GER 1162 “Desert Holly” leads the 3rd race of the J.C. Trophy in Cascais yesterday.
A strong Northerly wind “delayed ” the start of racing in Cascais yesterday, so the 26 teams representing 12 different Nations waited patiently ashore until conditions were more suitable…
Then at 12.00 the postponement flag was lowered and the fleet took to the water sailing approximately 3 miles south to prepare for the start of race 3 of the Juan Carlos Trophy.
Another “clear line” start in difficult conditions made for some exciting racing….
Many of the fleet chose to tack quite soon after the start and head towards the shore on the 1.9 mile beat as the wind was 20 degrees more right than the previous day. However, the right hand shift was further in towards the Estoril coast line so it was the left side of the upwind leg that proved most advantageous.
GER 1162 helmed by Stephan Link, crewed by Frank Butzmann & Michi Lipp win race 3.
The first 5 boats to round the top mark all came form the left hand side, opening up a substantial distance from the remainder of the fleet. GER 1162 took the initiative from the onset and won the race despite some aggressive competition from RUS 76 helmed by Dmitry Samokhin (who finished 2nd) and GER 1123 Michael Zankel (who finished 3rd).
GER 1123 “Pow Wow” Michael Zankel, Pedro Andrade & Nuno Barretto lead overall after 3 races.
It was a truly superb sailing day offering excitement, thrills and tested all the crews skills over the 3 up winds and 2 down wind legs on this Championship course. A great race quite fitting of this Grade 1 regatta in beautiful Portugal, but as the wind increased the fleet were sensibly sent back to the moorings, so no 2nd race.
RUS 76 “Strange Little Girl” Dmitry Samokhin, Andrey Kirilyuk & Alexsey Bushuev 2nd place.
However, today we will sail 3 races as the weather forecast is more favourable, so the Championship may well be decided at the end of the day as Sunday’s conditions do not look promising..
Leading the Corinthian sailors is POR 56 “Peggy” helmed by Miguel Magalhaes, crewed by Jorge Melo and Jose’ Magalhaes. This local team are keeping ahead of the other Corinthian sailors as they have their own private battle amongst this highly competitive International fleet.
Higher, Faster, Longer…………….. Stavros. (GBR 769).