The winners in Alfred Farré's photo. among them: Ricard Castellvé (ILCA7) winner of the Manel Albalat Trophy and Xavier García Ollé (ILCA4) Prix Diputació de Girona

Point and final in the waters of Girona, in Palamós, of the four-fifth edition of the Christmas Race... with six Spanish victories, in 470 Comité María Bover / Pablo García, in ILCA7 Ricard Castellví, in ILCA6 Male Daniel Cardona and in Female Isabel Hernández, in 420 Marc Mesquida and Ramon Jaume in Male and Stella Maris Enríquez / María Núñez in Female. In the ILCA4 the titles went to the Netherlands with the victory of Floris Scharffordt in Male and Single Brinkert in Female. The special awards Manel Albalat, to the absolute winner of the Christmas Race, has been for the Catalan Ricard Castellví (ILCA7) and the Prix Diputació de Girona, to the first absolute youth, for the ballet Xavier García Ollé.

In the 470 class, the Spanish champion crew, made up of María Bover (RCN Palma) and Pablo García (RCN Gran Canaria), has been the winner in the last day of imposing on the powerful Italian fleet, leaving the world tricampeon of Optimist Marco Gradoni and Alessandra Dubini and the double junior world subchampion Benedetta Di Salle and Francesco Padovani, in second and third position respectively.

Another Olympic class, ILCA7, podium 100% Spanish with the Catalan Ricard Castellví (CN Cambrils) win after a hard fight with the Pep Cazador (CN Arenal), which dominated the first two days, while Castellví was superior in the last two days. The third square has also been for the shooting Mario Plomer (CV Puerto d'Andratx).

The third Olympic category in Palamós, ILCA6 Feminino la canaria Isabel Hernández (RCN Gran Canaria) ended up imposing itself on Cristina Vilariño (CN Arenal) and Ascension Roca de Togores (RCN Torrevieja), who had led in the previous days. In ILCA6 Absolute and Male the title has been for Daniel Cardona (CN Arenal), followed by Dutch Daan Boekholt. Third was Hernandez who, in addition to the female title, went up to the third place in the absolute drawer.

In class 420 Marc Mesquida and Ramon Jaume (CN Arenal) won in absolute and male category, while in female they took the victory the Galician Stela Maris Enríquez / María Núñez (RCN Sanxenxo). The Catalan Pau Lfree Vinyes-Miralpeix / Alberto Marsans (CN El Balís) and the French Colin Postel / Louis Arnaud completed the absolute podium.

In the ILCA4 promotion class, both male and female titles have gone to the Netherlands, with Floris Scharffordt and Signe Brinkert. The current European champion of Optimist, Xavier García Ollé (RCN Palma) has finished second and the Finnish Tatu Uusitalo (CN Cambrils) has completed the podium.

DEFINITIVE CLASSIFICATIONS 45 CHRISTMS RACE

470 Joint (20 participants)
1 María Bover / Pablo García (ESP), 31 p
2 Marco Gradoni / Alessandra Dubini (ITA), 35 p
3 Benedetta Di Salle / Francesco Padovani (ITA), 45 p

ILCA7 (19 participants)
1 Ricard Castellví (ESP), 14 p
2 Pep Hunter (ESP), 20 p
3 Mario Plomer (ESP), 23 p

ILCA6 (63 participants)
1 Daniel Cardona (ESP), 19 p
2 Daan Boekholt (HOL), 21 p
3 Isabel Hernández (ESP), 37 p

ILCA 6 Female
1 Isabel Hernández (ESP)

420 (94 participants)
1 Marc Mesquida / Ramon Jaume (ESP), 24 p
2 Pau Lfree Vinyes-Miralpeix / Alberto Marsans (ESP), 31p
3 Colin Postel / Louis Arnaud (FRA), 35 p

420 Female
1 Stella Maris Enríquez / María Núñez (ESP)

ILCA4 (45 participants)
1 Floris Scharffordt (HOL), 12 p
2 Xavier García Ollé (ESP), 13 p
3 Tatu Uusitalo (FIN), 17 p

ILCA4 Women
1 Signe Brinkert (HOL), 47 p

2021-12-21: Struggle without barracks on Christmas Race with changes of leaders in all classes

Gradoni / Dubini (470 Junta), Castellvé (ILCA7) and Roca de Togores (ILCA6) are first in the Olympic categories (Photo Alfred Farré)

. The third day of the Christmas Race has been complete, in which the wind has accompanied from the beginning and all the planned tests have been completed. There has been a change in front positions in all classes in the absence of a day for the end, and it is all open to what may happen this Wednesday.

