Fifth Cascais SB20 Winter Series overall
by Clube Naval de Cascais 29 Mar 11:36 BST
26-27 March 2022
Brit John Pollard on Xcellence leader in Cascais
The fifth and final stage of the Cascais SB20 Winter Series started last Saturday in Cascais with 24 teams lining up. Xcellence of John Pollard and brothers Jack and Henry Wetherell were the initial leader of the event and were looking strong to snap the overall win of the Cascais 21/22 Winter Series. They had a fantastic first day in the light wind conditions that prevailed, allowing only two races to be completed.
The second race was shortened by the end of the second beat. Sailed in 7knts from SE the Brits took the gun on the first race, with a brilliant start and by playing the left-hand side on the first upwind. They just sailed away from the rest of the fleet. Locals AP Hotels of Jose Paulo Ramada and Per Croner's team, a Swede living in Cascais, closed the podium on the first race.
The second race got underway after the race committee adjusted the course for the new fading SW breeze. Solyd Sailing Team of Vasco Serpa with a committee boat start and an early tack to the right led the fleet from an early stage until crossing the finish line. Xcellence was fourth, sealing a good performance on the day and the event lead. In between them in the second race was SinBin of the Finnish Martin Estlander and Giboia of Rui Boia. Trailing the Brits after the first day were the teams of SinBin and the team of Per Croner tied with 8 points.
For the second day a light easterly was expected and with three races scheduled everything was open, but John Pollard, Jack and Henry Wetherell on Xcellence secured victory on the 5th Cascais Winter Series to take the full series.
The team from the Torbay Royal Yacht Club sailed in a league of their own on the second day, scoring two bullets and a fourth place. Solid starts, top boat speed and good tactical calls helped the Brits to take the beautiful but shifty 10 to 12 knots Easterly breeze to win the final event with one race to spare. Pollard and Co, have spent the winter in Cascais using the local events to keep sharp and are by now one of the top contenders to attack the world title next September in Dublin.
Second place overall went to APHotels of locals Jose Paulo Ramada, Antonio Pereira, Francisco Melo e Jose Cunha that also had a strong second day with 4, 2, 2. Third place went for Solyd Sailing Team of Vasco Serpa, Diogo Pinto and Pedro Alemao winners of the the Winter Series in the previous two seasons.
Brilliant results for the teams of Swede Per Croner 4th, and Finnish Martin Estlander 5th overall. The regatta also marked the return of Portuguese Olympian Carolina Joao at the helm on Naturea Sailing Team. Her team finished 7th.
Another busy Winter Season is completed in Cascais, and for this one John Pollard, Jack and Henry Wetherell will see their names written in the Tony Castro Perpetual Trophy.