The next meeting for the J80 in Santander waters where the 11th Cup of Spain will be held from 1 to 4 June

The Olympic gold medal José María Van Der Ploeg managed in Hondarribia to lead the "VSA Comunicación" to win the Spanish Championship of J80 with authority, despite the harassment of Jaime Piris's "Mercury" and "Maui Jim Sunglasses" of José María Torcida. Finally, 27 monotypes have come to the national meeting, including four French teams that have taken advantage of the opportunity of the Spanish national meeting to be measured with the most powerful fleet in the world. After the Catalan gold, and the silver and the Cantabrian bronze, for the Royal Maritime Club of Santander, the fourth square has been the French team "Armen Habitat" by Simon Moriceau. At the stern of the French is the fifth position of the balloting team "HM Hotels" by Javier Charcategori, defender until this date of the title of Spanish champion 2016. Sixth has been the Andalusian team "Da Bruno Marbella" that weapon Pepequin Orbaneja and has been patronized by Álvaro Larramendi.

29 / 04 / 2017: Van der Ploeg with "VSA Communication" leader in Hondarribia in the National of J80

The Spanish J80 Class Championship that is organizing the Nautical Club of Hondarribia began in Basque waters, which was able to complete four tests with extraordinary conditions of sea and wind, only at the end of the afternoon has a change of tour in the last corner of the fourth test for a roll of wind. The leader after the first day is the "VSA Communication" of the Olympic gold medal Jose María Van der Ploeg, who has obtained a first, a second, a fourth and a fifth, thus totaling 12 points. After the Catalan pattern the cantabre José María Torcida with "Maui Jim" of the Royal Maritime Club of Santander with 21 points, being the third place for the Eric Brezelec with the "Courrier Junior."

Four tests have been held with magnificent conditions where participants have enjoyed an exceptional day

27 / 04 / 2017: 30 J80 begin their journey in the National Class in Hondarribia

The ever-competitive fleet of J80 boats has before it its great national meeting: the dispute of a Spanish Championship that already a priori has seen to be a very difficult test. A total of 30 J80 will be quoted in the waters of Hondarribe for the competition of the Spanish J80 Championship from Friday, April 28 and until Monday, May 1. In this eleventh edition of the Spanish Championship the quinielas are really uncertain. The excellent level of the local fleets of Cantabria, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Andalusia and the Basque Country leaves everything open and no one dares to reveal a possible podium.

The current Spanish champion, the HM Hotels of Chacartegui, goes to Basque waters of Hondarribia with the intention of revalidating title, although it is true that if you will have two champions of the world of J80 as are the cantabre José María Torcida patrolling the ship Maui Jim Sunglasses, or the Catalan team VSA Communication that commands José María Van der Ploeg. At home they will regateate two Basque teams that in addition to being the great connoisseurs of this enclave and its winds have had a very high performance for several seasons already: the NJ Helly Hansen of Iker Almandoz and the Biobizz of Jose Azqueta. Another of the teams that will certainly have to be given all the attention is without a doubt to the Mercury of the Cantabrian Jaime Piris, which is another one that will surely fight in the front line for a precious national title. The Andalusian team Da Bruno Marbella Team of the shipowner Pepequín Orbaneja will present on this occasion a Basque crew led by Alvaro Ruiz de Larramendi in the search for the national title.

The level of the Spanish fleet, international reference rather than demonstrated in the ranking of world titles with a supremacy worthy of mention, is why several French teams of first order (such as the Gan'ja of Luc Nadal and the Jenvivi of Robin Philippe) have decided to take part in the Spanish title dispute, in preparation for the World Championship in Britain. The two leading French boats will not be able to choose the title of the Spanish Championship but if they compete in the test that will bring together the flower and cream of the world class J80.

25 / 04 / 2017: Hondarribia prepares to host the Spanish J80 Championship

From this Thursday, Hondarribia will host the 11th Spanish J80 Championship, an inescapable quote for the great regatists of this sailing mode that will bring together in the coastal city the best crews of the moment. The competition, organized by the Nautical Club of Hondarribia, will bring together a total of thirty vessels that will fight for this title in the waters of Higuer Bay and its surroundings. The championship will take place between April 28, Thursday, and May 1, holiday Monday.

Oriol Ruiz Cabestany (Director of EKP Hondarribia), Nicolas Azcona and Felipe Lopez (Hondarribia Nautical Club)

Among the 30 teams registered for this Spanish Championship, the provenance is varied. In Hondarribia, participants from Cantabria, Canarias or Sevilla will sail, to quote some, in addition to Euskadi or regatists from France, animated by the national level of the championship and who have not wanted to miss this event. Some of the French participants arrive in Hondarribia after having competed in the prestigious Gran Regata Spi Ouest, celebrated this past Holy Week in the waters of Trinité Sur Mer. Precisely, the first 6 classified in this prestigious international test have ensured their presence in the Hondarribia sports event, along with other world-winning teams and high-level athletes, well known in the world of sailing races. This Championship, which promises excitement and great visibility in the bay, will offer during those days competitions to the highest level and equality as this sailing mode is characterized by being made up of monotypes (ships identical to each other), which makes the boats the title be disputed under the same conditions.

After the Hondarribia test, the J80 monotypes fleet will go to Santander that the witness takes and will hold the X Cup of Spain of the class between 1 and 4 June. The J80 will again be the guests on two top international dates such as the Palmavela race, which will take place between 3 and 7 May, and the Copa del Rey Mapfre race, from 29 July to 5 August, both in Palma de Mallorca.