Hugo Stenbeck (far right).. stands proudly with his crew Lars Linger and Martin Westerdahl (far left) and Club de Naval President Jose’Matoso & Club Administrator Sophia during the official christening of Sophie III at the end of racing in Cascais..
The original Sophie was a 91 foot sloop built by Hugo’s father in Maine, USA. It had an hydraulic lifting keel with a bulb so it could be sailed in the more shallow waters of the Caribbean and the Med in the summer months.. In more recent years it’s time has been spent enjoying the West Coast of the US and Newport. Sophie II was built in 1994 as a “6 Metre” and raced for a few years under Hugo’s Father’s supervision before it was stored for many years as he was heavily involved in the America’s Cup 2002/2003 in New Zealand. However, after Hugo’s father sadly passed away Sophie II was given a second lease of life and restored to her former glory to win the 6 Metre Worlds in Newport 2009. A very proud moment for Hugo and the Stenbeck family… So on now to Sophie III, Hugo realising that the International Dragon Circuit offers the best one design racing all over the world, had no hesitation in asking Petticrows to build the latest of the Stenbeck/Sophie Fleet… Welcome to the class and Good Luck !
So now onto yesterday’s races, well my friends.. Two races in a very choppy and confused sea, well I was confused anyway…Yes, it took a great deal of concentration, skill and sail trimming to keep the Dragons moving in these difficult conditions. However, making it look easy was the Club’s President Jose’ Matoso POR 55 who with his Olympic crew Gustavo Lima and Frederico Melo took the first race after the leader RUS 27 was DSQ for an early start… In race two it was the turn of RUS 76 owned by Dmitry Samokin but this time helmed by Igor Giohberg and crewed by Andrey Kirilyuk and Aleksey Bushuev to take the winners gun. However, with two 2nd places the overall leader’s are from Hungary, yes it’s Ferenc Kis-Szolgyemi helming HUN 57 who heads the leaderboard on just 4pts……
With 6 more races to be sailed over the next two days, it’s still anyone’s championship. So keep logging in to the IDA Home Page and I’ll keep you posted on the daily happening’s..
Higher, Faster, Longer……………. Stavros. (NOR 282).