More than 180 boats competed in perfect wind conditions
It was a splendid day for sailing on the second day of the Rey Juan Carlos I – El Corte Inglés Master Regatta, with steady winds averaging around 11 knots and clear skies, allowing the planned programme for the seven classes competing in Sanxenxo to be completed. Today, Saturday, we have already seen all the boats competing in this tenth edition, more than 180 from 11 countries, unfurling their sails in the Pontevedra estuary.
6 Metres: Joy dominates the day and takes the lead in the overall standings
After a postponement on shore that lasted until 12:45 p.m., the Race Committee instructed the fleet – which today included King Juan Carlos – to head to the race course.
The first race of the day, the third of the championship, began at 2:03 p.m. with steady southwesterly winds of 10-11 knots. The race was very close, and although Miguel Lago’s Alibabá II led during the first half of the course, it was ultimately José Ignacio del Toro’s Joy that took the victory.
The second race began at 3:13 p.m. and was marked by premature starts by the crews of Bribon (sailing aboard Erica), Titia (aboard Acacia) and Alibabá II, who return and start again. Despite this, the Titia team, led by Mauricio Sánchez-Bella, staged a remarkable comeback that allowed them to finish the race in second place.
With its two victories on the day, Joy takes the lead in the overall standings of the Diputación de Pontevedra Trophy, overtaking Alibabá II, now second by five points. The Titia crew moves up to third place, just one point behind the runners-up, while Bribon remains fourth.
Okofen sets the pace in Mahou J80
The Mahou J80 one-design fleet sailed three races today.
The J80s started the first race at around 2 p.m., as the Committee waited for the wind to increase. An hour later, they were already competing in the second race, and the third was held in lighter winds – around 8 knots – to reveal the first provisional leaders of the class.
Okofen, skippered by experienced Vigo sailor Javier de la Gándara, leads the overall standings with three races completed and two victories. Les Roches Solgreen, with Javier Padrón from Gran Canaria at the helm, is second after going from strength to strength: third in the first race, second in the second and victory in the last race of the day. Jaime Barreiro’s Cactus Digital-Petrilla, from CN Portonovo, completes the provisional podium.
Tomorrow, three more races are scheduled, which will be decisive in determining the final classification.
Two out of two for Mirfak in ORC 0-4
The ORC 0-4 class – Xacobeo Trophy completed two new races that began at 1:25 p.m. in the same field as yesterday, between the island of Ons and A Lanzada beach.
Mirfak, skippered by Diego López, was the clear winner of the day in a fleet that is also competing for the Presidente de la Xunta Trophy. The CNR Ferrol team won both races of the day and leads the provisional classification. Urbapaz, skippered by José Francisco Edreira, finished second and fifth, placing it in second place, while Golfiño, skippered by José Naya and representing CN Ría de Ares, completes the podium thanks to two fourth places.
ORC Open and Volvo Balpersa JCH Veterans make their debut in Sanxenxo with a coastal race
The ORC Open and Volvo Balpersa JCH Veterans fleets began their participation in this tenth edition of the King Juan Carlos I Regatta – El Corte Inglés Master at 1:13 p.m. Both completed a coastal course in the Pontevedra estuary that included passing through Mourisca and Morrazán.
Meanwhile, after waiting on land, the ABANCA Optimist fleet headed to the race area to compete in three new races in both the Gold and Silver groups.
The Quirónprevención Disabled Sailing teams added two new races today off the Sanxenxo breakwater.
Tomorrow, Sunday, is the final day
The outcome of this tenth edition will be decided tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. for the ABANCA Optimist class, while the rest of the categories will start at 1:00 p.m.
The regatta will conclude with the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The event will be attended by King Juan Carlos; the president of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda; the president of the Diputación de Pontevedra, Luis López; the mayor of Sanxenxo, Telmo Martín; the president of the RCNS, Pedro Campos; the head of Institutional Relations at El Corte Inglés, Fuencisla Cid; and the regional director of ABANCA in Pontevedra, Carmen Fernández.
