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More than 80 boats in the most massive Prince of Asturias Trophy

 

· The star sailing competition in Galicia celebrates its thirty-seventh edition from September 2 to 4 under the baton of the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona and the Escuela Naval Militar

· Although the organization had limited the number of boats that could participate in the regatta to 70 in recent days, it was forced to increase the number due to the large influx of crews who requested to register

· Of the 8 classes in contention, the largest will be the J80, with more than 30 units from different parts of Spain that will take advantage of the competition to prepare for the National Championship that will be held in Baiona in the middle of the month

· The 37th Prince of Asturias Trophy, sponsored by ABANCA and the Xunta de Galicia through Xacobeo, will include the Gestilar Ladies Cup and the delivery of the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards

Official presentation of the Prince of Asturias Trophy – Photo Antía Martínez

The star sailing competition in Galicia, the Prince of Asturias Trophy, returns one more year to the waters of the Rías Baixas under the baton of the Monte Real Club de Yates and the Naval Military School, which organize it hand in hand and in a uninterrupted since 1986.

Thirty-seven springs celebrates in this 2022 one of the most beloved appointments by the sailors of the peninsular northwest, which nobody wants to miss. This year, in fact, will be one of the most massive editions. Although the organization had limited the number of boats that could participate in the regatta to 70, in recent days it was forced to increase the number due to the large influx of crews who requested to register.

Finally, there will be more than 80 sailboats that will compete, from September 2 to 4, in the three days of scheduled regattas, which will have as scenarios the interior of the Bay of Baiona, different points of the Vigo estuary and the anchorage of the Islands Cies.

Of the 8 classes that will compete (ABANCA ORC 1, Volvo Autesa ORC 2, Aceites Abril ORC 3, Martin Miller ORC 4, Gadis ORC 5, Vanguard OPEN, Solventis J80 and Gestilar Ladies Cup), that of the J80 will be the most numerous, with more than 30 units arriving from different parts of Spain. The fact is that the crews of these 8-metre sailboats have the perfect opportunity at the Príncipe de Asturias to finish their training for the National Championship to be held in mid-September in Baiona and to continue studying the peculiarities of the winds, waters and Galician tides for the 2023 World Cup.

After the official presentation of the event, this Tuesday at the Monte Real Club de Yates, the starting signal for the trophy will be given by the draw for the boats of the Gestilar Ladies Cup , the women’s competition included in the competition, which this year celebrates its twenty-sixth edition. The distribution will take place on Thursday afternoon at the Baionese club and there will be the patron saints of the participating crews, who this year arrive from Alicante, Mallorca, Madrid, the Basque Country and Santander. Along with the Baiona team, there will be a total of six, with six sailors aboard six identical boats.

Those of the Gestilar Ladies Cup will be one of the many trophies that come into play in the Prince of Asturias Trophy, in which the President of the Xunta Trophy will also be awarded (to the winner of the Regatta Infanta Elena de Coruña, the Mar de Finisterre de Portosín and the Prince of Asturias de Baiona); the Conde de Barcelona Trophy (for the best boat with a Portuguese crew in the competition); and the Juan Sebastián de Elcano Trophy (for the best female crew).

The awards ceremony for the competition will be held on Sunday, September 4 at half past six in the afternoon in the gardens of Monte Real, and the day before, on Saturday, September 3 at eight in the afternoon, that same location will host the gala of the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards , which for 30 years have recognized the best athletes and teams on the Spanish nautical scene.

On this occasion, the winner of the prestigious Transat Jacques Vabre, the Cantabrian Pablo Santurde (Best Navigator); the world champions María Perelló and Marta Cardona (Best dinghy sailing team); the Teatro Soho Caixabank, put together by Javier Banderas from Malaga and six-time winner of the Copa del Rey (Best Boat); José María “Pichu” Torcida from Santander for his victories in the Spanish and European J70 Championships (Sailor of the Year); the initiative “We want to make history” led by Nuria Sánchez from Alicante (Best female project); and the nautical outreach program Tying Cabos (Mariano Aguado Communication Award).

Transoceanic, light, cruise, women’s, one-design sailing… and in the Príncipe de Asturias there will also be room for adapted sail, for which the Monte Real Club de Yates has been betting for years with courses and activities for people with physical, mental and sensory functional diversity, children with behavioral problems or women victims of sexist violence. A crew from ASEM Galicia, the Galician Association against Neuromuscular Diseases, will sail on the second and third days of competition alongside the Open class boats.

Authorities attending the presentation of the Prince of Asturias Trophy – Photo © Antía Martínez

And so, with 3 days of regattas in 3 different fields, more than 80 boats registered, 8 classes in contention, multiple trophies at stake, a specific women’s section, an inclusive boat, 6 national sailing awards, tastings, galas and fireworks , among many other things, the 37th Prince of Asturias Trophy is presented, which is being held once again this year under the organization of the Monte Real Yacht Club and the Naval Military School and thanks to the sponsorship of ABANCA , the Xunta de Galicia through Xacobeo , Terras Gauda and Gestilar .

The competition also has the collaboration of the Pontevedra Provincial Council and the Baiona City Council; the Royal Spanish and Galician Sailing Federations; and the support of companies such as Solventis, Volvo Autesa, Aceites Abril, Zelnova Zeltia, Paradores, Vanguard Marine, Gadis, Foxy, Onda Cero, Musto, the Solitium group, HOLA, Tuypan, Coca Cola and Martin Miller’s Gin.

OFFICIAL PRESENTATION DECLARATIONS

“For the 36 editions that have been held so far, the best boats have passed, with the best skippers and the most outstanding sailors… and this year will be no different. In this thirty-seventh edition we will have sailing in its purest form in an event that has always been, is, and will be, much more than sport. Tourism, economy, feminism, social inclusion, nature, gastronomy, equality, sustainability, fun, radio, television… An appointment, as you can see, essential” – José Luis Álvarez, president of the MRCYB

“Through the twinning with the MRCYB, this regatta allows us to get closer to civil society, to work and cooperate with you, and that has a very important value. My main goal is to train future naval officers, and I can’t think of a better way to start the academic year than by reconnecting with all those values that the world of sailing transmits, teamwork, the desire to excel and overcoming difficulties” Naval Captain Pedro Cardona, Commander Director of the Naval School

“It is a pride for us to collaborate one more year with the MRCYB. Thanks for another year to the entire organization, to those who make this event possible, and I congratulate you in advance because I am sure it will be a complete success. At ABANCA we have been supporting the world of sport for years, from top competition to grassroots schools, and we will continue to do so because we understand that values that our entity shares one hundred percent are transmitted” – Walter Álvarez, territorial director of ABANCA

“Giving the National Sailing Awards within the framework of a regatta as important as this one, and doing it hand in hand with the Naval School and this beloved club, is undoubtedly an honor for us and I hope we can continue to do so for many years” – José María Fonseca Moretón, president of Bodegas Terras Gauda

“This year the one-designs, between the Figaros that will compete for the Ladies Cup with six female crews, and the J80s with a very high participation of more than 30 boats, are going to be very protagonists. The J80, in addition to the large fleet that the club already has, will be completed this year with a large number of boats arriving in Galicia for the Spanish Championship that we will celebrate in 15 days” – Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui, Commodore MRCYB

“Any event held at the MRCYB is a sure win, and that is thanks to the club’s president and the entire human team that surrounds him. Monte Real is a guarantee of success and proof of this is the collaboration and support that they always have in their events, both from public administrations and private entities, which make events of this type, with their consequent economic, social and sporting repercussions , they can continue to be celebrated” – Gorka Gómez, sports deputy of the Pontevedra Provincial Council

“The Ladies Cup has been a firm commitment to women’s sport for many years, when the competition began and the club showed a spectacular vision of the future. In this promotion and defense of women’s sport you will always find me and the Xunta de Galicia, to show that collaboration between administrations, sports entities and companies is a very beneficial model for society” – Marta Fernández-Tapias, territorial delegate of the Xunta de Galicia in Vigo

“Once again we come to Monte Real, a benchmark club in our country, to present the 37th edition of the Prince of Asturias Trophy and the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards. I want to recognize not only the work that is done in this club, but how it is done. As I always say, the MRCYB is an added value for Baiona and a mirror in which to look at ourselves to learn about how things are done” – Carlos Gómez, Mayor of Bayonne

……………………… THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 ………………………

10:00 · Opening of the race office.
Registration of participants, delivery of documentation,
reviews, measurements and weighing

17:30 Gestilar Ladies Cup boat draw

……………………… FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 ………………………

10:00 – 14:00 Opening of the race office.
Registration of participants, delivery of documentation,
reviews, measurements and weighing

10:00 Family photo of the crews of the Gestilar Ladies Cup

12:00 Live radio program with Onda Cero in the club’s village

15:00 · ORC tests 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4

15:30 Tests J80 and LADIES CUP

18:00 Opening of the village

……………………… SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 ………………………

12:00 Start of tests for all classes

18:00 Opening of the village

20:00 TERRAS GAUDA NATIONAL SAILING AWARDS Gala

23:30 · Fireworks and start of the party

……………………… SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 ………………………

12:00 Start of tests for all classes

17:00 Opening of the village

6:30 p.m. Awards ceremony

 

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Atando Cabos is recognized with the Mariano Aguado Communication Award

 

· The nautical outreach program of the production company TacTic Audiovisual will receive the Mariano Aguado Communication Award this year at the National Sailing Awards gala to be held in Baiona on September 3

· Since its creation at the end of 2018, 126 24-minute programs have been broadcast that have been seen on different television channels such as the Nautical Channel and video portals such as YouTube

· Combining dissemination of competitions, news and events with interviews and entertainment is the main objective of a space in which sailing and power boating are protagonists

The program Atando Cabos from the production company TacTic Audiovisual has been recognized this year with the Mariano Aguado Communication Award, an award that will be presented on September 3 in Baiona as part of the National Sailing Awards gala.

Since its creation at the end of 2018, this audiovisual production has already gone through four seasons, in which 126 24-minute programs have been broadcast. A content that has been seen on different television channels such as the Nautical Channel, video portals such as YouTube, and specialized websites and blogs.

Combining the dissemination of competitions, news and events with interviews and entertainment is the main objective of a television format divided into four sections. While “A todo trapo” focuses on current events in regattas, in “As de guided” the protagonists are the interviews with current personalities. The main sectoral novelties are included in the space “To the four winds” and “La mar de a gusto” is dedicated to the nautical lifestyle, sustainability, tourism and gastronomy.

Conceived and directed by Vicente Robles and co-directed and presented by Nerea Ruiz; Also part of the Tying Cabos team are Javier Gallen and Manuel Llario (editors), Marian Hinojosa (writing and production), José Pablo Sánchez Luna, Jesús Prats and José Javier Jiménez (cameras) and Carlos Berdonce, Ygor Buesta, Lucas Mahillo, Santiago Pereira and Agustín Ramos (business support).

