It was not a brilliant edition on classic and time-old ships of 2020... covid19 greatly damaged the traditional event in El Abra

The Gitana 2020 Cup, the classic national panorama of the sailing that dates from 1904 and is organized by the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club, concluded in the Vizcaine waters of the Abra with the absolute triumph, after the second and final day, of the 'Asti IV' of Ibon Basáñez in the class Spirit of Tradition, the 'Alpega' of Alfonso Churruca in the class Regata-Cruise and the 'Biobizz' of José Azqueta between the J80 monotypes. This historic quote of the candle, with a beautiful story of 116 years, concluded with two barlovento-sotavento tours and loose winds and rolls on a complicated day to navigate.

The 'Asti IV', patronized by Ibon Basáñez, achieved a new triumph that was added to his meritorious palmarés in this race, thanks to his first two positions and a second in the global computation. He overcame in the Spirit of Tradition class, by this order, the 'Emilu' of Lucio Fernández, the 'Ramper' of Jairo López de Guevara, the 'Shere-Khan II' of Yan Lescan du Plessix and the 'Free Spirit' of Pablo Toja, to achieve his thirteenth victory. The 'Asti IV', a beautiful six meters international - a competition ship from the 1930s - was the most regular in all kinds of wind conditions during the weekend.

On the other hand, the Alpega of Alfonso Churruca, also with two first and one second, was the most prominent in the Regata-Cruise class, with the 'Urbegi' of Javier Larrañaga second in the general and the 'Aizen' of Gustavo Arce, the recent winner of the Costa Vasca Regata, in the third square. After the Mumm 30 winner, the "Maitena 'of Mikel Emaldi, the" Despeinado' of Carlos Maidagan, the "Rat Pack 'of Javier-varri, the' Marmotinha 'of Koldo Baez, the' Mingus' of Jon Garai and the 'Rooster' of Enrique Arriola were classified.

The one who kept his track of hits in the J80 class was the "Biobizz 'by José Azqueta, which was awarded the Gitana Cup after having recently taken the Bizkaia Championship and the Count of Godó Trophy. The' Biobizz ', in the only course established by the committee on the initial day, ended up in front of the team of the School of Vela José Luis de Ugarte, patronized by Tomás Trueba, the' Hib-Brut 'of Juan Mocoroa and the' Siemens Gamesa 'of Lourdes Bilbao.

25 / 07 / 2020: "Asti V" the best of the classics in the first day of the Gitana Cup in El Abra vizcadino

This Sunday, from 1 p.m., the test will take place that will decide the winners of a Gitana Cup with 116 years of history

The Gitana 2020 Cup started in the Vizcaina waters of the Abra with the partial victory in the first day - a 20-nude cruise race - of the 'Asti IV' of Ibon Basáñez between the classics and the period, of the 'Alpega' of Alfonso Churruca in the Regata class, of the 'Aizen' of Gustavo Arce in the Cruise class and of the 'Biobizz' of José Azqueta between the J80 monotypes.

This historic citation of the candle, whose first edition was held there in 1904, began with a coastal tour to Plentzia and turned to the inner Abra, with winds from the north-east from 6 to 10 knots.

The 'Asti IV' patroniado por Ibon Basáñez wants a new triumph in his laureate palmarés in this race and overcame in the class Spirit of Tradition the 'Shere-Khan II' of Yan Lescan du Plessix, the 'Emilu' of Lucio Fernández, the 'Ramper' of Jairo López de Guevara and the 'Free Spirit' of Pablo Toja.

On the other hand, the "Alpega 'of Alfonso Churruca, leader of the absolute general, was the most prominent in the Regata class, taking over in more than seven minutes after the time compensated to the" Maitena' of Mikel Emaldi, and in more than eight to the "Urbegi 'of Javier Larrañaga. The' Despeinado ',' Mingus' and 'Rat Pack' were then classified. The" Aizen 'Cantabre, winner of the Costa Vasca Regata a week ago, is first among the participants of Cruise, with the "Marmotinha' second and the 'Rooster' in the third position.

The one who continues with his good streak in the J80 class is the "Biobizz 'by José Azqueta, who seeks the Gitana Cup after having recently awarded the Bizkaia Championship and the Count of Godó Trophy. The' Biobizz 'used 3 hours, 39 minutes and 50 seconds in the 20 miles of coastal tour and entrance to the interior Abra, with the team of the School of Vela José Luis de Ugarte, patroned by Tomás Trueba, just under two minutes. The' Hib-Brut 'by Juan Mocoroa and the' Siemens Gamesa 'by Lourdes Bilbao were classified after the great favorite and the young promises of the Club de Las Arenas.

23 / 07 / 2020: Turno in Las Arenas for the most legendary Spanish race: the Gitana Cup of Classics

The Stradivarius of the sea are gathered in waters of Vizcaya (Photo Pedro Seoane)

The oldest race at the national level, the Gitana Cup that organizes the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club, and that since 1999 is reserved for the competition to the classic ships, will bring together more than two units of the different categories... the pistoletazo of departure at one in the afternoon, with an opening test that will have a length of about 8 miles in the "short" option and 12 in the "long" decision of the judges.

The categories will be Classical (in band 01-01-1950 to 31-12-1975), Epoch (top 31-12-1949) and Spirit of Tradition (top 31-12-1990)... by completing the J80 monotypes to give the event a better environment without sweat.

The Vizcaina waters of the Abra have seen for years before ships such as the 'Artako', 'Asti V', 'Iris III', 'Saltillo', 'Arosa', 'Cantarepe', 'Bon Temps', 'Balenharri', 'Westward of Clynder', 'Paapsud', 'Skylark'... and many other decades of navigation under their nozzles and considered as gems of the candle. The 2019 Gitana Cup was won by the 'Shere-Khan II', a She 36, in the category of classical ships, the 'Saltillo' on the ships of Epoch and the 'Gaitero', a Jod 35, in the Spirit of Tradition class.

As was the case in the Bizkaia and Regata Costa Vasca Championship - The Golden Whale Trophy already held in July, as regards the considerations for the contest of sports competitions in the situation of health surveillance by the Covid- 19, the participants must meet requirements at the entrance of the pants such as the taking of temperature to the athletes... there will be two doctors, will keep distances and will use the masks outside the competition, both by the athletes and by the members of the technical team... there will be no social events at the Club, nor the usual award.