The 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week began this Sunday, 26 July, with a spectacle in the sky and at sea. The surprise display by the Esquadrilha da Fumaça marked the official opening of the biggest ocean-sailing competition in Latin America, which brings together 127 boats in Ilhabela, on the coast of São Paulo.
The competition is organised by the Yacht Club de Ilhabela, with the technical support of the Associação Brasileira de Veleiros de Oceano. ABVO works alongside the organisers on matters related to rating rules, the technical organisation of the ocean classes and the application of the regulations used in the races.
The participation of the Esquadrilha da Fumaça surprised sailors, residents and thousands of visitors during the traditional Boat Parade. The aircraft appeared as the fleet passed the Píer da Vila, in the Historic Centre of Ilhabela, with manoeuvres that turned the opening of the SIVI Daycoval into a spectacle of great visual impact. The ceremony also featured the presence of the frigate Tamandaré F200, the newest frigate incorporated into the Brazilian fleet and one of the most modern vessels of the Brazilian Navy.
For the commodore of ABVO, Bayard Neto, the opening showed the sporting and institutional scale achieved by the Ilhabela International Sailing Week.
"It was a grand first day, both for the spectacle offered to the public and for the technical level of the races. The Sailing Week manages to bring together tradition, innovation and high-performance competition on the same course. For ABVO, it is a pleasure to contribute technically to an event of this importance, supporting the Yacht Club de Ilhabela and working so that the rules and rating systems are applied with safety, balance and transparency," said Bayard Neto.
ABVO receives tribute from the Yacht Club de Ilhabela
Before the official opening of the competition, on Saturday, 25 July, ABVO was honoured by the Yacht Club de Ilhabela. The association was represented by commodore Bayard Neto. The tribute recognised the work of the Associação Brasileira de Veleiros de Oceano and its contribution to the development, organisation and technical management of ocean sailing in Brazil.
"The tribute received from the Yacht Club de Ilhabela has a very special meaning for ABVO. It represents the recognition of work built over decades, always in partnership with the clubs, the organisers and the sailors. ABVO exists to serve Brazilian ocean sailing, offering technical knowledge, defending the interests of sailors and helping to strengthen competitions such as the Ilhabela Sailing Week," declared Bayard Neto.
ABVO provides technical support to the yacht clubs responsible for some of the main regattas and competitions in the country. The association also holds a permanent seat, with voting rights, on the Brazilian Sailing Confederation, representing ocean sailors in the sport's highest body in Brazil.
Coastal races open the course
After the parade, the sailboats headed to the starts of the three coastal races that opened the course of the 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week: Alcatrazes por Boreste Marinha do Brasil, Ilha de Toque-Toque por Boreste and Renato Frankenthal.
The main challenge of the first day, the Alcatrazes por Boreste Marinha do Brasil Regatta brought together the boats of the ORC and Bra-RGS A and B classes. The course of approximately 55 nautical miles went around the Alcatrazes Archipelago.
The strong wind recorded outside Ilhabela, to the east, provided a faster race, but also a more demanding one for the teams. The conditions required constant attention, endurance and the ability of the crews to adapt.
The line-honours boat (Fita Azul) was the Uruguayan Albariño, of the Bra-RGS class, skippered by Marcelo Cipolina. The boat crossed the finish line at 21h39min52. On corrected time, it finished in fifth place in its class, with 9h30min39.
"The race was very good. Fortunately, this year the calm was not so hard and we managed to complete the course in a good time. Alcatrazes is always a very beautiful race, from the parade to the whistle at the finish. The biggest challenge is knowing how to stay calm when the conditions change and remaining alert after several hours sailing. Being Fita Azul is an honour," said Marcelo Cipolina.
The challenge had different characteristics for the boats of the C30, Bra-RGS C, RGS-Cruiser and Classics classes, which contested the Ilha de Toque-Toque por Boreste Regatta.
The south wind inside the São Sebastião Channel shifted to the northeast and, later, to the east. The changes forced the crews to look for the best wind bands, making the race more technical and strategic. The first boats to complete the course were the Relaxa Building, of Tomás Mangabeira, in the C30 class, and the classic Chancegger, of Fred Paim.
The HPE25 sailboats contested the Renato Frankenthal Regatta and faced light wind and the influence of the currents inside the channel. Given the conditions, the Race Committee shortened the course originally planned at 10 nautical miles to just over six miles. The first place went to the Espetáculo II, of Luiz Fernando Staub.
The different conditions found in the three races reinforced the importance of technical preparation, knowledge of the rules and quick decision-making. These are aspects that are part of the work developed by ABVO through courses, training and refresher activities aimed at professionals and amateur sailors.
The 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week continues until Saturday, 1 August. The programme brings together races of the ORC, Bra-RGS, RGS-Cruiser, Classics, C30 and HPE25 classes.
The event is organised by the Yacht Club de Ilhabela and the Ilhabela City Hall, with the support of ABVO, the Brazilian Sailing Confederation and the São Paulo State Sailing Federation.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Gabriela Petarnella
