Departure of the class ORC 0-1 on the first day of the Godó. Photo: Oscar Terrades

The 47 ships from eight countries participating in the 44 Sailing Trophy Conde Godó have completed an exciting first day of regatta in Barcelona waters, after which last year's title advocates in ORC 0-1 and J80, Rats on Fire and Pelayo Abogados Marbella Team, have realized that revalidating the crown will not be easy.

The first day of the prestigious race organized by the Real Club Nautico in Barcelona has been held with thermal breezes of medium intensity, of about 10 knots in the inaugural tests and decreasing to 7 for the following.

The fleet of larger-length cruise ships, grouped in the class ORC 0-1, has confirmed that this will be a Sail Trophy Count of Godó of intense emotions and maximum rivalry, with very tight arrivals between several rivals. The Swan 45 Rats on Fire of the Catalan shipowner Rafael Carbonell is clear that he fights for his eighth win in the great competition of the Real Club Nautico of Barcelona and has marked a second and a first, with the tinerfish Rayco Tabares to the cane and the grancanary Noluco Doreste of tactic. But the title's defense will not be easy, and in fact in second position, tied to points, is placed the DK46 R-Motion of Jaime Monjo and Josele Doreeste. Another DK46, the Maserati of Álvaro Irila and Fernando León, is located in the third place of the provisional classification, while Portuguese Fifty by Storax and Swiss Kajsa III marches fourth and fifth, respectively.

Presented this morning at the facilities of the Real Club Nautico in Barcelona, the Maserati aspires to be able to fight for victory in the 44 Sail Trophy Conde Godó, after having won the Cup of the King of Palma last year. "The Godó is a good starting point for the season," said the canary and Olympic champion, Fernando León, for the competitiveness of the race. It'll be exciting. The Rats on Fire will be one of the rivals, but there will be others, there are two twin ships of ours. Victory becomes more complicated, but so it is more beautiful. "

In ORC 2, Alexandre Laplaza's 40 L'Immens Synergy leads the fleet after winning the two inaugural assaults. In the second square has been placed the X35 Maltese Short One by Elena Ruiz, and complete the provisional podium the British Saiola X by Vandesande Wim, a BH 36 with grympolas of the Royal Nautical Club of Palma.

In the small class, ORC 3-4, the Dufour 34 Fanytas of the Banus family has directed its second consecutive victory in the Conde de Godó Sail Trophy, after signing today two first. Second, with two seconds in the tests of the day, it is the Bavaria 36 Tibere, by Marc Delgado.

The J80 monotypes have played three sleeves, with Marc de Antonio's Bribón-Movistar and Sofia Bertrand's winner in all three. The Catalan team, which took the bronze at last week's Catalunya Championship, has come out ready to meet the glory in the waters of Barcelona, after tasting it already in 2014. With two seconds and a third in the tests of the day, to the second drawer of the provisional podium rises the Eurosystem of the Italian Massimo Rama, while the defender of last year's title, the Pelayo Abogados Marbella Team, is located in the third square after the first of three days of competition.

"There are days when things go well," said a very happy Marc de Antoni. We have made three very good exits and then we have been very attentive to the changes in intensity, roles and waves. In monotype races, these little details are the ones that make the difference. "

The shipowner of the Marbella Team Lawyers, Pepequin Orbaneja, has made it clear that "this has just begun." A protest in the last manga has forced them to penalize when they went second, so they have only been able to enter that test, the third of the day. "That prick is what relegates us in the classification, for the moment," he added.

The village of the 44 Sail Trophy Conde Godó in the Royal Nautical Club of Barcelona this afternoon hosts the ceremony of welcome to the participants, with tastings of the participants of the event.

Tomorrow, Saturday, the second day of competition will be held of the 44 Sail Trophy Conde Godó, the dean race of Spanish sailing cruises. The ORCs have a total of eight tests, while the J80 will complete a maximum of nine. The award will take place on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Organized by the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona with the collaboration of the Real Federación Española de Vela and Federació Catalana de Vela, the 44 Sail Trophy Conde Godó has the support of La Vanguardia and Grupo Godó, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntment of Barcelona. They are institutional sponsors Gramona, Estrella Damm and Veri, and collaborators London No. 3, King's Ginger, Royal Bliss, Survitec Group, Gill and VIP Style Magazine.