The Xacobeo Trophy competition program, which puts into play the European 6 Meter Championship In the waters of the Pontevedra estuary, it advances at cruising speed, defying the difficult weather conditions and with the leaders, the vessels “Bribon” and “Junior” fighting for a coveted leadership on the Pontevedra estuary regatta field.
© María Muiña / Xacobeo Trophy.The last blows of Hurricane Isaac – now converted into a storm – were felt this Tuesday in the Rías Baixas. As on the opening day, Sanxenxo woke up today with rain and very little visibility in the Pontevedra estuary. The wind, however, blew strongly from early in the day and the regatta committee soon lowered the postponement flag to start the competition.
With a south-southwest wind of an average intensity of 14 knots and still under heavy rain, the fleet heard the first honk at 1:15 p.m. with the starting line located in front of the breakwater of the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo ( RCNS). In total, three intense tests in which the teams had to give their one hundred percent.
The “Bribon” clings to the leadership in Classics
In the Classic fleet, the fight for first place aims to be between two teams for the moment: the “Bribon” of King Don Juan Carlos, which today had Ross McDonald at the head of the crew, and the Finnish “Astree III” by Ossi Paija.
With two seconds and one more first place in his locker, the “Bribon” continues as leader of the general classification ahead of the Paija team, which added a first, a second and a fourth, and maintains second position three points behind the boat of the RCNS. Further away is the “Titia” of Mauricio Sánchez-Bella, who today had a great day, achieving his first partial victory in the last test of the day and taking the third place on the provisional podium. It is followed by the French “Fun” by Luis Heckly, which is placed fourth.
© María Muiña / Xacobeo Trophy.The skipper and owner of the “Astree III” explained once on land that “today has been a very interesting day. The first thing was to understand where the windward buoy was, because you couldn’t see it, and the next thing was to see the leeward buoy for the same reason. But yes, a day with quite a lot of waves, with rain and fog. Everything that heaven can give you.”
“We had a fantastic day of sailing and we kept fighting. The Rascal is in the lead and we are in second place, so it is within our reach. We are still looking forward to the next days of the championship,” Paija added.
Change of leader in a very tight Open general
In the Open division the overall standings could not be tighter with the top five teams separated by just five points. The second day of the Xacobeo Trophy has adjusted the battle for the European title of the class to the maximum and the three victories put at stake this Tuesday were shared by the Swiss “Junior” of Muller Rainer, the American “Jane Ann” of Basil Vasilioi and the Finnish “Oiva” by Henrik Andersin.
With results 9-1-2, the “Junior” was the best today in the general calculation and rises from second position to first place to become the new leader of the event, relegating the American skippered by Staffan Lindberg to second provisional podium drawer with partial 8-5-1. Behind, the Finnish “Oiva” climbs two places in the table and is third.
© María Muiña / Xacobeo Trophy.Only one point separates the top three finishers, who in turn have a tight four-point advantage over the fourth and fifth finishers: the British “Battlecry” by Jeremy Thorp and the “Stella” by Violeta Álvarez, which competes under the RCNS charm. A general election, without a doubt, very tight in which everything is still to be decided.
“It has been a complicated and rainy day, but in the end it was a great day for us with a first, a second and a ninth. We managed to take our advantage despite having made a bad start,” said Nicolas Berthoud, crew member of the “Junior”.
Tomorrow, the action returns to the Pontevedra estuary starting at 12:00 p.m.
CLASSIFICATIONS – DAY 2
Classics
Post/Country/Ship/Skipper/Points
1. ESP, Bribon, King Juan Carlos, 6 points
2. FIN, Astree II, Ossi Paija, 9 points
3. ESP, Titia, Mauricio Sánchez-Bella, 15 points
4. FRA, Fun, Louis Heckly, 17 points
5. ESP, Alibaba II, Miguel Lago, 23 points
open
Post/Country/Ship/Skipper/Points
1. SUI, Junior, Loic Forestier, 14 points
2. USA, Jane Ann, Staffan Lindberg, 15 points
3. FIN, Oiva, Henrik Andersin, 15 points
4. GBR, Battlecry, Jeremy Thorp, 19 points
5. ESP, Stella, Violeta Álvarez, 19 points
