Long day in the Bay of Palma for the Nearly a hundred boats competing in the Sandberg Estates J/70 World Championships. Although the wind did not make the task easy in this third round of the event organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) and the International Association of the class, the fleet was able to add two new tests in its lockers that allow the gap to come into play and leave the fight for the burning title.
It was time to get up early on day three of the World Cup. Intent on making the most of the early morning wind, the fleet cast off from the RCNP after 09:00 with the first race scheduled for 10:30. After having the first test cancelled as soon as it got underway due to a sudden change in wind direction, The teams were able to tackle the third round of the championship shortly after 11:00 a.m. with around eight knots of northeasterly wind.
As in previous events, the fleet was once again irregular and the first three places were shared. three teams that until now were outside the top ten: American “Dark Energy” by Laura Grondinthe Swedish “Elvis” of Return Engelbert and the Brazilian “Ocean Pact” of Haroldo Solberg, respectively first, second and third.
Once the first test of the day is completed, The race committee was forced to raise the postponement flag and wait for the arrival of the long-awaited thermal wind from the Bay of Palma. After repositioning the course and with conditions already between eleven and fourteen knots from the south, the fleet returned to the horn for the second event around 15:15.
On this occasion, the victory went to the American “Empeiria” of John Heatonwho added his first partial podium. Behind him was the American “Rowdy” of Richard Witzel in second place and the Brazilian “Mindset” of Ralph Vasconcelloswho was third.
With a total of five races on the board, the third day of the Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds was sentenced to the entry into play of the gapwhich, as expected, caused further changes of positions in the top ten and a compression of the fleet aspiring to the intercontinental podium.
The American “over there” Douglas New House And Jeremiah Wilmot from New York YC, who scored a 23rd and a 17th today stay at the top of the table thanks to his good results in the first two days. Lead, yes, with a points advantage about the second ranking, the “Mindset” of the IC Rio de Janeiro, and five the thirdwho now becomes the “Rowdy” of Chicago YC. Behind them, four other teams are chasing the victory, and only nine points separate the top six.
Among the Spanish fleet, Today was not the best day for Luis Albert’s “Patakin”. The RCNP boat added results of 27-30 which made it lose several places, placing it provisionally in eleventh position but with many options to recover in the final stretch of the World Cup.
“Today was a long day, especially because of the change in wind,” began Alex Muscat, a member of the “Patakin” crew. “Racing is long and hard and The truth is that we had a few flat tires.two bad starts, and that relegated us a little bit from the beginning. The good thing is that we were able to come back a lot and we are happy about that, now we have to try to learn from our mistakes and try to improve in the starts, because once we are ahead we are very strong and we have already proven it.
Behind, the “News” of Luis Martin Cabiedes The clubs Real Club Náutico de Barcelona and Marítimo de Santander improve and rise to 25th position. Next on the table is now the “Marnatura” of Luis Bugallo of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, who today achieved a brilliant fourth place and remains 33rd in the general classification. Tomorrow Friday, penultimate day in the Bay of Palma with everything to decide.
