“Louise” Wins Race 2 in Cascais.

GBR 780 “Louise” Grant Gordon, Theis Palm & Kasper Harsberg win 2nd Race.

The early morning Easterly breeze did not materialise yesterday so the planned 10am start had to be delayed until the afternoon North-Westerly wind eventually filled in. Therefore, at around 2pm the 45 boat fleet were sent out for a great afternoon of sailing.

The start after 2 general recalls and 12 boats DSQ under the Black Flag Rule.

Unfortunately 12 boats were disqualified as the favourable current surprised many of the sailors who were keen to start at the committee boat end of the line and tack towards the right shore. I am sure if conditions are similar today the Race Officer, Jose Cansella, will put considerable more line bias at the Pin End.

However, it’s the same for everyone and making the best of the first 2 mile upwind leg was GER 1162 “Desert Holly” helmed by Stephan Link, crewed by Frank Butzmann and Michi Lipp. They judged the starboard “lay-line” perfectly to round first and set their kite for the long downwind leg.

First the top mark was GER 1162 “Desert Holly”… Helmed by Stephan Link.

On the first downwind leg, it paid to gybe early as there was less adverse current and maybe a little more wind towards the shore. This is exactly what GBR 780 did and was able to pass the leaders who stayed more in the middle. Grant Gordon explained “We thought that by gybing early we could get inside the leaders at the bottom gate so that we could be the first boat to sailed back towards the right side of the second upwind leg”. Good decision team “Louise” and many congratulations for winning the race.

“Louise” arrives at the bottom gate ahead of “Desert Holly” after a good down wind leg.

Also very close to the leaders at this stage was TUR 1212 “Provezza”, who were keeping the pressure on the front two boats throughout the race. In fact on the third and final upwind leg they managed to pass GER 1162 to take 2nd place at the finish. Simon Fry told me “Although we wanted to go right up the final beat, we did not want to round the last gate in “dirty air” so we elected to take the right hand buoy. Then after a clear rounding we were able to tack onto port and keep upwind of the 2nd placed boat”.  This strategy worked well to give “Provezza” 2nd place.

2nd in race 2 of the Juan Carlos Trophy, Simon Fry, Ali Tezdiker & Andy Beadsworth.

Meanwhile the other 2 boats to sail an excellent race were HUG 57 and GBR 761 who always kept in touch of the leaders and stayed well ahead of the chasing pack.

It was always going to be close at the finish, but eventually HUN 57 just finished ahead of GBR 761 who had to settled for a deserved 5th.

5th in race 2 of the Juan Carlos Trophy, Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Philip Catmur & Mark Hart.

So after 2 completed races the overall leaders are now GBR 758 “Fever” helmed by 2013 World Champion Klaus Diederichs. Early days, but still an excellent position to be in 🙂

Overall Leaders after 2 races counting a 4th and 6th place, “Fever” GBR 758.

Superb Photo’s from Ricardo Pinto…  Many thanks Ricordo!

Higher, Faster, Longer………………..   Stavros.