The XXXVIII edition of the Conde de Gondomar Trophy already has its first leaders, after the dispute on the first day of the county regatta, in which the names of the different lists by class have provisionally left their mark.
Departing at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, Top scheduled for 11 a.m. and delayed by the Committee to gather skippers and crews in the Yacht Club garden, where a minute of silence was observed for the victims of the terrible accident that occurred on Wednesday night in Santiago de Compostela, the sailboats crossed the line sailing as a fleet the three divisions into which the cut or rating (sail capacity of the boat and size) has been divided, ORC 0-1, ORC 2 and ORC3.
Clean departure from the interior of the Bay of Baiona, with a first direct boarding to the Carallones and La Negra beacons, without having to use an unmarking buoy, thanks to the northwest that indicated its origin. The wind was around 8-10 knots, an intensity that was maintained on average during the total 96-mile route of this first day, between Baiona – Carrumeiro Chico (Ensenada de Finisterre) – San Martiño Island (Islas Cíes).
After passing through the maritime signaling buoys, all the sailboats took the option of navigating around the outside of the Cíes Islands, first leaving the Boeiro Lighthouse on its starboard side, with the exception of the ORC 3, which sailed along the Costa de la Vela, as it had a shorter route (40 miles) and whose turning point was the Camouco Lighthouse, located north of Ons Island. Navigation without great difficulties, with a small wave, barely 1 meter.
Five minutes after the official time of the Top, the Committee gave a new departure, in this individual case, to the Armeigin III, a powerful 70-foot long (21 meters), which sailed as part of the Count of Gondomar’s fleet, but with a record of time independent of the rest of the participating boats.
Beautiful landscape scenes mixed with the beauty of the tactics on the sides of the sailboats, marking in a very defined way the favorites for the general classification of this first great section, such as Castrosua, Pairo 8 and Aceites Abril, in the case of the ORC 0-1, or the Bosch Communication Center, Cachete or Alimentos de Zamora, in ORC 2.
Gran Jotiti and Cenor&Electrolux sailed at their own pace, the former intending to take advantage of the test as training for their preparation for the Fastnet, and the latter with the aim of breaking his own record again at the Conde de Gondomar.
An inflatable boat from the MRCYB moved in advance, informing the Committee of the prevailing winds in each zone. Thus, from Corubedo to the north, the component changed quadrant, and from the southwest it moved to the northwest. The intensity was maintained in both cases between 8-10 knots on average.
In the vicinity of the Carrumeiro Chico, a control boat from the Yacht Club was anchored, with a regatta official and sailors who carried out control tasks as it passed through the mythical lighthouse of Ensenada de Finisterre.
The first to turn it around was Cenor&Electrolux (RCR Vilagarcía), owned by Martín Bermúdez, who did it in real time. However, the rating was favorable to Aceites Abril (RCN Vigo), owned by the Pérez-Canal brothers, who won the section. After the Ourenses came Castrosua, owned by Willy Alonso, and Pairo 8, owned by Marga Cameselle, who was fourth, both from the MRCYB. Third position went to Cenor&Electrolux itself.
From this moment the second test began, without stopping the sailboats, projecting the way back to the Cíes Islands, where the Committee had anchored.
The Bosch Communication Center (CM Canido), by Ramón Ojea, did the same, and also won this first heat.
After 6 hours 51 minutes and 44 seconds, the Cenor&Electrolux made its entrance in real time, taking the entire track in compensated time for Willy Alonso’s Castrosua. Oils April was second overall on the first day, and Pairo 8 was third.
Bosch Communication Center repeated victory, and also took the second test. Cachete, by Francisco Edreira (CN Sada), was second, with Alimentos de Zamora (CDR Zamora), by Juan Carlos de Ana, third.
In the group of ORC 3, the Asturian Juan Luís Tuero, triumphed with his New Moon (MRCYB). Enxuto (CN Combarro) of Pablo Conde, was second; and the Margem do Azul (MRCYB) of Frederico Lopes, third.
The last of the participating sailboats made its entry on Friday morning, recorded by the Committee at 7 hours 29 minutes and 53 seconds.
Tomorrow another coastal layout test will be held, leaving at 12 noon from Baiona, towards Costa de la Vela, leaving the Cíes Islands on the port side to, once in its path, go out to the open sea and prepare to circumnavigate the Onza and Ons Islands, leaving them to starboard, the same side from which they will continue to be sighted on the descent towards Monte Real, with the Camouco Lighthouse to port, once the Cabalo de Ons has been crossed and the return journey has begun, for which the sailboats will use about 40 miles.
The Conde de Gondomar Trophy is organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club of Bayonne and has the collaboration of Tourism of Galicia, Tourism Rías Baixas, Martín Códax, Swiss Jewelry, El Corte Inglés, Nea, Coca Cola, Nordés and the Royal Federations. Spanish and Galician Sailing.