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National Sailing Award for the world champions María Perelló and Marta Cardona

 

· The two-time world champions María Perelló and Marta Cardona will be distinguished next September 3 in Galicia with the National Sailing Award for the best light sailing crew

· After a successful stint in the Optimist class, these 17-year-old Majorcans from the Club Nàutic s’Arenal achieved the double (gold in the World Cup and in the European) in their first year competing together in the 420 class

· The National Sailing Awards gala will be held in Baiona under the organization of the Monte Real Yacht Club and sponsored by the Terras Gauda wineries

Perello and Cardona at the top of the podium – Photo Sailing Energy

The two-time world champions María Perelló and Marta Cardona will receive, on September 3 in Galicia, the National Sailing Award for the best light sailing crew.

At just 17 years old, the Majorcans will be distinguished for the successes obtained in 2021, their first year competing together, in which they managed to hang the World and European gold medals in the 420 class around their necks.
They were the first joint triumphs of a crew that a year later, in this 2022, continued to fight and was proclaimed champion of the Youth Sailing World Championship, the youth sailing world championship; and runner-up in the world of 420.

Perello and Cardona celebrating the success of the world championship – Photo Sailing Energy

“Receiving the National Sailing Award is the finishing touch to a great year and an honor,” says María Perelló, who sees the award as “A recognition of the effort and dedication, not only mine -he says- but also of the entire team that has helped and accompanied me during these years”.

A few years in which this young sailor managed to make history in the Optimist class, by proclaiming herself world champion for three consecutive years, setting a record not achieved by any woman so far.

And so, being a three-time world champion, Perelló decided to say goodbye to the boat with which she began to love the world of sailing and make the leap to the 420 with her friend Marta Cardona, whose Optimist was already beginning to it was small. Together they began to work on their new positions and responsibilities, and to think as a team, and the results were not long in coming.

“Sailing with María, who as well as being a companion is a friend, and achieving everything we have achieved together, is a dream from which I don’t want to wake up” acknowledges Marta Cardona. “The National Sailing Award is a new motivation to continue working towards reaching new goals”.

Perello and Cardona in regatta – Photo Sailing Energy

Perelló and Cardona will receive the award that recognizes them as the best light sailing crew on September 3 in Baiona (Galicia), within the framework of the National Sailing Awards gala, organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club with the sponsorship from Bodegas Terras Gauda.

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Pichu Torcida, sailor of the year

 

· José María “Pichu” Torcida from Santander has been recognized by the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards as the best sailor of the year for his triumphs in the Spanish and European J70 Championships

· This is the third National Sailing Award that Torcida has been awarded after being distinguished as the best skipper of the year 2010 and receiving the award for the best team of the year 2011 with the Iberdrola Team that he skippered at the time

The Noticia team led by Pichu Torcida

José María “Pichu ” Torcida from Santander will collect the Terras Gauda National Sailing Award on September 3 in Baiona, accrediting him as the best sailor of 2021, an award that the Cantabrian will receive for his victories in the Spanish and European Sailing Championships. J70.

It will be the third National Sailing Award with which this 58-year-old industrial engineer is recognized, considered one of the best Spanish sailing skippers in recent decades. After being distinguished as the best skipper of the year 2010 and receiving the award for the best team of the year 2011 with the Iberdrola Team , who skippered then; Torcida will add a new recognition to its long list of awards in a few weeks.

“Receiving such a prestigious award is a great satisfaction. That they remember you, for me, has a lot of meaning, because it is a reward for the time dedicated to this exciting sport” , says Torcida, who will receive the award “Among friends and in a place as emblematic as the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona, which I have a special affection for”.

And it is that Galicia has been, without a doubt, one of the places most visited by Torcida during 2021, where he trained and competed aboard the Noticia, of the Real Club Náutico de Santander, the ship of which he has been the owner and skipper since 2016, and that has given him so much joy. After winning, in May 2021, the J70 Spanish Championship, held in A Coruña; The European Championship in September, in Denmark, arrived, in which he won leading a luxury team, made up of Luis Martín Cabiedes, Rayco Tabares, Pablo Santurde and Fran Palacio.

“The one-design regattas, of anyone… J70, J80, FC8, Soto40, TP52 are the best… because not only do you have to be very prepared, -says Torcida- but also have a good team. Being at the top in such close competitions is super rewarding. I miss having done more offshore regattas, but I haven’t had time for everything”, he concludes.

Pichu Torcida has sailed and triumphed in different classes – Photo Zerogradinord

In J70, Torcida has already won several victories in different Spanish championships, a European gold and silver, and a third place in the World Championship. The world championship has eluded him so far in J70, but he has already had two in J80 (2007 and 2010), a class with which he has also scored several podium finishes in national championships and cups.

His sports curriculum, in which his participation in the 1993-1994 round-the-world trip aboard the Galicia Pescanova stands out, is as extensive as it is varied. It includes victories in the IMS 500, Sydney 40 and Class 40 world championships; a couple of First Class 8 European championships; a win at the 2015 Fasnet Rolex; or several Copas del Rey, among others.

A half century of life linked to the sea that Pichu Torcida has known how to make the most of, ever since his father, José David Torcida, bought him and his brother a little sailing boat to go from Puertochico to Puntal; going through the sailing courses in the Marítimo de Santander; and his first steps in the world of competition. A path plagued with efforts and victories that will take him to Baiona on September 3 to collect a prize for sailor of the year, which is also, without a doubt, recognition of a brilliant career.

 

 

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The Soho CaixaBank Theater closes a brilliant season with the National Sailing Award for best boat

 

· The boat from Puerto Deportivo de Benalmádena has been distinguished with the National Sailing Award for the best ORC boat after achieving its sixth victory, absolute and class, in the Copa del Rey

· The project of the shipowner from Malaga Javier Banderas, brother and partner of the well-known actor Antonio Banderas, will receive the award in a year in which he celebrates 25 years of sporting career

· The Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards will be presented on September 3 at a gala to be held at eight in the afternoon at the Monte Real Yacht Club in Baiona

The Soho Caixabank Theater in the Copa del Rey

The National Sailing Awards gala will sound this year with a Malaga accent after the Soho CaixaBank Theater was awarded the prize for the best ORC boat of the season. The boat, armed and led by Javier Banderas, will receive the prestigious award after achieving its sixth victory -the second in a row- in the Copa del Rey, in which, both last year and this year, it took the absolute and class wins.

The crew of the boat, a Swan 42 CS from the Puerto Deportivo de Benalmádena, includes, in addition to Javier Banderas as owner and navigator on board with the electronics, and Daniel Cuevas at the helm; Olympic medalists Luis Doreste with tactics and Domingo Manrique with spi. Also Ángel Medina as mainsail trimmer, Piti Estébanez acting as sports director and Genoa trimer, Pipe Ruiz on mast, Fernando Valderrama as free, Rafael Díaz on piano, Ángel Medina Jr. as libero, Nicolás de Virgilis in the bow and Pablo Gauna as bow helper.

A computer teacher, a terrace waterproofer, a hotel worker, a physiotherapist, a student… different professions and different origins (the majority are from Malaga but there are also Canarians) in a team that stands out for its solidity, progression and adaptability.

“The perseverance of maintaining a sports project for 25 years is not something very common today and that continuity is perhaps the most outstanding thing about this crew, which has known and been able to stay together going through many different classes and boats”, assures the sports director of the Soho CaixaBank Theater, Piti Estébanez.

The crew of the Soho Caixabank Theater receiving their Copa del Rey award – Photo Laura G Guerra

Their sixth victory, this year, in the Copa del Rey, in which a hundred boats from twenty countries competed, allowed them to climb once again to a podium that, since 2009, they have already stepped on 13 times; and get closer, more and more, to the legend. On September 3, in Baiona, they will receive the award for the best ORC boat of the year.

The Soho Caixabank Theater in competition
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Pablo Santurde from Spain wins his second National Sailing Award

 

· After being distinguished as the best skipper of the year in 2020, this time Santurde will receive the award for the best sailor, as a result of his victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre aboard the Class40 Redman

At just 35 years old, the sailor from Santander has achieved multiple successes in some of the most outstanding and complex ocean regattas on the international nautical scene

· “I have followed ocean sailing since I was a child and I never thought I would do the things I have done” , declared Santurde after learning that he was deserving of a new National Sailing Award

Pablo Santurde’s Redman on the Transat Jacques Vabre – Photo © Jean-Marie LIOT

In November 2021, after sailing 5,502 miles in 21 days, 22 hours, 33 minutes and 30 seconds, Pablo Santurde from Spain crossed the finish line of the prestigious Transat Jacques Vabre. He did it ahead of all the boats he was competing against, aboard the Class40 Redman and accompanied by Frenchman Antoine Carpentier.

His victory in the prestigious competition allowed him to write a new chapter in the history of transoceanic sailing, and almost a year after that feat, the echoes of his triumph still resonate in the Spanish nautical scene, which next September will yield a new and deserved tribute.

Pablo Santurde aboard the Redman with which he won the Transat Jaques Vabre

Santurde will receive the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona the Terras Gauda National Sailing Award for the best sailor, an award that, as soon as he heard the news, the sailor wanted to dedicate to his family and those who supported him from the beginning.

“In this profession we spend a lot of time away from home and the family is the one that suffers the most. I am very lucky because they support me unconditionally, and that is why they are also deserving of this award”, assured Santurde before looking back to also remember its beginnings. “Since I was little I have followed ocean sailing and I never thought I would do the things I have done. Many times the most difficult thing is to get a first opportunity that opens doors for you, and this is where I will always be grateful to Gonzalo Botín” .

With just 35 springs, this year will be the second National Sailing Award received by Pablo Santurde, who in 2020 was distinguished as the best skipper after the successes achieved aboard the M&G Tressis of the Real Club Marítimo de Santander, with which he managed to be J80 class world champion.

Pablo Santurde – Photo A Champy McLean

For this ocean sailing enthusiast, his four world championships (two in Class40 and two in J80) and his European championship (in J70) weigh as much as his victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Rolex Fasnet Race, the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland and the RORC Caribbean 600.

“Despite the fact that ocean sailing in Spain does not have the following that it has in other countries, there are Spanish sailors who have achieved very important things, and the National Sailing Awards have been able to give them the support and promotion they deserve. For me it is an honor to be distinguished in this category”Santurde concludes.

 

TERRAS GAUDA NATIONAL SAILING AWARDS GALA
Saturday, September 3, 2022 8:00 p.m.
Monte Real Yacht Club (Baiona)

 

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The women’s sailing project “We want to make history” is distinguished with one of the National Sailing Awards this year

 

· The initiative promoted by the sailor from Alicante Núria Sánchez and materialized in the Dorsia Covirán Sailing Team will receive the Terras Gauda National Sailing Award for the best female project

· The jury that awards the awards wanted to recognize the work of dissemination and promotion that the team is giving to the figure of women in the world of sailing through its many and different actions

The Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards ceremony will be held on September 3 at the Monte Real Yacht Club in Baiona as part of the program for the 37th Prince of Asturias Trophy

The Dorsia Covirán Sailing Team in regatta – Photo Nico Martínez

The women’s sailing project “We want to make history” has been honored this year with one of the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards.

