Puerto Portals Winter Series…. Dec 2019

40 Dragons participated in the December Puerto Portals Winter Series.

It was a fantastic turnout in the beautiful bay of Palma de Mallorca overlooked by the massive Santa Maria Cathedral for the first Puerto Portals Winter Series, 13th to 15th December. Following the successful recent Grade 1 Spanish Grand Prix and Finals 50 boats have now registered for the winter series and will keep their boats in the safe haven of Puerto Portals… To see 40 boats on the start line just before Xmas was a true testament that Dragon Racing is very much alive and kicking all over Europe at “all” times of the year!

Although Friday was too windy to race, 5 top quality races were completed over Saturday & Sunday, in the most perfect sailing conditions of 10 to 14kts of westerly wind and unbroken sunshine.

Overall winners after 5 races RUS 76 “Rocknrolla” with Dmitry Samokhin, Kasper Harsberg & Andrey Kirilyuk.

Dmitry and his team discarded a 4th place, such was their high level of performance and consistency… Which is quite remarkable in a fleet of 40 boats….

Conditions were perfect in the crystal blue Mediterranean Waters…

Finishing in 2nd place overall was GBR 820 “Louise” helmed by Grant Gordon (who has had a fantastic season, topping the International Ranking List for 2019), guest crewed by World Champion Andy Beadsworth & James Williamson/Chris Cowan.

Despite a BFD in race 2, team “Louise” fought hard to claim 2nd overall…

In 3rd position overall was Denmark’s Jen Christensen… Following up his amazing result in San Remo winning the 90th Anniversary 160+ boat event … Jens DEN 410 “Out of Bounce” counted a 8, 7, 3 & 7 keeping him just two points clear of Klaus Diederichs & Pieter Heerema.

DEN 410 “Out of Bounce” Jens, Anders & ………….

Klaus Diederichs & Pieter Heerema finished on equal points (27) with Klaus “Fever” taking 4th place on count back, so Pieter finished 5th in “Bear”… More top quality racing from some of the best teams in the World…

Working alongside Javier & Marta on the Committee Boat l get a chance to help maintain the high level Race Management set by Nino Shmueli (far right) who will join our team again for the Grade 1 Princess Sofia Trophy and 2020 European Championship next April. Puerto Portals are doing an excellent job both on and off the water and their charter investment in one of the best Committee Boats in the World shows their intention to provide the very best racing possible.

I want to thank Elena Razina for many of these excellent photos and for her continued support of the Dragon Class.. Elena celebrated her Birthday out in Palma last weekend and will be back for the 2nd Puerto Portals Winter Series in January…

With winter racing in Cannes, Cascais, Imperia, Palma & Vilamoura…Why would you not want to race a Dragon ????

Higher, Faster, Longer & a Very Happy Xmas!  Stavros.