So in the Olympic categories we have as leaders the Italians Marco Gradoni / Alessandra Dubini (470 Junta), Ricard Castellví (ILCA7) and Roca Ascension of Togores (ILCA6 Feminine). In the non-Olympic in 420 they are first of General Marc Mesquida / Ramon Jaume and in female Stela Maris Enríquez / María Nuñez, in ILCA6 Male Dutch Daan Boekholt and in ILCA4 Xavier García Ollé and in female Dutch Signe Brinkert.

In 470 Junta there has been an important turn in the classification. The world tricampeon of Optimist, the Italian Marco Gradoni, along with Alessandra Dubini have raided the lead and will reach the final day with ten points of advantage over the second classified, the Spanish María Bover (RCN Palma) and Pablo García (RCN Gran Canaria), while the Italians Benedetta Di Salle and Francesco Padovani, leaders to this day, have fallen to the third position.

The Catalan Ricard Castellví (CN Cambrils) has been placed in the head of the ILCA7 Olympic class by surpassing the Pep Cazador (CN Arenal), which led the general from the first day. Castellví has performed 3-2-1, which allow him to reach the final day in the head with two venting points over Cazador. Third is the Mario Plomer (CV Port d'Andratx).

In ILCA6, Dutch crews have stalked the podium, Daan Boekholt is the new leader after adding two first and one fifth in the last tests. The Daniel Cardona (CN Arenal) is second to two points. Third is the Lars Jansen, which in general exceeds the alicantine Roca de Togores (Torrevieja RCN), which is the first female.

In ILCA4 the current European champion of Optimist, the shooting Xavier García Ollé (RCN Palma) is the new leader, although tied to points with the Finnish Tatu Uusitalo (CN Cambrils). García Ollé won the first test of the day and although he did an eighth in the second, he automatically ruled out this result. Use it for a 2-3. The third place is now for the Dutch Floris Schraffordt, who has overcome Pol Núñez Via-Dufresne (RCN Gran Canaria) who has left the podium posts provisionally.

The largest class, the 420, also has new leaders, the baleares Marc Mesquida and Ramon Jaume (CN Arenal), who won the last manga of the day. The French Colin Postel / Louis Arnaud and the Catalan Pau Lfree Vinyes- Miralpeix / Alberto Marsans (CN El Balís) are two-pronged. The first female crew is that of the Galician Stela Maris Enríquez and María Nuñez (RCN Vigo) who are fourth in the general and keep their options of absolute victory intact.

CLASSIFICATIONS 45 CHRISTMAS RACE (After the third day)

470 Joint (20 participants)
1 Marco Gradoni / Alessandra Dubini (ITA), 16 p
2 María Bover / Pablo García (ESP), 26 p
3 Benedetta Di Salle / Francesco Padovani (ITA), 27 p

ILCA7 (19 participants)
1 Ricard Castellví (ESP), 11 p
2 Pep Hunter (ESP), 13 p
3 Mario Plomer (ESP), 16 p

ILCA6 (63 participants)
1 Daan Boekholt (HOL), 12 p
2 Daniel Cardona (ESP), 14 p
3 Lars Jansen (HOL), 17 p
4 Roca de Togores (ESP) Ascension, 22 p

420 (94 participants)
1 Marc Mesquida / Ramon Jaume (ESP), 15 p
2 Colin Postel / Louis Arnaud (FRA), 17 p
3 Pau Lfree Vinyes-Miralpeix / Alberto Marsans (ESP), 17 p
4 Stella Maris Enríquez / María Núñez (ESP), 19 p

ILCA4 (45 participants)
1 Xavier García Ollé (ESP), 8 p
2 Tatu Uusitalo (FIN), 8 p
3 Floris Schraffordt (HOL), 27 p

2021-12-20: The 470 save the second day of Christmas Race in Palamós

Gradoni / Dubini (ITA) and Haason / Tamir (ISR) in full struggle. (Photo Alfred Farré)

It was not easy for the Regata Committees on this second day of the Christmas Race, an international race that was disputed until next Wednesday in the waters of Palamós. All the classes keep their leaders, in 470 Junta, the only one who has competed remains the Italian crew of Benedetta Di Salle and Francesco Pavone.