The initiative promoted and led by the sailor from Alicante Núria Sánchez and embodied in the Dorsia Covirán Sailing Team , will receive the award at a gala to be held on September 3 at the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona.

The jury that grants the distinctions wanted to recognize with the award for the Best Female Project the work of dissemination and promotion that the team is giving, through its multiple and different actions, to the figure of women in the world of sailing; as well as the values of equality and sportsmanship.

Nuria Sánchez, the double Olympic medalist Natalia Via-Dufresne, the also Olympic Susana Romero, María Torcida, Mar Gil and Martina Ruigomez.

The Dorsia Covirán Sailing Team with King Felipe VI in the last edition of the Copa del Rey – Photo Laura G Guerra

In recent years they have become a clear benchmark for women’s sailing in Spain, the result of having accumulated some of the most prestigious trophies, such as the world runner-up, the Copa del Rey de Vela in the women’s category, the Spanish Championship women’s J80, the International Women’s Sailing Cup or the Women’s Sailing League, among others.

On their last visit to Baiona, where they will collect the National Sailing Award on September 3, the Dorsia Covirán girls won the Prince of Asturias Trophy, a title they will try to revalidate in this new edition.

The last time they were in Baiona they won the Prince of Asturias Trophy – Photo Lalo R Villar

 

TERRAS GAUDA NATIONAL SAILING AWARDS GALA
Saturday, September 3, 2022 8:00 p.m.
Monte Real Yacht Club (Baiona)

In the next few days the names of the rest of the winners will be revealed.

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Aceites Abril achieves its sixth Conde de Gondomar Trophy in Baiona

 

· With the victory in this forty-seventh edition of the regatta, the boat skippered by the brothers Luis and Jorge Pérez-Canal equals the record of victories of the José Luis Freire Pairo saga

· The teams from Monte Real Yacht Club Yess and Unus were the winners of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy in the Open A and B divisions

· The Deep Blue 2.1 and the Marcolfo, both competing under the banner of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, were the winners of the Erizana Trophy in ORC 0-1 and 3-5

· In J80 and Fígaros the victory went to Alboroto and Bouvento

· The 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy was organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club with the sponsorship of Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell

Historical victory for Aceites Abril de Luis and Jorge Pérez-Canal in the forty-seventh edition of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix. With the dispute over the last two batons of the competition, the boat led by the brothers from Ourense achieved its sixth title, equaling the record of victories held so far alone by José Luis Freire’s Pairo saga.

The fourth and last day of the event organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club once again summoned the more than forty boats to complete two windward-leeward format tests on the regatta course located in front of the Cíes Islands. With all the options open in practically all the participating categories, the fleet faced the end of the Conde with force and the Regatta Committee was able to comply with the planned program starting the competition after twelve noon.

Among the ORC teams who were playing for the Conde de Gondomar Trophy -for which both the last two batons and the Carrumeiro Chico challenge on Friday and the return to Ons on Sunday scored points-, the last two victories at stake were awarded to the Ifaclinic del Yate Clube do Porto, who with Joao Nuno Veloso had no rival on this last day in the waters of the Vigo estuary. The definitive victory and the long-awaited title of the Count of Gondomar was, however, for the Aceites Abril of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, who only had two second places to claim a comfortable victory with five and a half points over the second classified.

Already on the pontoons, Luis, the youngest of the Pérez-Canal brothers, highlighted the role of the crew as one of the keys to the milestone achieved with this sixth title in Baiona. “He is already the sixth Count of Gondomar and it is a luxury to have won it with this magnificent crew. We have been together for a lifetime and without a doubt the victory is thanks to them because they are the ones who have given us the victory. It is the best crew you can have and I congratulate them because they are fantastic“, he claimed.

Luis and Jorge Pérez-Canal, Eduardo Reguera, Pablo Iglesias, Carlos Sanmartín, Luis Sampedro, Pablo Espinosa, César Torné, Rafael Martínez-Almeida, Iago Carrera, Sebastián Martínez-Risco, Luis da Rocha and Juan de Cominges are the thirteen crew members who , aboard the Aceites Abril, have managed to match the number of titles in the saga of the Pairo owned by shipowner José Luis Freire.

From behind, second place went to Magical, also with a banner from Real Club Náutico de Vigo. A third and a fourth were the results of Julio Rodríguez’s team on this last day, finishing with a distance of two points over Alberto Moro’s Solventis (Monte Real Club de Yates), who closed the podium in third place.

In the Open A division, the conditions of the regatta field, which presented itself with a northwesterly wind of between eight and ten knots of intensity, favored the winner of the Carrumeiro stage, Yess de Rui Ramada (Monte Real Club de Yates), who scored his two last partial victories of the regatta to become the winner with a whopping ten points over his immediate rival, the Portuguese Racer de Januário Cruz, who took second place ahead of the also Portuguese team Five, skippered by Joao Tourigo.

In Open B , meanwhile, the local team commanded by Luis García, Unus, also closed a perfect Conde de Gondomar with plenty of victories in his locker. Behind Garcia’s, José Antonio Portas’s Narval finished seven and a half points representing the Club Náutico de Villagarcía and third was Jorge Carnero’s Ronáutica Marinas (Club Náutico San Telmo).

With respect to Hedgehog Trophy, in which the ORC, J80 and Fígaro fleets that disputed the coastal one on Saturday scored points, the clearest victory was that of Vigo’s Deep Blue 2.1 of Vicente Cid (Real Club Náutico de Vigo) in ORC 0-2, which the Count of Gondomar closed with four first positions in the four races completed. Those of Cid were followed by La Burla Negra by Juan José Martínez of the Club Náutico Castrelo de Miño in second place and Nahela by Víctor Álvarez, who were third representing the Club Náutico Alagua.

In ORC 3-4 , a great result also for Marcolfo of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo. The team led by Antonio Gómez managed to win the victory ahead of José Luis Ríos’ Bonaventure, also from the club from Vigo, and Alejandro Castro’s Esquío, from the Liceo Marítimo de Bouzas, second and third respectively.

In J80 , a ninth for Alboroto in the first baton tightened the classification to the maximum and it was not until the last test when Juan Carlos Ameneiro’s men were able to certify the definitive victory of the regatta after leading from the first day of competition. They were followed on the podium by Santiago Estévez’s Spaco in second place -winners of the first round of the day- and Chisco Catalán’s Hull Maxx in third place overall.

In Fígaro , for its part, the last day saw Diego Pérez and David Fontán’s Bouvento recover the lead and become category winners ahead of Gemma González’s Erizana and Elena Raga’s Tutatis, who finished in second and third position. The Erizana also won the prize for the best female crew in the Figaro class.

With the day now over, the gardens of Monte Real hosted at 6:30 p.m. the awards ceremony for the winners of the edition, thus putting the finishing touch to one of the most emblematic regattas of the Baiona club and which once again featured the sponsorship of Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell.

The event was attended by the president of the club, José Luis Álvarez; the delegate of the Xunta in Vigo, Marta Fernández-Tapias; the mayor of Baiona, Carlos Gómez; the deputy for cooperation, Santos Héctor; Adrián Salgado, Marketing Director of Zelnova Zeltia; Rafael Mato, regional director of Banco Sabadell; and Joaquín Martínez, commercial director of Volvo Autesa.

Now, Monte Real is preparing for the 37th Prince of Asturias Trophy, which will be held between September 2 and 4 and will include, as every year, the award ceremony for the prestigious Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards on the night of Saturday day three.

 

 

47th COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
GRAND PRIX ZELNOVA ZELTIA / BANK SABADELL

 

CARRUMEIRO SMALL TROPHY
It included 1 test: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico

REAL TIME STAGE WINNER
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB
3. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo

OPEN A CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Txole · Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui · MRCYB
3. Racer Januario Cruz SCA

OPEN B CLASS
1. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB
2. Narwhal · José Antonio Portas · Vilagarcía CN
3. Ronautica Marinas Jorge Carnero NPP San Telmo

 

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY – ERIZANA
It included 4 tests: Coastal regatta + Return to Ons + 2 poles

ORC CLASS 0-1-2
1. Deep Blue 2.1 · Vicente Cid · RCN Vigo
2. The Black Burla · Juan José Martínez · CN Castrelo de Miño
3. Nahela · Victor Álvarez · CD Alagua

ORC CLASS 3-4-5
1. Marcolfo · Antonio Gómez · RCN Vigo
2. Esquio · Alejandro Castro · LM Bouzas
3. Bonaventure · José Luis Ríos · RCN Vigo

J80 CLASS
1. Fuss · Juan Carlos Ameneiro · MRCYB
2. Spaco Santiago Estévez MRCYB
3. Hull Max Chisco Catalán MRCYB

FIGARO CLASS
1. Bouvento · Diego Pérez · MRCYB
2. Erizana · Gemma González · MRCYB
3. Tutatis · Elena Raga · MRCYB

BEST FEMALE CREW
Erizana · Gemma González · MRCYB

 

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
It included 4 tests: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico + Return to Ons + 2 poles

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo
3. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB

OPEN A CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Racer Januário Cruz SCA
3. Five Joao Tourigo CWDS

OPEN B CLASS
1. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB
2. Narwhal · José Antonio Portas · Villagarcía CN
3. Marine Radionautics Jorge Carnero CN San Telmo

 

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The return to Ons leaves the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy ready for sentencing

 

The penultimate day of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia Banco Sabadell Grand Prix summoned the entire fleet this Sunday to complete a round trip to Ons that caused changes in the general

April Oils, Yess, Deep Blue 2.1, Alboroto, and Erizana are the five boats that will defend the provisional leadership in the last day of regatta scheduled for this Monday from noon at the Cíes Islands anchorage

· The Magical by Julio Rodríguez of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo was the fastest to cover the 32-mile route, spending five hours and three minutes to complete it

Excitement on the penultimate day of the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy- Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell Grand Prix, in which the entire participating fleet completed the classic Tour of Ons. 32 miles in total than the fastest of the fleet, the Magical of Julio Rodríguez (Real Club Náutico de Vigo), completed in five hours and three minutes.

For the teams that are playing for the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, this Sunday’s test was the second of the four scored, along with the climb to Carrumeiro Chico and the two poles scheduled for Monday. Julio Rodríguez’s men were the first in real time and also in compensated mode, and managed to score the stage victory.

The fleet of the Count of Gondomar leaving Baiona heading for Ons – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Thus, the team led by Julio Rodríguez rose one position and placed second overall in ORC, just two and a half points behind the defending champion, Aceites Abril, who will try to add their sixth victory to the Conde de Gondomar tomorrow. Behind, the third position of the provisional podium is now occupied by Alberto Moro’s Solventis, with a pendant from the Monte Real Yacht Club.

