AUT 207 “Basic Logic” Wins V Puerto Portals Winter Series…

AUT 207 “Basic Logic” Werner Deuring, Alexander Deuring & Pedro Andrade.

The V Puerto Portals “Winter Series” was concluded over the weekend of 28th-30th January, sailed in relatively light winds and 4 races were completed over the 3 days. In the end after 19 races sailed throughout the 4 series of winter regatta’s, the overall result could not have been closer, with just 1pt separating the top 2 teams!   ESP 71 “Gunter” helmed by Javier Scherk had the edge overall until the very last race, before Werner Deuring sailing with his Son Alexander and Pedro Andrade finished ahead by 3 places to give them a 1pt victory. How close is that after 19 races…

ESP 71 “Gunter” Javier Scherk, Frederico Melo & Hugo Rocha were 2nd overall.

Although it will have been a disappointment for Javier and his team to lose the event on the final race, it has been an excellent series for this popular Spanish Sailor from Barcelona. Javier reminded me of his introduction to Dragon Sailing many years ago in Cascais, when he chartered my Petticrows “El Gringo” and had and exciting experience… First the spinnaker pole snapped, then the battery went dead on pump, before the manual pump also broke! Yet despite all this adversity, Javier and his team came in with a boat full of water, but still smiling… 🙂 A true Gentleman and excellent Dragon Sailor…

Puerto Portals Committee Boat is ideal for Dragon Racing.

Reflecting on his overall success the winning helm of AUT 207 Werner Deuring told me “I bought one of Pedro’s 8D Sailing Petticrows V6’s ‘Mars’ as I wanted to stay sharp for my 8 metre class racing. As a relatively late starter in sailing, practice on the tiller during the winter in a Dragon is ideal. I am lucky to have good friends to sail with and my Son Alexander is a ‘Real Sailor’ coming through the youth classes. Of course having Pedro onboard is a bank as you know, but I will have to return to my 8m class for the summer season after the Copa del Mediterraneo, as President of the class, my members would not appreciate me staying in the Dragon all year” 🙂 I will just add that Werner has been 8m World Champion several times, so watch out fellow dragon sailors when he returns next winter…!

Close racing in Puerto Portals last weekend.

In 3rd place overall was AUS 551 “Yeahnah” helmed by Jan Eckert, crewed by Will Ryan & top Finn sailor Oisin John McClelland. This new Petticrows V6 owned by Torvar Mirsky, finished this final winter series with two race wins and thoroughly deserved the final podium place. Congratulations to all top three teams.

3rd overall AUS 551 “Yeahnah” Jan Eckert, Will Ryan & Oisin John McClelland.

Puerto Portals is now firmly established as a superb winter base for the Dragon Class, with a total of 18 teams participating in this 2021/2022 series. It has great onshore facilities, excellent Race Management, an ex America’s Cup Committee Boat and will be the venue for the 4th Grade 1 + Finals of 2022 (Nov 15th-20th). In addition the introduction of SMARTMARK (GPS marks) has been very well received by the sailors and of course speeds up course setting and changes. The next event will be the Copa del Mediterraneao, 18th-20th February..

Higher, Faster, Longer……   Stavros.

P.S. Many thanks to Laura G. Guerra for the excellent photos. More can be seen at: www.lauragonzalezguerra.com