The powerful anti-cyclone on the Costa Brava is causing many complications for navigation. If on the first day they managed to save the day, this second was more complicated if it fits. Until 12 noon the fleet was not sent to the water and until 15 hours it was not possible to give the exits in all classes, it was with a soft breeze from the south-west (garby) with an intensity of just 3-4 knots.

The double classes, which were sailing in the Alpha area in front of Torre Valentina, had some more wind and the 470 Mixts were the only ones who could finish the test. Not like the 420 that came out later, but the wind ended up falling. While the ILCA, which did so in the Bravo area, located in front of the Palamós Lighthouse, had less pressure and although they also started their tests, the wind did not blow with enough intensity, so the Committee had no choice but to annul.

The 470 Joint class, with the test disputed today and the three of Sunday, is the most advanced in the competition with four contested sleeves, thus the fleet has already ruled out its worst result. The Italian crews dominate the podium with two teams tied to five points, that of the double youth world subchampion Benedetta Di Salle with Francesco Padovani and that of the triple world champion of Optimist Marco Gradoni who sails with Alessandra Dubini and who has won today's test, thus climbing from the fourth to the second position.

The current Spanish champions, María Bover (RCN Palma) and Pablo García (RCN Gran Canaria) have climbed from the seventh to the fifth position after being able to rule out the black flag (UFD) offline of the third manga, today the Balearo-Canaria crew has performed a tenth place in the only trial held. The fourth square between Spanish and Italian is occupied by the current European champions, the Israelis Nitai Hasson and Saar Tamir, who are two points away from the podium.

The 420 class, which came out after the 470, seemed to be able to finish the test, but the wind was gradually falling, so the ships were unable to complete the tour, as was the case with the ILCA. Thus the individual classes remain the same in terms of the head positions with Pep Hunter (CN Arenal) in ILCA7, Daniel Cardona and Cristina Vilariño (CN Arenal) in ILCA6 and Tatu Uusitalo (CN Cambrils) and Alejandra Peleteiro (RCN Sanxenxo) in ILCA4.

CLASSIFICATIONS 45th CHRISTMAS RACE (After the second day)

470 Joint (20 participants)
1 Benedetta Di Salle / Francesco Padovani (ITA), 5 p
2 Marco Gradoni / Alessandra Dubini (ITA), 5 p
3 Elena Berta / Jacoppo Izzo (ITA), 10 p
5 María Bover / Pablo García (ESP), 13 p

ILCA7 (19 participants)
1 Pep Hunter (ESP), 5 p
2 Ricard Castellví (ESP), 5 p
3 Samuel Beneyto (ESP), 9 p

ILCA6 (63 participants)
1 Daniel Cardona (ESP), 5 p
2 Cristina Vilariño (ESP), 9 p
3 Roca de Togores (ESP) Ascension, 13 p

420 (94 participants)
1 Alice Davis / Oliver Rayner (GBR), 4 p
2 Marc Mesquida / Ramon Jaume (ESP), 4 p
3 Giulia Schultze / Andrea Vichy (ITA), 6 p
4 Stella Maris Enríquez / María Núñez (ESP), 11 p

ILCA4 (45 participants)
1 Tatu Uusitalo (FIN), 3 p
2 Xavier García Ollé (ESP), 5 p
3 Pol Núñez Via-Dufresne (ESP), 8 p

2021-12-19: Pep Hunter (ILCA7) and Benedetta Di Salle (470 Joint), lead the Christmas Race

Cardona and Vilariño (ILCA6), David / Rayner and Enríquez / Núñez (420) and Uusitalo (ILCA4), the first others (Photo Alfred Farré)

Cardona and Vilariño (ILCA6), David / Rayner (420) and Uusitalo (ILCA4) the first Balear crews are placed in the first positions in all classes Palamós (Girona) .- The 45th Christmas Race was launched in the waters of Palamós Bay. In ILCA7 and ILCA6, the power of the Pep Cazador baleal crews, Daniel Cardona and Cristina Vilariño in ILCA6 and in the non-Olympic ones, the British Alice Davis / Oliver Rayner and the Italian Giulia Schultze and Andrea Vicky in 420 male and female and the Finnish Tatu Uusitalo in ILCA4.