“The truth is that we are very happy with today’s regatta”, commented Andrés Gómez, Magical’s helmsman. “We started with a bit of a mess, but little by little we managed to accelerate until we overtook Aceites Abril and from then on we started stretching. There are still two races left tomorrow and it’s going to be complicated, the April is a tough rival but we’re going to try to do our best to win” .

Julio Rodríguez’s Magical with Andrés Gómez at the wheel ahead of Aceites Abril – Photo © Rosana Calvo

On a day that started promptly at eleven in the morning, with a cloudy sky and a light wind from the southwest, the Open division was decided in favor of Yess de Rui Ramada (Monte Real Club de Yates), which continues to lead of the general classification with an advantage of five and a half points over the second classified, Unus de Luis García, also from Baiona, and nine over the Narval of the Club Náutico de Vilagarcía, skippered by José Antonio Portas, who were also second and third respectively in the return to Ons.

Vicente Cid’s Deep Blue has many ballots to win the laurels – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The return to Ons also scored for the Erizana Trophy, in which ORC, J80 and Fígaros compete. In ORC the Deep Blue 2.1 of Vicente Cid (Real Club Náutico de Vigo) did not disappoint. He returned to add a first place and was closer to the definitive victory. Following behind this Sunday were the two boats that also occupy second and third place overall: La Burla Negra by Juan José Martínez (Club Náutico de Castrelo de Miño) and Nahela by Club Náutico Alagua with Víctor Martínez at the helm.

Juan Carlos Ameneiro’s Rampage continues to lead the J80 fleet – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In J80 there were no surprises and the victory was repeated by Juan Carlos Ameneiro’s Fuss, who is showing off in this edition of the Conde. Second and third place in the stage were shared between Santiago Estévez’s Spaco and Rosario García’s Ferralemes, respectively. With these results, Ameneiro’s men consolidate their leadership in the general standings ahead of Spaco, who storm the podium in second place, and Chisco Catalán’s Hull Max, who sneaks into third place, unseating Cansino.

The Bouvento lost the leadership of the Figaro class at the hands of the Erizana – Photo © Rosana Calvo

It was more difficult for the Figaros to complete the course, because around six in the afternoon the wind dropped completely and the fleet was forced to make every effort to cross the finish line. The first to do so was Gemma González’s Erizana, who managed to take the lead ahead of Diego González’s Bouvento, who is now second, and Ángela Rodríguez’s Serralleiras, who slipped into provisional third place after the third scored this Sunday .

For this Monday, the last day of the regatta, the Committee expects to complete two batons in front of the Cíes Islands, which will decide the winners of the two trophies that are still at stake: the Conde de Gondomar Trophy and the Erizana Trophy. The departure is scheduled for twelve noon, although everything will depend on the wind conditions.

Start of the third day of the Count of Gondomar 2022 – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Once the regatta is over, the Monte Real will host the trophy ceremony for this forty-seventh edition of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia Banco Sabadell Grand Prix at half past six in the afternoon. The event will be attended by the president of the club, José Luis Álvarez; the delegate of the Xunta in Vigo, Marta Fernández-Tapias; the mayor of Baiona, Carlos Gómez; and the deputy for cooperation, Santos Héctor, as well as representatives of Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell, sponsors of the event. The Xunta de Galicia, the Baiona city council, the Volvo Autesa de Vigo dealer, the Martin Miller premium gin, the Terras Gauda winery and the Musto nautical clothing brand also collaborate in the competition.

Today they left Baiona and tomorrow, Monday, the fleet will compete at the Cíes anchorage – Photo © Jacobo Bastos

47th COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
GRAND PRIX ZELNOVA ZELTIA / BANK SABADELL

 

CARRUMEIRO CHICO TROPHY (Completed)
1 test: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico

TROPHY WINNER (ORC + OPEN)
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

FASTEST SHIP TO COMPLETE THE TRIAL
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB
3. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo

OPEN CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Txole · Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui · MRCYB
3. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB

 

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY – ERIZANA (Pendant of 2 canes)
Includes 4 tests: Coastal Regatta + Tour of Ons + 2 poles

ORC-CLASS
1. Deep Blue 2.1 · Vicente Cid · RCN Vigo
2. The Black Burla · Juan José Martínez · CN Castrelo de Miño
3. Nahela · Víctor Álvarez · CN Alagua

J80 CLASS
1. Fuss · Juan Carlos Ameneiro · MRCYB
2. Spaco Santiago Estévez MRCYB
3. Hull Max Chisco Catalán MRCYB

FIGARO CLASS
1. Erizana · Gemma González · MRCYB
2. Bouvento · Diego Pérez · MRCYB
3. Serralleiras Angela Aroa Rodríguez MRCYB

 

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY (Pendant of 2 canes)
Includes 4 tests: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico + Return to Ons + 2 poles

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo
3. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB

OPEN CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB
3. Narwhal · José Antonio Portas · Villagarcía CN

 

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Yess, Deep Blue, Alboroto and Bouvento, leaders of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy

 

· The Yess of the Portuguese Rui Ramada (MRCYB) was the fastest on the Corcubión rock climb and won the Carrumeiro Chico Trophy, one of the three up for grabs in this year’s edition of the Conde de gondomar

· The Deep Blue 2.1 of Vicente Cid (RCN Vigo) leads the Erizana Trophy, which opened this Saturday with a coastal regatta from Baiona to Subrido returning to the Cíes Islands

Manuel Blanco’s Salseiro (RCN A Coruña) was the fastest to complete the test and Juan Carlos Ameneiro’s Alboroto (MRCYB) and Diego Pérez and David Fontán’s Bouvento were the best in the J80 and Fígaro classes

· The competition organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates with the sponsorship of Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell crossed its equator and is now heading into its last two days of regattas in which three new races will be held

The boats of the Monte Real Club de Yates and the Real Club Náutico de Vigo are being protagonists of the 47th edition of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, which is being held these days in the Galician estuaries under the organization of the Baion club and with the sponsorship of Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell.

After the celebration of the first two days of tests, three sailboats from Baiona and one from Vigo were placed at the head of the classification of the different classes of the competition, in which three trophies are at stake: the Trofeo Carrumeiro Chico, the Trofeo Hedgehog and the Count of Gondomar Trophy.

The Trofeo Carrumeiro Chico , which ended this Saturday after more than 20 hours of round trip navigation between Baiona and the mythical rock of Corcubión, closed with the final victory of the Yess of the Portuguese Rui Ramada. The Monte Real boat was the fastest to complete the test and the wide advantage it had over the rest of the boats allowed it to also win the overall victory once the times had been compensated.

Rui Ramada’s Yess was in first position at all times – Photo © Jacobo Bastos

The Yess won everything that could be won in the Open class, in which it competed, and the novelty introduced this year in the Conde de Gondomar. From the organization they decided to include this category to encourage the Galician fleet to participate in the great offshore regatta of Galicia, and this favored the return to competition of smaller boats such as the Unus, owned by Luis García Trigo, which had been unable for years take part.

The Unus heading to Carrumeiro Chico – Photo © Rosana Calvo

They broke the spinnaker and had a hard time finishing the test due to the lack of wind in the arrival area, but they put in a brilliant performance that allowed them to rise to third place in the Open standings, behind Txole, which came second. One of its crew members, Carlos Quintás, expressed his satisfaction at having been able to return to “one of the toughest tests but also one of the most beautiful of those held in Galicia” , he assured.

In the ORC class of the Carrumeiro, the podium boxes went to the three boats that gave the regatta the most excitement, sailing very close and without giving each other a break: the Aceites Abril of the Pérez Canal brothers, the Solventis of Alberto Moro , and Julio Rodríguez’s Magical.

The second of the trophies at stake, the Erizana Trophy , came to the fore this Saturday with a coastal regatta in which the boats that did not go up to the Carrumeiro on Friday participated. They left at eleven o’clock from the bay of Baiona and sailed to Subrido passing through Carallones, la Negra and Bondaña, to finish off the Cíes. It was an easy and fast regatta, which Manuel Blanco’s Salseiro (RCN A Coruña) completed in just over three hours.

Manuel Blanco’s Salseiro from RCN Coruña was the fastest to complete the test – Photo © Rosana Calvo

After compensating for the times, the stage victory in the ORC class went to Deep Blue 2.1 of Vicente Cid (RCN Vigo), who beat La Burla Negra of Juan José Martínez (CN Castrelo de Miño) and Nahela of Víctor Álvarez ( CD Alagua), second and third respectively.

Vicente Cid’s Deep Blue was the winner in ORC – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In the J80 class, the best team was Alboroto, led by Juan Carlos Ameneiro, who was accompanied by his usual crew members: the former Spanish class champion, Javier Aguado; Juan Lake and Javier Lake.

Once on land, Ameneiro made a good balance of a regatta in which they participate with the aim of winning “and also to prepare for the Prince of Asturias Trophy and the Spanish Championship that will be held in September in Baiona and, above all, for the great event that will be the class world championship, which will also be held in Baiona in 2023”.

The Rampage of Juan Carlos Ameneiro passing Carallones first – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In the second position of the J80 was another boat from the MRCYB, the Cansino de Alejandra Suárez; and the third place went to the RCN of Portosín, by the Due of Rafael Blanco.

In the Figaros competition, which, like the J80s, competed in real time, the provisional podium was made up of Diego Pérez and David Fontán’s Bouvento, in first position; Gemma González’s Erizana, second; and Elena Raga’s Tutatis in third place.

Diego Pérez and David Fontán’s Bouvento won the Figaro class – Photo © Rosana Calvo

With the celebration, on Friday, of the Carrumeiro challenge and the dispute, this Saturday, of the coastal one for the rest of the boats that had not yet debuted in the competition, the entire fleet has already inaugurated markers and the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Grand Prix Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell crosses its equator.

There are only two days and three tests ahead of us: the return to Ons, this Sunday from eleven o’clock; and two canes on Monday from noon. The weather forecast is good for both days and everything indicates that the planned program can be completed without problems.

The 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy is sponsored by Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell; and has the special collaboration of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. The Xunta de Galicia, the Baiona city council, the Volvo Autesa de Vigo dealer, the Martin Miller premium gin, the Terras Gauda winery and the Musto nautical clothing brand also collaborate in the competition.

