The Portuguese crew, representing the Clube Náutico de Tavira had a good take-off, they were able to do around the bowline buoy on the second position but as the wind became stronger they started loosing some positions and ended up on the 11th position. We remind you that the team Rafael Paraíso and Frederico don’t have enough weight to hold the boat when with strong winds. The necessary weight for this Formula 1 of sailing is about 80kgs and the young sailors only weight about 50kgs.

...”The 1st race went quite well, it was spectacular. We took-off very well and we were standing on the second position but when in the stern there is always a lot of adjustments to make and we still can’t manage the boat very well. Then the wind grew stronger and we didn’t have enough weight, we are light and so we started to loose some positions. On the second race we took –off well but with the strong wind the lack of weight became more notorious. We stood behind. On the 3rd race of the day we “fought for survival”, we just wanted to finish the race for we didn’t even have the strength to hold the sails. Even so we think that the Championship is going quite well concerning our expectations. We are sailing Flying for the first time and we are competing with the best sailors of the World. Our result is already quite good” stated Frederico.

On the first race of the day the Spanish team Francisco Martinez / José Ródenas reached the arrival on the 1st position. Klaas Tilstra/ Adriaan Schmal from Netherlands reached the 2nd position and Francesco Vespasiani / Marco Ungaro Italian sailors got the 3rd position. The Portuguese crew reached the 11th position.

The wind grew stronger on the second race of the day and that forced the fleet to change positions. The heavier sailors became the leaders and the lighter ones had some problems with the wind. That was what happened to the Spanish team   Roberto Sevila / Vicente Guijaro who at the off ward buoy turned over and had some difficulties to straighten up their boat.

The Italian team Roberto Cipriani / Stefano Morelli leaded the race, followed by the German, the usual Champion of the World Hans Peter Schwarz / Roland Kirst. On the 3rd position stood the Dutch Louis de Ruitier / Celine Schee.

The Portuguese sailors had some hard time for the wind kept growing stronger yet almost when reaching the arrival they were able to pass two adversaries and ended up on the 29th position.
On the two first races of the day the sailors accomplished a course with two Olympic triangles and a backwards and forwards branch.

On the last race of the day, the wind was already blowing strong from Southwest, a triangle and a backwards and forwards branch were accomplished. The Hungarian team that has been leading the Championship distinguished themselves from the rest of the fleet. Next came the German Hans Peter / Roland and the Italian Roberto /Stefano.

After 7 accomplished races and analyzing the achieved points and “casting away” the worst result, the Hungarian crew leads with 15 points followed by the Italian Roberto/Stefano with 25 points.  Hans Peter/ Roland are on the 3rd position with 30 points. The Portuguese team stands on the 25th position of the general classification and on the 3rd position of the “Under 25”sailors.

New Zealander Andrew McKee and Matthew Bismark constitute one of the two New Zealander crews of this World Championship. Third place on the 3rd race of the Championship, best result until now, they stand on the 21st place of the general classification, after achieving the 25th, 19th and 24th positions today. From the other side of the World, they have been Flying sailors for 12 and 8 years now, respectively, and this challenge in Tavira has become a new experience.
“We are enjoying and it and we are learning. For us it is different to sail under these conditions and we have had some difficulties due to the large number of boats!, declared Bismark, and he added:

“The take-off is completely different from the one we are used to. When we are able to take-off well we manage to keep the advantage over the others but when we take-off bad we need to work hard to keep up with so many boats. But all is going quite well although we prefer stronger winds. The wind has been gentle here. I take this opportunity to thank all of those who stood in New Zealand and who helped us to be here today”.

Tomorrow is the last racing day of this world Championship and the 1st take-off is foreseen for 12h00. The Prizes Delivery Ceremony will take place in the Hotel Albacora at 21h00.

Source: Press Office