The two Maxi divisions opened the rankings on Thursday with “Galateia” and “Stormvogel” becoming the first leaders of the event.
Great first day of the 19th PalmaVela. The Maxi fleet, made up of nine units divided into two categories, was in charge of inaugurating the event organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), and did so by completing the first coastal race in which the “Galateia” and the “Stormvogel” were the winners, becoming the first leaders of the competition.
With a south-southwesterly wind and an intensity of between ten and twelve knots, the Race Committee blew the starting horn after 13:00 hours in the centre of the bay of Palma. Ahead, a course of 30 miles for the Maxi A class and 25 miles for the teams competing in Group B.
In the A division, the Wallycento “Galateia” skippered by David M. Leuschen was the fastest of the day, completing the race in two hours and 29 minutes, achieving a sufficient distance to seal the partial victory with three minutes and four seconds of advantage in corrected time over the second classified.
The Cantabrian sailor Pablo Arrarte, who competes on board “Galateia”, explained at the end of the day’s racing that “Today’s race is a Palma classic, with more pressure on the left. We knew that the start would be the most important part of the race and especially the inshore, where at the end the second man follows the leader. Kelvin and David [Leuschen], the shipowner, they did a great job at the start and we were able to get out on the left, through the pin, and from there it was smooth sailing. The boat was fast and we were able to keep ‘Magic Carpet’ on our stern, which is our goal.
Behind “Galateia”, “Vera” skippered by Nicolás González opened his scoreboard with second place, while the other Wallycento participating in the event, Sir Lindsay Owen’s “Magic Carpet 3”, closes the provisional podium for the moment.
In the Maxi B class, the first PalmaVela victory on Thursday was won by the legendary 1961 Maxi, the “Stormvogel”, star of the film “Dead Calm”. The team skippered by Ermanno Traverso was the second to complete the course, but with the corrected time it managed to become the first provisional leader ahead of Romain Mouchel’s “Atalante”.
Third place in Group B of the Maxis was taken by Christian Hentschel’s “Anima II” on the first day.
Tomorrow, ten new divisions and inauguration of the Mediterranean Sailing Circuit 2023
Of the 110 boats taking part in this year’s PalmaVela, 96 will be in the Bay of Palma tomorrow, Friday, to fight for the title in the 19th edition of this Mallorcan event. The two Maxi divisions that made their debut on the race course on Thursday will be joined by the one-designs – J80, 6 Metres and Dragon -, Época, Spirit of Tradition and five ORC divisions -0-1, 2, 3, 4-5 and Sportboat.
It will also be the inauguration of the Mediterranean Sailing Circuit 2023, a joint initiative of the RCNP, the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona and the Real Club Náutico de Valencia to encourage the participation of their boats in ORC races outside their community of origin.
The starting horn will be sounded again at 13:00 hours for all classes, and the wind conditions are expected to be similar to today’s conditions.
PROVISIONAL PODIUM
(Position/Ship/Skipper/Posts/Posts/Posts)
MAXI A
1. Galateia, David M. Leuschen, 1 punto
2. Vera, Nicolás González, 2 puntos
3. Magic Carpet 3, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, 3 puntos
MAXI B
1. Stormvogel, Ermanno Traverso, 1 punto
2. Atalante, Romain Mouchel, 2 puntos
3. Anima II, Christian Hentschel, 3 puntos
SOURCE: 19th PalmaVela Communication Office
IMAGES: VILLEGAS PHOTO
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