 

47th COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
GRAND PRIX ZELNOVA ZELTIA / BANK SABADELL

CARRUMEIRO CHICO TROPHY (Completed)
Includes 1 test: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico

TROPHY WINNER (ORC + OPEN)
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

FASTEST SHIP TO COMPLETE THE TRIAL
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB
3. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo

ORC OPEN CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Txole · Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui · MRCYB
3. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY – ERIZANA (Pending celebration of 3 tests)
Includes 4 tests: Coastal Regatta + Tour of Ons + 2 poles

ORC-CLASS
1. Deep Blue 2.1 · Vicente Cid · RCN Vigo
2. The Black Burla · Juan José Martínez · CN Castrelo de Miño
3. Nahela · Víctor Álvarez · CN Alagua

J80 CLASS
1. Fuss · Juan Carlos Ameneiro · MRCYB
2. Tired · Alejandra Suárez · MRCYB
3. Due · Rafael Blanco · RCN Portosín

FIGARO CLASS
1. Bouvento · Diego Pérez · MRCYB
2. Erizana · Gemma González · MRCYB
3. Tutatis Elena Raga MRCYB

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY (Pending 3 tests)
Includes 4 tests: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico + Return to Ons + 2 poles

PROVISIONAL LEADER (ORC + OPEN)
Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB

ORC-CLASS
1. April oils Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal RCN Vigo
2. Solventis · Alberto Moro · MRCYB
3. Magical · Julio Rodríguez · RCN Vigo

OPEN CLASS
1. Yess Rui Ramada MRCYB
2. Txole · Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui · MRCYB
3. Unus · Luis García Trigo · MRCYB

 

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The Yess, first in the Carrumeiro

 

Rui Ramada’s Yess met all expectations and was the first sailboat to reach and tack the Carrumeiro Chico in the inaugural test of the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix

· The sailboat of the Monte Real Club de Yates is fighting against itself at this time to reach Baiona as soon as possible and try to break the record of the event that has remained unbeaten since 2011

Solventis by Alberto Moro, Aceites Abril by the Pérez Canal brothers and Magical by Julio Rodríguez maintained an exciting heads-up throughout the event

· The competition continues this Saturday with the second day of tests in which the rest of the fleet will compete in a coastal regatta along the Vigo estuary

Rui Ramada’s Yess fulfilled all the forecasts and expectations placed on it and was the first sailboat to reach and turn the Carrumeiro Chico in the inaugural test of the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia Banco Sabadell Grand Prix, which came on stage this Friday in Galicia.

The 63-foot Hanse (just over 19 meters), armed and skippered by the experienced Portuguese navigator, and manned by Pedro Pinto, Nuno Campos, Pedro Azevedo and Óscar Peixoto), rounded the mythical rock of Corcubión at 18:15: 07, seven and a quarter hours after leaving Baiona.

The Portuguese Rui Ramada aboard the Yess was in the lead at all times – Photo © Jacobo Bastos

They chose a coastal navigation, stuck to land. They took advantage of the thermals of the estuaries and the result was satisfactory, managing to maintain an almost constant speed of between 8.5 and 9 knots. “Approaching land was, without a doubt, the best decision” , declared Rui Ramada after completing the ascent to the mythical rock. “At times we tried to move away and go a bit further out, but the wind was not so good and we decided to return to the track closer to the coast, which worked very well for us” .

Rui Ramada’s Yess is a spectacular 63-foot Hanse – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In the second half of the test, which the Yess will take a few hours to complete, the direction of the wind is being key for the boat. With the wind blowing from the north and wearing an asymmetrical spinnaker, the boat will not reach the full speed that a northeast or northwest wind could offer them, and this could disadvantage them with respect to other crews.

In spite of everything, the separation of the Yess from the rest of the fleet is very great and right now it is only fighting against itself, to try to reach Baiona before 22:56, which would allow it to beat the stage record. del Carrumeiro, which Cenor & de Dietrich has held since 2011.

The Solventis was the second to tack the Carrumeiro Chico – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The second crew to reach the Corcubión rock was that of the Solventis, led by Alberto Moro, also from the Monte Real Club de Yates. He did it at 19:39:51, almost an hour and a half after the Yess. Throughout the tour, from the very beginning of the test, he maintained a tough hand in hand with the April Oils, of the brothers Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal; and Julio Rodríguez’s Magical; and finally managed to overtake them with a certain margin before reaching the key point of Carrumeiro.

April Oils, Solventis and Magical maintained an intense duel throughout the test – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The three are, without a doubt, clear contenders for the final victory in this edition of the Count of Gondomar; and all of them, like the Yess, chose to sail within the Cíes archipelago. Only two boats chose the outer layout; the Portuguese Five, by Joao Tourigo; and the Txole, by Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui, who defended the choice by assuring that “the wind was well established on the outside and there was good pressure, the winds on the inside being more doubtful” .

Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui’s Txole was one of the two boats that chose to go outside Cíes – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Of the 13 boats registered to participate in what is considered the queen of the trophy, only 11 finally came out to compete. The fastest boats are expected to complete the course around midnight and the race could be finished by early morning, or even Saturday morning.

It will be then when the names of the winners will be known, both in real time and in compensated time, in the different classes in contention, although for many of the participants, the real prize is to be able to complete the deep-sea regatta par excellence in Galicia and one of the the most attractive long-distance events on the Spanish nautical scene.

Trying to get to the free-marking buoy first – Photo © Rosana Calvo

After the Carrumeiro Chico stage, the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix still has four races ahead of it. This Saturday there will be a coastal race along the Vigo estuary, on Sunday the classic Vuelta a Ons; and on Monday, the last day of competition, two poles at the Cíes anchorage.

Start of the Carrumeiro stage on the first day of the Conde de Gondomar 2022 – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy is sponsored by Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell; and has the special collaboration of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. The Xunta de Galicia, the Baiona city council, the Volvo Autesa de Vigo dealer, the Martin Miller premium gin, the Terras Gauda winery and the Musto nautical clothing brand also collaborate in the competition.

 

47th COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
GRAND PRIX ZELNOVA ZELTIA / BANK SABADELL

BOATS THAT AT THIS TIME (20:05) HAVE TURNED THE CARRUMEIRO CHICO

YESS RUI RAMADA MRCYB – 18:15:07
SOLVENTIS ALBERTO MORO MRCYB – 19:39:51
APRIL OILS LUIS AND JORGE PÉREZ CANAL RCN VIGO – 19:45:11
MAGICAL JULIO RODRÍGUEZ RCN VIGO – 19:59:32

 

> ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RACE

> CHRONICLES OF THE DAYS

> PHOTO AND VIDEO GALLERY

> FOLLOW THE LONG TESTS LIVE

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FOLLOW THE 2022 CONDE DE GONDOMAR TROPHY LIVE

 

All those who want to follow live the evolution of the two long tests of the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix, can do so from here.

During the development of the regattas you will be able to know the exact location of each of the participating boats as well as their speed and direction.

In addition, once the tests are finished, you will be able to review their development minute by minute.

 

CARRUMEIRO CHALLENGE Friday 22 from 11:00

 

RETURN TO ONS Sunday 24 from 11:00

 

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The Conde de Gondomar Trophy raises the curtain on its 47th edition

 

· The historic regatta of the Monte Real Club de Yates returns to the scene from this Friday until next Monday with more than 40 registered boats, four days of competition, five tests and three trophies at stake

The mythical Carrumeiro Chico climb, almost 100 miles round trip between Baiona and Corcubión, will once again be the queen of the trophy and the one in charge of opening the regatta program

· Two coastal regattas along the Rías Baixas and two batons around the Cíes Islands will complete the sports program of a Count of Gondomar who is once again the Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix

· Sanxenxo, Vilagarcía, Portosín, Castrelo de Miño, Tui, A Guarda, Portosín, Porto or Povoa de Varzim are some of the origins of the participating crews, Baiona and Vigo being the ones that will have the greatest representation

Official presentation of the 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Photos © Antía Martínez

More than 40 registered boats, 4 days of competition, 5 tests and 3 trophies at stake. This is how the forty-seventh edition of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy – Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix is presented, the historic regatta of the Monte Real Club de Yates that raises the curtain this Friday in Galicia.

It will do so, as has become a tradition, with the mythical ascent to Carrumeiro Chico , almost 100 miles away . This route to the rock of Corcubión is one of the longest of the regatta season in Galicia, the great challenge of the trophy and the one in charge of opening the regatta program. And this year comes with news, as there will be two different classes: ORC and Open.

In the last edition, the fastest boat to complete the test was Julio Rodríguez’s Magical. He crossed the finish line after almost 13 hours (12 hours and 55 minutes) of navigation, and 21 minutes before Aceites Abril, who came second (21 minutes later) and ended up taking the stage victory thanks to time compensation .

Both crews, companions of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, are two of the 13 that have already confirmed their participation in this year’s Carrumeiro challenge , which will take place from eleven in the morning. We will also see in the water the largest ship in the entire fleet of the Count, the Yess de Rui Ramada (63 feet/19 meters), the Txole de Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui (MRCYB), the Narval de José Antonio Portas (CN Vilagarcía), the Marine Ronautics by Joaquín Carneiro (CN San Telmo) or the Portuguese Five by Joao Tourigo and Maximus by Jorge Leite, among others.

The boat that wins this stage will win the Carrumeiro Chico Trophy, one of three that includes this year’s Zelnova Zeltia / Banco Sabadell Grand Prix . The other two trophies in contention are the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, which includes the Carrumeiro test, the return to Ons and two walking sticks; and the Conde de Gondomar – Erizana Trophy, in which they will score a coastal regatta, the return to Ons and two poles.

There will thus be five tests in four days of competition for the four categories in contention: ORC, Open, J80 and Fígaros. The first day, reserved for sailing to Carrumeiro Chico, will be followed by a coastal regatta on Saturday the 23rd starting at noon; the return to Ons on Sunday 24 from eleven in the morning; and two canes (windward/leeward) on Monday 25 from twelve noon. That last day, a holiday in Galicia, the prizes will be awarded to the winners of the competition in a ceremony scheduled for half past six in the afternoon in the gardens of the Monte Real Yacht Club.

Sanxenxo, Vilagarcía, Portosín, Castrelo de Miño, Tui, A Guarda or Portosín, from Galicia; and Porto or Povoa de Varzim, from Portugal; are some of the origins of the participating crews , Baiona and Vigo being the ones that will have a greater representation of sailboats in the competition.

The boats of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo will try to repeat the success achieved in the previous edition , in which they were winners in practically all categories. They took the podium of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy (April Oils, Marnatura and Magical), won in real time and compensated the climb to Carrumeiro (Magical and April Oils) and won the Erizana Trophy (Deep Blue).

In a special way, many of the sights will be set on the performance of the April Oils of the brothers Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal, who aspires to achieve his sixth victory in the Conde de Gondomar. His triumph in 2021 allowed him to overcome the four victories of the historic Ardora (Paz Andrade), Castrosúa (Willy Alonso) and Alaxe (Julio Martínez Gil); but the Ourensanos still have to win one more edition to tie (and two more editions to overcome) the different Pairos led by José Luis Freire, who have accumulated 6 wins.

The 47th Conde de Gondomar Trophy is sponsored by Zelnova Zeltia and Banco Sabadell; and has the special collaboration of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. The Xunta de Galicia, the Baiona city council, the Volvo Autesa de Vigo dealer, the Martin Miller premium gin, the Terras Gauda winery and the Musto nautical clothing brand also collaborate in the competition.

