Gaastra PalmaVela

 

Gaastra PalmaVela is often described as a ‘practice regatta’ simply because it opens the Mediterranean racing season but few of the crews can harbour any complaints that this year’s event on the Bay of Palma lacked in either intensity or quality of competition.

Over the four days of racing the winds might have been less regular and reliable than previous years but that kept up the tension to the end in most of the key classes.

 

 

Beating the weather

 

The regatta was dogged by mainly light winds and grey skies but even if the sunshine and sea breezes did not prevail as they usually do on the Bay of Palma. Summing up the challenges and reasons the regatta exists, the Real Club Náutico de Palma’s Sports Director Manu Fraga confirmed:

 

“We are pleased with the participation, over 110 entries from 17 countries turning out on the racecourse. For us it is very important that the international racers choose to come here and open their season here, with us at the Gaastra PalmaVela. This was a regatta born for the Maxi and Wally classes and it is still well supported by those fleets and the TP52s. And the response of the local fleet is also good.”

 

“Normally, May brings a 70-80 percent of chance of sea breeze, but in the end that didn’t really happen for us all! “And then we had the rain… Even though, we have had better regattas I think the crews enjoyed racing.”

 

Wally Class goes down to the wire

 

A strong Wally class of 11 boats went to the wire. Victory in the last race, contested in a lazy Sunday afternoon, shifty breeze, was enough for the Wally 77 J One to win overall by a only one point from Wally 80 Ryokan 2.

 

The changeable, mainly light and sticky conditions made it tough for the big boats especially to hold their time allowance, the intensity of the fight between the Wally 77 and 80s undoubtedly helped them raise their level.

J One’s tactician Jens Christensen smiled: “This is a big thing for us because several times we have been in a position to win and it did not happen because it was a big boat race. And so it is great for the owner and crew to win the regatta. We don’t feel we won by luck but because we sailed well. I think this has been the best Wally regatta we have ever participated in because of the closeness, especially with 80 footers. We loved it.”

 

 

 

 

Maxi Class Invincible Lionheart

 

Under handicap time correction the Maxi class found the J Class Lionheart simply unstoppable, the crew headed by Bouwe Bekking winning all six of their races. The ‘up and downs’ programme was a key reason for the J Class team’s decision to compete here, representing excellent training for their upcoming season and beyond. Tactician Bouwe Bekking remarked:

 

“Overall it was a good practice regatta for us it was good and important to sail the up and downs. This is a good regatta and it was great for us all to be back sailing in Palma.”

 

One Designs

 

An enduring all German duel at the top of the Swan 45 class saw Christian Plump’s Elena Nova do enough to win the class by finishing third in the one race sailed on the final day. A crucial fight back proved vital to their overall victory, holding one point ahead of Early Bird.

 

In the J80 Class five wins from eight starts is the foundation of overall victory for Javier Chacartegui Cicerol’s HM Hotels. Javier Scherk and his crew closed out their win in the Dragon class on Gunter and David Barber’s Fine Fettle won the Flying Fifteen class.

 

For all Results see: www.palmavela.com

 

 

Edited by Jonny Fullerton of Grand Prix Sailing