The fight for the title of the 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week took shape this Tuesday (28), with a first day of racing marked by the balance between the main candidates for the trophy. The Onda, of Eduardo Souza Ramos, ended the programme leading the ORC overall standings and the Performance division, while the Argentine Der Bekannte 2 sits at the top of the Cruiser division. But the one who stole the show was the four-time champion Crioula, of Samuel Albrecht, which made its debut in the competition winning the two races held and showed that it remains one of the strongest boats in the fleet.
The Crioula's campaign began right after the team returned from a series of races in conditions quite different from those found in Ilhabela. Samuel Albrecht highlighted that the group arrives motivated for another edition of the Sailing Week, a championship that holds a special place in the team's calendar both for its technical level and for the atmosphere of fellowship among the sailors.
"Now that we have arrived here in Ilhabela, we are going to switch gears a bit, it is a regatta where we also really enjoy the championship, the event, the friends, and sailing here in Ilhabela is always very special, so we are very happy, trying to make the most of this moment here. This opportunity to be here sailing this championship."
In addition to the fight for the overall lead, the Soto 40s are staging a competition of their own within the ORC. As the boats have practically identical characteristics, the races are marked by a lot of close covering, constant changes of position and decisions taken in the details. Besides the Onda, the Saci, of Mauro Dottori and Fábio Cotrim, sits in fourth overall. Also part of the fleet are the King II, which has two-time Olympic champion Robert Scheidt as tactician; the three-time champion Phytoervas, of Marcelo Bellotti; and the Inaê, skippered by Bayard Neto.
After a Sunday with quite unstable wind, the conditions this Tuesday were more favourable. With steady wind to the north of the São Sebastião Channel, the Race Committee managed to complete the entire planned programme, holding ten races: two for the ORC, two for the Bra-RGS, two for the HPE25, three for the C30 and one for the Classics.
Bra-RGS brings together the biggest fleet of the competition
The Bra-RGS, the biggest class of the 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week, began by confirming the expectation of one of the most balanced contests of the week. The vessels contested their first races in medium wind conditions, with constant changes of position and small differences between the leaders.
In division A, the Avohai took the lead. In division B, the My Boy finished the day in first place and began the Sailing Week recovering its confidence after its performance in the Alcatrazes Regatta.
"We are very happy to have taken this first place. After a very difficult Alcatrazes Regatta, in which we made some mistakes in the strategy, today the day was perfect for the My Boy: medium winds, sun and very pleasant conditions for sailing. The My Boy has a very well prepared and integrated team. Since last year we have been competing in the Mitsubishi Cup and training a lot. This year, we arrived with a very strong team. We had good starts and wind that suited our boat very well, which made all the difference. Now, starting the Sailing Week this way, the expectation is very positive."
The sequence of races promises to keep the contest open until the final days of the competition, since the fleet brings together very competitive vessels used to deciding titles in Ilhabela.
RGS Cruiser shows balance from the debut
The RGS-Cruiser also began showing a lot of balance between vessels of different sizes and characteristics, one of the hallmarks of the class. The light wind conditions demanded strategic decisions from the start, and each choice of tack made a difference in the final result. Winner of the Mitsubishi Regatta – Eduardo Souza Ramos in division A, the Mandachuva got the reading of the course right and made better use of the few gusts available along the way.
"A light-wind race, difficult, very difficult. Our opponents each went to a different side. Very light wind, we chose one side, which was the right side. And we got it right. We always managed to arrive with the wind ahead. And downwind, we came covering them, trying to stay between the mark and the other boats. And, luckily, right at the end, near the island, the wind still favoured our side. We managed to arrive on the same spinnaker leg all the way to the finish, it was very good. Today was a day when everything worked out, today I have nothing to complain about."
In division A, the Mandachuva leads the standings. The Kaupê is at the top of division B, while the BL3 Urca holds first place in division C.
Classics keep the tradition of the Sailing Week
Among the Classics, tradition and competitiveness once again shared the course in Ilhabela. The Chancegger leads division A, the Madrugada holds first position in division B and the Sete Ondas is ahead in division C, reinforcing the balance between historic vessels that continue to star in great contests at the International Sailing Week.
Built in Switzerland 57 years ago and currently based in Ilhabela, the Chancegger opened the competition with a win in its division. For Fred Paim, beyond the result, competing in the Sailing Week represents the opportunity to keep alive a tradition that crosses generations.
"We are very proud and happy to have taken first place among the Classics. After all, we are literally the most classic boat in the fleet. The Chancegger was built in Switzerland 57 years ago, has already sailed under different flags and, today, proudly competes under the Brazilian flag.
The boat is based in Ilhabela, so sailing here is like being in our own backyard. The race was quite challenging. Our boat weighs more than 30 tonnes and, even with lighter wind, we managed to handle the conditions well and put in a good race, especially at the mark roundings."
One-designs have an intense day on the course
The one-design classes also had a busy programme this Tuesday. The C30 held three consecutive races, demanding concentration from the teams from the beginning to the end of the day. The Relaxa Building ended the programme leading the class after a consistent performance in a fleet marked by balance.
For Maurício Santa Cruz, skipper of the vessel, the difference lay in the small details, since the boats sailed very close together throughout the day.
"The windward-leeward races, there were three races today, light wind. The fleet is very tight, close, so the little detail is what made the difference. We still have plenty of races, ten races to go. Tomorrow a southwest wind forecast is coming. We are focused on the championship and working one day at a time."
In the HPE25, two races were held, with the Espetáculo II ending Tuesday leading the standings. The fleet brings together some of the main names of Brazilian sailing, such as Clínio de Freitas, on the Mr Pilot; Dudu Melchert, on the Ciribaí; and the couple Rafael Martins and Juliana Duque, who compete aboard the Barco Brasil. The presence of experienced athletes raises the technical level of the class even further and promises a very balanced contest throughout the week.
Regatta honours Eduardo Souza Ramos
After the racing, the Yacht Club de Ilhabela hosted the awards ceremony of the Mitsubishi Regatta – Eduardo Souza Ramos. The race honours one of the greatest supporters of Brazilian sailing and awarded the winners of each class and division in the races held this Tuesday.
In the RGS-Cruiser, the winners were the Mandachuva, of Mario Garcia, in division A; the Kaupê, of Pedro Macedo, in division B; and the BL3 Urca, of Clauberto Andrade, in division C.
Among the Classics, the Chancegger, of Fred Paim, won division A. The Madrugada, skippered by Nils Rump, took first place in division B. The Sete Ondas, of Marco Antonio Aleixo, won division C.
In the Bra-RGS, the Avohai, of Luiz Henrique Macedo, won division A. The My Boy, of Lars Andreas Müller, was first in division B. The Planctôn, skippered by Jonas Chorociejus, won division C.
In the HPE25, the Ginga, of Breno Chvaicer, took the win. In the ORC, the first places went to the Der Bekannte 2, of Julio Berger, in the Cruiser/Racer division, and the Crioula 52, of Eduardo Plass, in the Performance division.
The races of the 53rd Ilhabela Daycoval International Sailing Week continue throughout the week, bringing together some of the main boats and sailors of Latin America. With the first leads defined and small differences between the main contenders, the expectation is for another day of balanced contests in the São Sebastião Channel.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: FOTOP