In the official presentation of the competition held this Thursday at the Monte Real Yacht Club, in addition to the president of the club, José Luis Álvarez; the CEO of Zelnova Zeltia, Juan Carlos Ameneiro; the institutional director of SabadellGallego, Adolfo García Ciaño; the mayor of Baiona, Carlos Gómez; the Deputy for Sports of the Pontevedra Provincial Council, Gorka Gómez; the territorial delegate of the Xunta de Galicia in Vigo, Marta Fernández-Tapias; and the Commodore of the MRCYB, Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui.

47 uninterrupted years of success THE DECLARATIONS

“We have been celebrating this great regatta successfully and without interruption for 47 years and for Monte Real it is a great pride to be able to continue summoning and gathering in the Rías Baixas the great fleet of boats and crews that year after year are encouraged to participate in the It is the high-altitude regatta par excellence in Galicia” – José Luis Álvarez, president of the MRCYB

“This will be the second consecutive year in which we have collaborated in a regatta that supports maritime culture, promotes nautical tourism and promotes the sport of sailing. At Zelnova Zeltia we are proud to once again be part of this family, the Real Club de Yates family, with which we share values of effort, teamwork, tradition and competitiveness and without which it would be impossible to carry out this regatta” – Juan Carlos Ameneiro, CEO of Zelnova Zeltia

“The 29 boats that set sail in 1976 for the Cabo Silleiro area in the first edition of the Conde de Gondomar had less technology than the current ones, but the collaboration between the men who make up the crews remains the same; and values such as solidarity and sportsmanship as well. And that is what unites us with this regatta. At Banco Sabadell we are a company and we want to support companies in Galicia. Decisions are made here, by professionals from here, and that is why we are present in the social life of this land” – Adolfo García Ciaño, Institutional Director of SabadellGallego

“If this regatta is special, it is not only because of the quality of the crews that participate in it, nor because of the 47 years that it has been held. It is also due to the human quality of all the people who are involved in its organization and for the support of two large companies that, before and now, and in difficult times, have wanted and have known how to support sport, as we have done since Provincial Council of Pontevedra. Thanks to them and thanks to Monte Real this great event can continue celebrating years” – Gorka Gómez – Deputy for Sports of the Pontevedra Provincial Council

“The Count of Gondomar is one of the most important competitions on the national scene and the most important offshore regatta in Galicia. There are plenty of reasons for this appointment, which crosses borders, to be one of the most anticipated on the Galician calendar. It is one of the emblems of our sports culture and a great challenge for the crews. From a technical point of view, the mythical ascent to Carrumeiro Chico is an exciting navigation; and at a competitive level, we will all be waiting to see if the test record is broken” – Marta Fernández-Tapias – Delegate of the Xunta de Galicia in Vigo

“This club is history and Baiona is history, especially history related to the sea. And what we are presenting today is precisely a new edition of a historic regatta, the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, organized by the best sailing club in the world. A regatta that once again promotes sport and tourism and that continues to value our town. On behalf of the entire council, I want to welcome each and every one of the participants, wish them the best of luck and a very good wind during the weekend”– Carlos Gómez – Mayor of Baiona

“This year we have introduced some changes in the regatta with the aim of preserving the essence of the competition. What we want is to achieve a greater involvement of the crews and a greater participation of boats, and I think that with the modifications of this 2022 we will achieve it “ – Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui – Commodore of the MRCYB

 

47th COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY
GRAND PRIX ZELNOVA ZELTIA / BANK SABADELL
Monte Real Yacht Club (Baiona) July 22 – 25, 2022

Friday, July 22: Challenge of the Carrumeiro Chico
Saturday July 23: Coastal Regatta
Sunday July 24: Return to Ons
Monday, July 25: Windward/Leeward Poles

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY

4 tests: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico + Return to Ons + 2 poles
Classes : ORC + Open

CARRUMEIRO SMALL TROPHY

1 test: Ascent to Carrumeiro Chico
Classes: ORC + Open

COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY – ERIZANA

4 races: Coastal regatta + Tour of Ons + 2 poles
Classes: ORC + J80 + Figaros

 

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The Galicia Quality seal certifies the excellence of the Monte Real Yacht Club

 

· The General Director of Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia; and the managing director of Galicia Quality, Ana Méndez; were in charge of hoisting the flag of Galicia Quality on Mount Real this Wednesday

· The seal of guarantee promoted by the Xunta de Galicia certifies the quality and excellence of the services that Monte Real provides to the thousands of visitors from all over the world that it receives each year at its facilities.

· The historic club from Baiona currently has 4 other environmental and tourist quality distinctions: the blue flag, the Q for Quality, the Tourist Quality Commitment Seal (SICTED) and the Quality Coast

The seal of guarantee promoted by the Xunta de Galicia certifies the quality and excellence of the services provided by Monte Real – Photo © Rosana Calvo

At the Monte Real Club de Yates, the Galicia Quality flag has been waving since midday, a symbol of the excellence of the services that the club from Baiona provides to the thousands of visitors from all over the world that it receives each year at its facilities.

The General Director of Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia; and the managing director of Galicia Quality, Ana Méndez; They were in charge of hoisting, on one of the club’s masts, the banner with the guarantee seal promoted by the regional administration.

They were accompanied at the event by the president of the Galician Tourism Cluster, Cesáreo Pardal; and the president of Monte Real, José Luis Álvarez, who thanked the visit and the award of the distinction, with which the Xunta de Galicia seeks to promote quality tourism and promote itself, in the case of marinas, as a nautical destination of reference.

The flag of Galicia Calidade was hoisted at midday on Monte Real – Photo © Rosana Calvo

“The commitment to quality by Monte Real -said the president of the club- It has been firm for years, and this is demonstrated not only by this seal, but also by the many improvements that we have been introducing over time both in our facilities and in the services we provide. We are ambassadors of the Galicia brand and we are very proud of it”.

For his part, the General Director of Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia, highlighted that facilities such as those of the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona “are a benchmark for leisure and sports tourism and make Galicia an important nautical destination” .

The General Director of Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia; the managing director of Galicia Quality, Ana Méndez; the president of the Galician Tourism Cluster, Cesáreo Pardal; and the president of Monte Real, José Luis Álvarez – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In addition to the Galicia Quality seal, the Monte Real Club de Yates currently has four other environmental and tourist quality distinctions: the blue flag, the Q for Quality, the Tourist Quality Commitment Seal (SICTED) and the Quality Coast .

 

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25 sailboats will make a pilgrimage from Baiona to Compostela with the II Rías Baixas Route

 

On Monday, July 4, 25 sailboats will undertake a pilgrimage by sea from Baiona to Santiago de Compostela with stops in Combarro, Rianxo, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Muros and Portosín

· It is the second edition of a journey that seeks to spread the maritime culture, promote nautical tourism, promote the sport of sailing and publicize the potential of Galician ports

· The route is organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates, the Real Club Náutico de Portosín and the Camino de Santiago Ría Muros – Noia association and is sponsored by CENOR

Authorities attending the presentation of the II Rías Baixas Route – Photo Antía Martínez

25 sailboats will undertake a pilgrimage by sea from Baiona next Monday, July 4, towards Santiago de Compostela with different stages that will pass through Combarro, Rianxo, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Muros and Portosín.

This is the second edition of the Rías Baixas Route, a recreational tourism-sports initiative that seeks to spread seafaring culture, promote nautical tourism, promote the sport of sailing and publicize the potential of Galician ports.

Organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates, the Real Club Náutico de Portosín and the Camino de Santiago Ría Muros-Noia association, thanks to the sponsorship of CENOR, the crossing will unite “tourism, nature, sports, gastronomy, religion and traditions… some of the best attractions that Galicia can boast of” , in the words of the president of the MRCYB, José Luis Álvarez.

Speech by the president of the MRCYB José Luis Álvarez – Photo Antía Martínez

In the first edition of the route, held last year, 24 boats participated, and this year there will be 25, reaching the limit established by the organization to be able to offer participants a quality experience, both in navigation and in different scales.

The crews will depart from Baiona, from the pontoons of Monte Real, on the morning of Monday, July 4, heading for Combarro, with a distance of 30 miles ahead. On Tuesday the 5th they will complete the 32 miles that separate Combarro from Rianxo; and on Wednesday the 6th they will have as their final destination A Pobra do Caramiñal. They will always sail accompanied by two support vessels and a mother ship, and Muros and Portosín will be the last two ports on the program, to make the last stopover and complete the pilgrimage by sea. From Portosín they will only have to set out on the road to Compostela, this time by land, in order to win the jubilee, something they will do on Saturday, July 9.

With the almost 120 miles traveled by sea, the participants will have the possibility, if they so wish, of obtaining the Compostela, for which a minimum of 90 nautical miles is required, stamping their pilgrim credential at each step.

The II Rías Baixas Route was officially presented this Thursday at the Monte Real Yacht Club, in a ceremony attended by, in addition to the president of the MRCYB, José Luis Álvarez; and the commodore of the RCN Portosín, Fernando González; the vice-president of the Camino de Santiago Ría Muros-Noia Association, José Santiago Freire; CENOR’s marketing director, Leticia Fernández; the mayor of Baiona, Carlos Gómez; the territorial head of Tourism of Galicia, Felipe Ferreiro; Deputy Raquel Giraldez; and the Commodore of the MRCYB, Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui.

II RÍAS BAIXAS ROUTE ROUTE

  • Monday July 4 – Sailing Baiona – Combarro (30 miles)
    Tuesday, July 5 – Navigation Combarro – Rianxo (32 miles)
    Wednesday, July 6 – Rianxo Navigation – A Pobra do Caramiñal (15 miles)
    Thursday, July 7 – Navigation A Pobra do Caramiñal – Muros (32 miles)
    Friday, July 8 – Navigation Muros – Portosín (10 miles)
    Saturday July 9 – By land to Santiago de Compostela
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Half a century of the historic Discovery Race

 

In 1972, the Monte Real Yacht Club organized the most important ocean regatta of those held until then in terms of the number of participants. 48 ships from 35 clubs from 11 countries with some 500 people on board left Bermuda on June 29 for Baiona with the aim of replicating the navigation that 479 years earlier, in 1493, had been carried out by La Pinta de Pinzón on its return to Spain. to announce a new continent, which would be called America. Known as the Discovery Regatta, Discovery Race or BB (Bermuda-Baiona), some of the most prominent American businessmen of the time participated in it, people such as the press magnate Beaver Brook; and a single Spaniard, Alfredo Lagos from Vigo, who with his presence helped to silence the comments of the press that branded the Spanish sailors as not very adventurous for not being part of the crossing. Today, 50 years after that competition, the archives of the organizers (MRCYB, New York Yacht Club, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and The Cruising Club of America) barely keep a few documents and photographs of its celebration but everyone remembers very well what was: one of the most important regattas in the history of navigation, with the highest number of participants to date.

