" and "Astrée II," two of the most referential teams currently competing in Finland, also make up a part of a historic fleet meeting for the great event in Sanxenxo, in just under two weeks' time.
Absolute gems on the water, with the first two boats built almost a century ago, the Ria de Pontevedra will be home to a truly historical fleet, first at the Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regatta, and subsequently at the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans 2021. The list of teams registered includes several of the boats that competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, London 1948 and Helsinki 1952. Many are habitual competitors at the Copa de España circuit, which since 2016 has been held each year in Sanxenxo. For others, the Galician event will be the first time they have competed at international level, for over half a century.
Among the fifteen teams registered, "Acacia" and "Ian," both designed by Gustaf Estlander and built in 1929, are two of the oldest in the fleet. The first was also the very first 6 Metre boat in the Spanish fleet (that was created in 2015), and in which King Juan Carlos competed in the second edition of his namesake regatta. It was, in fact, at this moment when a national circuit was formed, including both the oldest as well as the newer builds in the fleet.
Alongside them, and one of the great favourites to take the continental title, is or course "Bribon 500," the boat skippered by King Juan Carlos since 2017, and which for this edition will see Pedro Campos at the helm to defend their 2018 title from France. Designed and built in Sweden in 1946, it began its incredible track record after being restored in the XXI century, firstly at home on the northeast coast of North America, and more recently in the last four years as part of the new Spanish fleet, claiming the last two consecutive World Championship titles.
"Astrée III," third in the European Championships in La Trinité-sur-Mer in 2018, Miguel Lago's "Alibaba" bronze medal-winners in London 1948, Juan Carlos Escotet and Paco Botas' "Aida" (Great Britain, 1936) with award-winning Galician sailor Javier de la Gándara among the crew; Íñigo Echenique's "Caprice"; Alicia Freire's "Titia" with Mauricio Sánchez-Bella skippering; and Louis Heckly's "Dix Août" - the most competitive of the French teams, make up this formidable and historical fleet in the Classics division, all of whom could well be considered for the title of the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans 2021.
A total of fifteen historical boats are registered and due to offer a true show in Sanxenxo on 10th September, with the first starting gun at 6th edition of the Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regatta. Three days of official competition will precede the long-awaited European Championships, to be held 13th to 18th September.