The Swan 45 "Witch" brilliant winner of the first edition

Impressive journey of the fleet participating in the first edition of the Golden Barcelona Marina Vela, where of the vessel Brujo, the Swan 45 of the Valencian shipowner Alberto de Castro and Axel Rodger has proclaimed himself the winner of the general classification, followed by the Grand Soleil 45 Lazy Dog, the Danish Jasper Larsen and the Dutch X-35OD Yellow Rose of Marten Jan Rongers who has been third.

A race that has been characterized by the varied sea and wind conditions that the regatists have experienced, which will be remembered by the rapid pace that took place during the first 100-mile stretch of the journey, and by the varied sea and wind conditions that the regatists have lived, in the next 100 miles, on their return to the peninsula.

Very decisive has been the passage through the Freu de Dragonera, which was decisive for the further development of the test and the strong face winds that the ships found, with wind tips of 35 knots, in their delay to Marina Vela that, they were interspersed with sails that suffered some sailboats as they approached during the second night of the journey to Barcelona.

The general classification was completed the X-46 DK X-Merit of Tito Moure, which was in fourth position, followed by the Grand Soleil 50 Marjuin of Pere Roquet, the Diabolic of Glen de Brower and the Nirvana Tres of Jose Martín.

After them, seven hours, around two in the morning, a group of boats entered in unison, headed by the X-46 of Tito Moure, X-Merit, which fixed the entry time at 02: 22: 24 hours, followed by the Grand Soleil 45 Lazy Dog of Jasper Larsen at 02: 25: 01 hours, and the Grand Soleil Marjuin 50 of Pere Roquet which did so at 02: 31: 02 hours.

After that, the X-35 entered the Yellow Rose of Marten Jan Ringers which did so at 05: 39: 50. He left at 07: 45. At 13: 31: 18 the Sun Fast 35 Diabolic of Glenn de Brouwer, followed by the Hanse 470e Nirvana III of Joseph Martin, who did so at 15: 00: 23 hours, entered. This group suffered during the night the typical wind fall that occurs when it is already sailed under the influence of the coast and could not start until a South component wind came in that approached the coast.

The sailboat Figaro Deixant of Guillermo Alorda, who also suffered the fall of night wind decided to retire at 17: 00. The test time was set at 19 hours.

Other classifications (Live Trophy, A2 and Full Crew)

The race had a prologue test, a 2.3-mile 'barlovento-sotavento', which served to unmark at the exit and where the Vivero-Boya Trophy was disputed. On this preliminary tour the winner was the Witch, followed by the Yellow Rose, closing the podium the X-Merit. There has also been a A2 crew classification that has been led by the Wizard, followed by the Yellow Rose, X-Merit, Marjuin and Diabolic, and a full crew classification that led the Lazy Dog, followed by Nirvana III.

21 / 09 / 2019: Rapisíma the "down" to Dragonera of the ships of Barcelona Golden Cup

From Barcelona to the island of Sa Dragonera by the fleet of the Golden Cup Barcelona Marina Vela. The participants left at 12: 00 on Friday 20th and the first ships reached the islet to the south-east of the island of Mallorca at 2 in the morning. A journey of about 100 miles in which driven by a wind of Levante that entered them through has set them in direct direction South towards Mallorca, in 14 hours, with an average speed of 8 knots. Impressive descent of the fleet.

Around two in the morning, Dragonera doubled the Swan 45 Brujo de Alberto de Castro and the Grand Soleil 50 Marjuin de Pere Roquet, both in category A2. Since practically the departure from Barcelona the duel of both skippers has been constant, in a continuous frec to frec, to consolidate their positions by controlling the movement of their rival and by looking at the times that separate their GPH. Witch with GPH 565.3 and Marjuin a GPH 545.1.

The third to overcome the Dragonera has been the X-46 X-Merit, by Tito Moure, has done so around four in the morning. e l Gran Soleil 45 Lazy Dog de Jesper Larsen has done it at 5: 26. Yellow Rose of Marten Jan Ringers was doing it 5: 45 in the morning, followed by José Martín's Hanse 470e Nirvana III and the Sun Fast 35 Diabolic of Glenn de Brouwer, which exceeded it elislot around 6. At 7: 34 in the morning, he went to William Alorda's Figaro Deixant.

This one of Levante is conditioning the reach to Barcelona, which as hours go by has a tendency to roll Gregal and North, and has forced them to fade off the coast of Majorcan, This has made the fleet open, clearly, looking for better the tactic of fencing. When you get over the socaire of the island of Mallorca, you will find again more frank wind, which is expected to turn back to Gregal, and in the last few hours, with the entrance of a small low, even to South. On this journey you can find the chucbascos, which can condition the navigation of many sailboats, as each of them is found..

20 / 09 / 2019: "Witch" wins the epic race of the Golden Cup Barcelona... the flora to Dragonera

Departure from the Golden Cup Barcelona (Photo Alfred Farré)

The beginning of the Golden Cup Barcelona Marina Vela in Catalan waters, which have already covered the first stretch of the race, a small triangle of 2.2 miles, which served as a direction of unmarching to the wind with a return to the sotavento and was classified for the Vivero trophy, with a goal in the line of passage through the sotavento buoy... it was 12: 00 in the morning.

The absolute winner of this award was the Swan 45 Brujo, of the Valencian Alberto de Castro, followed by the Yellow Rose, an X-35 of the Dutch Marten Jan Ringers and the X-46 X-Merit of Tito Moure. the ships still have to travel the 220 miles, passing with the complicated Freu of the island of Dragonera and return to Barcelona... about 100 miles.

The fleet has already set out to Sa Dragonera heading south, direct... as they move away from the east coast it will rise in intensity, until the fleet reaches the socaire of the island of Mallorca, where the crew will have to manage the arrival to the island of Dragonera.

19 / 09 / 2019: The Golden Cup Barcelona Marina Vela was presented in Barcelona, an offshore of 222 miles

The presentation included Xavier Torres, President of the Federacio Catalana de Vela, Toni Tió, President of the Nautical Cluster, Nicolás Mayol, President of Marina Vela, Ernesto Escalas, Director of Marina Vela, Elia Beret, Deputy Director of The One Barcelona

The Golden Cup Barcelona Marina Vela, an offshore test, which will be held in the waters of the Balear Sea between Barcelona and the island of the Dragonera, between the next Friday 20 and Sunday 22 September, with a 222 nautical mile tour with the departure and arrival of Barcelona Marina Vela.

The exit shot will be on September 20 11.30 hours. The challenge for registered sailors is the passage through the island of La Dragonera, where the boats will have to turn it, leaving it on starboard and passing through the complicated passage of the Freu de Sant Telm, to return to Barcelona. This is a test with great technical rigor, for ORC ships.

An attractive challenge for many offshore shipowners, who, as they recognize, have 'the extra difficulty', that if weather conditions are good, the fastest boats will pass through the Sa Dragonera freu, in the middle of the night.

The race is suitable for the Copa de España Solitarios and A2 (Mediterranean area), and is an Offshore Trophy of the Catalan Sailing Federation, both for Solitarios and A2 and for Full Cipulation.