It is a report by Rosana Calvo,
communication manager of the MRCYB

 

Pendants of the organizing clubs and route of the test (in red) and of the Pinta (blue)

 

“Battered the ship by the storms but not the hearts” . This is how the historical documents (and also the commemorative monolith erected in the fishing village of Baiona) describe the arrival, on March 1, 1493, of the Pinta caravel of Martín Alonso Pinzón to the Galician port with one of the most important news in history of mankind: the discovery of America.
479 years after that chapter, the Monte Real Club de Yates, one of the most outstanding clubs in Spain at that time, promoted the most important regatta of the time in his honor, a competition of more than 3,200 miles in which the participants would replicate the journey of the caravel across the Atlantic.

They called it, as it could not be otherwise, the Discovery Race, Discovery Race or BB (for Bermudas-Baiona), and in its organization they collaborated hand in hand with Monte Real, the New York Yacht Club, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and The Cruising Club of America.

It is difficult to attribute a paternity to the initial idea of the regatta. Many speak of Fernando Solano, who advanced in the sponsorship negotiations with Fraga and the organization with the clubs involved. Other names that appear in the records as main promoters are those of Richard B. Nye (chairman of the regatta committee), Hugh CE Masters (commodore and chairman of the committee of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club), and José María de Gamboa (chairman of the committee Spanish of the regatta).

They also promoted the celebration of the competition and the former mayor of Vigo, José Ramón Fontán, was part of the Spanish committee; one of the historical figures of sailing in Galicia, recently deceased, Fernando Massó; the patriarch of the Gándara, José de la Gándara; Jose Maria Padro; the Vigo industrialist Alfredo Lagos; the president of Monte Real until 1971, Alfredo Romero (who would be succeeded by Carlos Zulueta between 71 and 73); and the commodore of the Baionese club until 1971, Manuel Varela.

A regatta simmering for a decade

It was a regatta that was simmering for nothing more and nothing less than 10 years, since 1962, when people began to talk about its celebration; until 1972 when it was finally played. In between, the project was formally presented to the then Spanish Minister of Information and Tourism, Manuel Fraga Iribarne, who would end up approving its patronage; it was exposed to the American clubs that would finally be involved in the event together with the Monte Real (the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club); and in 1969 the first official meeting with the Spanish Sailing Federation was held.

In 1970, two years before its celebration, there was already a propaganda brochure for the regatta, for which, initially, the name “The Race of Discovery for La Pinta Trophy TransAtlantic” was proposed, which would eventually be simplified to ” The Discovery Race” . In it all the details of the competition were explained. It would be a test of about 3,000 miles of route that would be carried out with the only condition that a minimum of 15 boats register for it.

The most important and massive regatta of the time

Participation forecasts, not very high at the beginning, ended up exceeding all expectations and the Discovery Regatta finally had a total of 57 registered (of which 48 ended up starting), becoming the most important regatta held to date. date, with the highest number of participants of all time.

 

Manuscript with data from some of the test participants

 

Among the boats entered, the majority between 40 and 60 feet (between 12 and 18 meters), the smallest was the French Penélope III, owned by Alain Maupas Trinidad, with a length of 40 feet / 12 meters; and Patrick E. Haggerty’s Beayondan, at 81 feet long / 24.6 meters, the largest.

As a curiosity, it should be noted that there were sailboats, such as the 43-foot / 13-meter New World, by North American Phillip Davies, which was built specifically for the regatta; and that in the test, which was attended by important American businessmen, the second Baron Beaverbrook, son of the well-known British press magnate William Maxwell Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook), founder of newspapers such as the Daily Express or the Sunday Express, also participated.

 

Alfredo Lagos (left) with Jim Pugh at the 1972 Discovery Regatta (Courtesy of the Lagos family)

 

Alfredo Lagos, the only Spaniard on board

Among all those registered there was only one Spaniard: the renowned industrialist from Vigo and experienced sailor Alfredo Lagos, son of the founder and director for more than 50 years of Astilleros Lagos, one of the most prestigious companies worldwide for its work in the construction and restoration of classic wooden boats.

With his presence as a crew member aboard the Dora, Lagos helped to silence the comments of the press of the time, which branded the Spanish sailors as “not very adventurous” for not wanting to participate in the regatta (or for not daring, as they even came say some, for “risk and fear” ).

 

Illustration of the Discovery Regatta with sailboats and caravels

 

A regatta marked by the weather

The Discovery Regatta was set to start on June 28, 1972 from the historic Gulf of Las Flechas (named for the arrows launched by members of the Ciguayos tribe against the Spanish in what is considered the first incident against the European invasion in America), just as the Pinta had done on January 16, 1493, but for technical reasons they ended up setting sail a day later from the port of Hamilton.

 

Bermuda before departure (Photo courtesy of the Lagos family)

 

Ahead, the 500 participants aboard 48 boats from 35 clubs from 11 countries, had a journey of 3,200 nautical miles / 5,926 kilometers (according to the official route), although everyone expected it to be more (about 4,000 / 7,408 km) per the winds and currents that would influence their journey. And the truth is that the weather ended up affecting, and a lot, the test.

En route from New York to Bermuda for the start of the race, some boats were hit by a typhoon, forcing four of them to abandon the competition and delaying the start for a day so that the rest could make some repairs. Later, once the journey had begun, the poor state of the sea made navigation difficult. And a few days later, more problems. There were several days of calm that would cause a considerable delay in the completion of the test.

 

The Nieto Antúnez fishing nautical school produced a brochure on meteorological factors

 

The Discovery Regatta was the first international competition that forced the crews to give their situation every day, something that, in addition to generating security, facilitated the tasks of the regatta committee to control the fleet and the work of the press of the time to narrate the evolution of the test. But what initially worked smoothly soon went awry. The participants stopped complying with the requirement because they also provided information to their rivals and the test was carried out practically in its entirety, with few exceptions, without real and continuous monitoring of the sailboats.

It is known, from the data provided in the early days, that the sailboats took three different navigation routes. Some opted for the shortest and most direct route, others went north in search of more favorable winds and the rest sailed south. But when they really began to distance themselves from each other, the calm ones arrived and the crews were unable to establish important advantages, practically all remaining grouped in a platoon while the lack of wind lasted.

Four days into the test, the radiograms sent to New York announced Tom Clark’s Buccaneer (New Zealand) in the lead. On the island of Flores (Azores), the only record set on the regatta’s transatlantic route (850 miles / 1,574 km from the finish line), Charisma captained by Jessie Phillips (Dayton, Ohio) was first, followed by Carina of Richard S. Nye and the Jubilee III, of the United States Naval Academy, captained by Commander Howard Randall.

In mid-July, a Canadair CL-215 seaplane from the Search and Rescue Service arrived in Vigo to carry out its first exploration operation within a radius of action of some 200 miles / 370 km. Baiona, but the results were negative. On a second outing he managed to locate one of the participants, the Solution, 6 miles / 11 km from A Guarda, but the crew had lowered sails and headed for the port of Vigo, implying that they had withdrawn from the competition. Somewhat further away, a group of fishing boats sighted, off the Berlengas Islands (north of Lisbon), the bulk of the crews.

The Blackfin, first. The Carina, winner.

Although the Discovery Regatta boats were scheduled to arrive in Baiona on July 14, it was not until July 18, at 12:15 when the Blackfin (US-flagged, sail number 8910, 73 feet long / 22 , 25m and 16 adventurers on board), led by Kenneth W. DeMeuse, crossed the finish line, an imaginary line that left the Prince’s Tower (where some of the snipe boys and cruisers like the Fontán brothers stood guard , Quico Arbones, Humberto Cervera and others) at 180º magnetic. With the exception of the calm one that was found at the exit of Bermuda, the sailboat sailed practically the rest of the route without problems, taking advantage of a wind channel. He did it alone, investing a total of 453 hours, and upon arrival, the 15 crew members threw their captain overboard to celebrate the victory.

 

The Blackfin, designed by Bill Tripp for Ken DeMeuse of San Francisco

 

DeMeuse, exhausted and with his hair messed up from the dip, called his country to say that he had arrived, ordered a cubalibre with lots of ice and attended to the media. He commented that the regatta “was not as difficult as it was long”, he explained that it became complicated at times when crossing with very strong winds or with no wind, but that both the crew and the boat ( “which is good and fast” , he assured) they worked very well.

 

News published in La Voz De Galicia on July 19, 1972

 

Hours later, around eight in the afternoon, the second ship, the Jubilee III, of the United States Naval Academy, a 22.25-meter sailboat and the number 1800 on its sails, arrived on the old continent. It was manned by 17 people, skippered by Commander Howard Randall and, as had happened to the Blackfin, it also played against the basses of Carallones.

On July 21, three days after the first boats had crossed the finish line, there were still sailboats to finish the journey and among them were some of those that could be proclaimed absolute winners (due to the time compensation system that would be applied for level out the differences between large and small boats). The last yacht to arrive, the Tanatara, did so on the 22nd, and it was then that the final classification of the competition was revealed.

 

Alfredo Lagos after the arrival of the Discovery Regatta in 1972 (Photo courtesy of the Lagos Family)

 

The winner of the 1972 Bermuda-Bayonne Discovery Regatta was the Class B Carina, skippered by Richard “Dick” S. Nye, in 391 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds. They were followed in the table by Prim (Gibbons Neff Jr.), from class B, with 344 hours, 44 minutes, 19 seconds; and the Aura (Wallace Stenhouse), also in class B, with 395 hours, 27 minutes, 19 seconds. The Blackfin, the first to arrive in the waters of Baiona on the 18th, was finally in 42nd place in the general classification.

Richard S. Nye (1904-1988) found his love of the sea late and knew little of sailing when he bought the Carina in 1945, but he soon began sailing and ended up competing in long-distance regattas, which became in his passion. He participated in a large number of them and came to win 7 transatlantic races, including the Bermuda Baiona, in which he won with the first of his three Carinas.

The skipper attributed (he always did) the success in this regatta and many others he won to the good work of his crew, made up of his son Richard B. Nye, as first officer, and other members of his family and close friends.

Those who knew him say that he did not sail to win, but because he was truly passionate about the sea. To posterity he passed his phrase: “Okay, boys, you can let the ship sink!” , pronounced after finishing the Fasnet Race of 1957 in a Carina badly damaged by the hard competition.

 

Richard S. Nye – Patron of the Carina

 

His victory in the Discovery Regatta had a great worldwide echo and in the final broadcast of the event, everyone agreed on the great success that the event had brought.

The Discovery Regatta, much more than a regatta

In a meeting with journalists, the president of the Monte Real Yacht Club and vice president of the Spanish committee in charge of organizing the arrival, Carlos Zulueta, highlighted the four most significant aspects of the regatta: economic, tourist, historical and sporting.

The competition, sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Tourism (understanding that it would serve to promote tourism at the highest level and offer the Rías Gallegas a high-ranking international sporting competition), had become the one with the greatest participation up to that time and accommodation reservations made in Baiona had repercussions on hoteliers with a figure that exceeded one million pesetas. Restaurants, taxi drivers and other businesses also made cash during the Americans’ stay in the fishing village.

Alfredo Lagos, the only Spaniard in the competition, complained, once it was over, about the little attention the national press and television had devoted to it. blamed “a hidden force that tries to minimize everything in Galicia, which takes us back to times before the Catholic Monarchs. You already know -Lagos said in a special report for the magazine Pesca y Náutica- that when a drop of water falls in Estaca de Bares, although we have an ideal day in Baiona, the phrase is “It rains in Galicia”. For many Galicia is very far away, the roads are very bad, there are many cows and the women carry the load on their heads. Those who only think this, it is much better not to come”.

 

José Ramón Fontán handing out souvenirs to the Apollo on the pontoons of the Monte Real Yacht Club

 

The truth is that everyone welcomed the crews with open arms and the sailors were able to enjoy the culture, landscape and gastronomy of Galicia for several days. In Vigo, in the gardens of the Pazo Quiñones de León, a dinner was organized for them, enlivened by folk groups. In Baiona, another dinner and a big dance.

They also attended the famous Mougás gigs and ate grilled sardines, empanada and octopus in a mountain refuge. And at the end, many of them took part in a cruise along the Galician estuaries from Baiona to Fisterra, sailing through the most touristic points of coastal Galicia and taking a bus trip to Santiago de Compostela.

 

In the rally through the Rías Baixas after the Discovery Regatta

 

Postmarks, brochures, commemorative plates, flags… recall one of the most important regattas in the history of navigation. A regatta that served for several clubs on both sides of the Atlantic to strengthen ties and promote what ended up being the most massive nautical competition organized to date.

 

Postmarks, information brochures and commemorative plates of the Discovery Regatta

 

Half a century after its celebration, at the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona, the seed of the competition, they remember it as something historic, as one of those events worthy of having gone down in the history of world sailing along with other milestones of the club as the challenge to the America’s Sailing Cup.

And the same what “The noble town of Baiona, an ancient Celtic hedgehog, had the honor of being the first to announce, to the astonishment of the world, the miracle of the discovery of the Americas”, the Monte Real Club de Yates had the honor of being the first to organize a regatta in his honor, the most important of the time and one of those that will always remain in the memory.

It is a report by Rosana Calvo,
communication manager of the MRCYB

 

 

Boats of the Discovery Regatta at Monte Real Yacht Club – Tony Román File Photo
Jubilee III with seaplane arriving in Baiona – Discovery Regatta 1972 – Photo Archive Tony Román
The Dora IV back to America after the Discovery Regatta – Photo Archive Tony Román
The Buccaneer, the Etoile and other ships after their arrival in Baiona – Photo Archive Tony Román
The Dora IV in which Alfredo Lagos sailed in the Discovery Regatta in 1972 (Photo courtesy of the Lagos family)
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Baiona elevates the new Galician champions of A Dos

 

· The couples formed by Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto and Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández, both from Monte Real, won the MRW Trophy this Saturday with the titles of Galician Champions of A Two men in the ORC and J80 classes

· The best male-female crew was formed by Brenda Maure and Jacobo Vecino from RCN Vigo and the champions in the female section were Marta Ramada and Ana Sardiña from MRCYB

· The prizes of the VIII Rafael Olmedo Memorial went to the best teams in each class: the Yess of Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto (ORC) and the Cansino of Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández

· After the celebration of the Galician A Dos Championship, the Monte Real is now focusing on the Conde de Gondomar Trophy and the Príncipe de Asturias Trophy, which will be held between July 22 and 25 and the first weekend of September

The wind conditions were perfect for sailing – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Baiona elevated the new Galician champions of A Dos this Saturday after the celebration of a new edition of the MRW Trophy, in which not only the absolute, mixed and women’s regional titles of navigation in reduced crews were put into play; but also the awards of the VIII Rafael Olmedo Memorial.

The male prizes of the two classes in dispute (ORC and J80) went to the couples formed by Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto (ORC) and Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández (J80), both from the Monte Real Club de Yates. They were the best in the competition and are, as of today, the new Galician A Dos champions, as stated on the plaques given to them by the Royal Galician Sailing Federation.

Yess de Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto – Galician Two-ORC Champions- Photo © Rosana Calvo
Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández – Galician Double J80 Champions – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In this edition of the Galician Championship, in addition to the men’s prizes, distinctions were awarded again, as had been done in the previous edition for the first time in the history of the competition, to the best female and mixed crews.

The creation of these special categories depended on the number of entries in each of them and managed to form the female category in J80, with the winners being Marta Ramada and Ana Sardiña, from Monte Real; and mixed in ORC, where the couple formed by Brenda Maure and Jacobo Vecino, from the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, won.

Marta Ramada and Ana Sardiña – Galician Doubles Champions – Women’s J80 – Photo © Rosana Calvo
Jacobo Vecino and Brenda Maure – Galician Double Champions – Mixed ORC – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The development of the test was a full-fledged nortada. The north wind blew sharply and with intensity from the start, which occurred promptly at eleven in the morning; to the turning point at the Camouco lighthouse, in Ons; and it remained the same, both in direction and intensity (13-15 knots with peaks of 19) until the finish line, which the regatta committee placed inside the bay of Baiona.

The largest sailboat in the fleet, the Yess (a Hanse 630 E), owned by Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto, completed “flying” a total of 35.3 miles. It took just two and a half hours to turn the Camouco and just over four and a half hours to finish the test.

The ORC fleet approaching Carallones – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Among the rest of the crews, those of the Deep Blue, the Salaño Dos, the Orión, the Fend la Bise and La María stood out. This group of five boats, from the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, the Monte Real Club de Yates and the Club Náutico de Cabanas, all with great sailors on board, always remained at the head of the fleet without losing sight of each other. the others.

The Yess (MRCYB) finished the winner of the MRW Trophy in the ORC class, leaving second and third position to Salaño Dos of Jacobo Vecino and Brenda Maure (RCN Vigo) and Orión of Javier Pérez and Esteban Gañete (MRCYB). In the ORC OPEN class, the Secolite of Javier Rey and Jorge Justo (MRCYB), the Bouvento of David Fontán and Alex Luca de Tena (MRCYB) and the Tutatis of Roy Alonso and Alechu Retolaza (MRCYB) stood on the podium.

These last two boats concentrated all the attention of the Figaros fleet due to the intense hand in hand they maintained throughout the test; and due to the fact that managers from Monte Real (the vice president and sports director at Tutatis) and club coaches competed. Finally, it was the trainers David Fontán and Alex Luca de Tena who won the prize, after gaining distance in the last few miles and completing a great regatta finish.

In the J80 real-time competition, the surprise of the day was given by Francisco Javier Martínez and Alfonso Otero’s SND Cormorán, tacking the first at Camouco; although he finally finished the test in second position behind Cansino de Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández, one of the most solvent in the entire test. After the gold and silver of the two Monte Real boats, the bronze of the monotypes went to ¡Ay Carmela! of the Liceo Marítimo de Bouzas, manned by Juan Martínez Pazó and José Ignacio Correa.

Within the framework of the MRW Trophy, in addition to the Trophy prizes and the plaques to the new Galician Champions of A Dos, the prizes of the VIII Rafael Olmedo Memorial were awarded to the general winners of the two classes in contention: the Yess (ORC) and the Tired (J80). They received them from Rodrigo Olmedo, son of the former president of Monte Real for more than 40 years and to whom this competition has been dedicated for 8 years.

Participating in the awards ceremony, which took place with a very good atmosphere in the gardens of Monte Real, were the president of the organizing club, José Luis Álvarez; the executive director of MRW and sponsor of the competition, Santos Almeida; the deputy mayor of Baiona, Óscar Martínez; the Deputy for Sports of the Pontevedra Provincial Council, Gorka Gómez; and the president of the Dinghy Sailing Committee and director of the Royal Galician Sailing Federation, Ignacio Campos.

Family photo of the new Galician Championship A Dos – Photo © Antía Martínezo

FINAL RANKINGS

MRW TROPHY · GALICIAN CHAMPIONSHIP OF TWO · VIII RAFAEL OLMEDO MEMORIAL
Monte Real Yacht Club Baiona, June 11, 2022

GALICIAN TWO CHAMPIONS · ABSOLUTE ORC CLASS
YESS RUI RAMADA AND ÓSCAR PEIXOTO MRCYB

Rui Ramada and Óscar Peixoto are the new Galician ORC A Dos Masculine Champions, in the photo Óscar Peixoto and his father collecting the award – Photo © Antía Martínez

GALICIAN TWO CHAMPIONS ORC MIXED CLASS
SALAÑO TWO · BRENDA MAURE AND JACOBO VECINO · RCN VIGO

Brenda Maure and Jacobo Vecino Galician Mixed Champions – Photo © Antía Martínez

GALICIAN TWO CHAMPIONS J80 ABSOLUTE CLASS
CANSINO · NANO YÁÑEZ AND MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ · MRCYB

Nano Yáñez and Manuel Fernández Galician Champions Two J80 Male – Photo Antía Martínez

GALICIAN TWO CHAMPIONS J80 FEMALE CLASS
MIUDO MARTA RAMADA AND ANA SARDIÑA MRCYB

Marta Ramada and Ana Sardiña Galician Women’s Two-Way Champions – Photo Antía Martínez

 

WINNERS OF THE VII RAFAEL OLMEDO MEMORIAL (OVERALL WINNERS OF ORC AND J80)

• Overall ORC Winner: YESS RUI RAMADA AND ÓSCAR PEIXOTO MRCYB
• General winner J80: CANSINO · NANO YÁÑEZ AND MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ · MRCYB

Yess and Cansino Winners of the VIII Rafael Olmedo Memorial – Photo © Antía Martínez

 

WINNERS OF THE MRW TROPHY

MRW TROPHY ORC CLASS
1. YESS RUI RAMADA AND OSCAR PEIXOTO MRCYB
2. SALANO TWO · JACOBO VECINO AND BRENDA MAURE · RCN VIGO
3. ORION · JAVIER REY AND ESTEBAN GAÑETE · MRCYB

MRW TROPHY ORC OPEN CLASS
1. SECOLITE · JAVIER REY AND JORGE JUSTO · MRCYB
2. BOUVENTO · DAVID FONTÁN AND ALEX LUCA DE TENA · MRCYB
3. TUTATIS · ROY ALONSO AND ALECHU RETOLAZA · MRCYB

MRW TROPHY FIGARO CLASS
1. BOUVENTO · DAVID FONTÁN AND ALEX LUCA DE TENA · MRCYB
2. TUTATIS · ROY ALONSO AND ALECHU RETOLAZA · MRCYB
3. SERRALLEIRAS SANTI MEYGIDE AND FCO JAVIER CAMBA MRCYB

MRW TROPHY J80 CLASS
1. TIRED · NANO YÁÑEZ AND MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ · MRCYB
2. SND CORMORÁN · FRANCISCO JAVIER MARTÍNEZ AND ALFONSO OTERO · MRCYB
3. OH CARMELA! · JUAN MARTÍNEZ PAZÓ AND JOSÉ IGNACIO CORREA · LM BOUZAS

 

>>> GALLERY OF IMAGES OF THE COMPETITION

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