In the Olympic class ILCA7 equality is maximum in the head of the table between the Pep Hunting (CN Arenal) and the Catalan Ricard Castellví (CN Cambrils), which end the first day tied to five points. Hunting made a first and a fourth, while Castellvé marked a second and a third. Four points behind is the canary Samuel Beneyto (RCN Gran Canaria) which has performed a seventh and a second as partial. The second test of the day was won by Mario Plomer (CN Andratx) which is fourth in the general two points from the podium squares.

In the new Olympic class 470 Joint, Italian rule with the double subchampion of the youth world Benedetta Di Salle along with Francesco Padovani, are the first leaders after performing 1-3-1. The second square is also for the transalpines Elena Berta and Jacoppo Izzo and third are the French Hugo Le Clech and Julia Colombe. The first Spanish crew is that formed by the balar María Bover (RCN Palma) and the canary Pablo García (RCN Gran Canaria) who started very well and led the general after a third and a first, but an off-line with a black flag in the third manga of the day temporarily relegates them to the seventh position.

The ILCA6 jointly competes in the male and female category. The ballistic crews of the Arenal CN lead the fleet, Daniel Cardona is a leader, followed by Cristina Vilariño. The third place in the general is for the alicantine Avension Roca de Togores (RCN Torrevieja).

In class 420 they also sail together. Head the table between the mixed couple of the British Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner and the baleares Marc Mesquida and Ramon Jaume (CN Arenal), both have held the same posts, a first and a third, which makes them four points at the end of the first day. The Italian crew of Giulia Schultze and Andrea Vichy occupy the third place. The first and fourth female crew in the general is that of the Galician Stella Maris Enríquez and María Núñez (RCN Vigo).

In the ILCA4 class, the Finnish Tatu Uusitalo (CN Cambrils) is a leader, with a first and a second; to which the current European champion of the Optimist class, the Mallorcan Xavier García Ollé (RCN Palma), who won the second test of day and third is the canary Pol Núñez Vía-Dufresne (RCN Gran Canaria), son of the Olympic gold Begoña Via- Dufresne... by Monday is scheduled to hold three tests in all classes from 11 o'clock in the morning.

ILCA7 (19 participants)
1 Pep Hunter (ESP), 5 p
2 Ricard Castellví (ESP), 5 p
3 Samuel Beneyto (ESP), 9 p

470 Joint (20 participants)
1 Benedetta Di Salle / Francesco Padovani (ITA), 5 p
2 Elena Berta / Jacoppo Izzo (ITA), 13 p
3 Hugo Le Clech / Julia Colombe (FRA), 16 p
7 María Bover / Pablo García (ESP), 25 p

ILCA6 (63 participants)
1 Daniel Cardona (ESP), 5 p
2 Cristina Vilariño (ESP), 9 p
3 Roca de Togores (ESP) Ascension, 13 p

420 (94 participants)
1 Alice Davis / Oliver Rayner (GBR), 4 p
2 Marc Mesquida / Ramon Jaume (ESP), 4 p
3 Giulia Schultze / Andrea Vichy (ITA), 6 p
4 Stella Maris Enríquez / María Núñez (ESP), 11 p

ILCA4 (45 participants)
1 Tatu Uusitalo (FIN), 3 p
2 Xavier García Ollé (ESP), 5 p
3 Pol Núñez Via-Dufresne (ESP), 8 p

2021-12-18: 300 light Olympic sailing ships from 17 countries on the Christmas Race of Palamós

Olympic Regatists, World and European Champions compete from 18 to 22 December in Palamós waters (Photo Alfred Farré)

The Christmas Race, organized by the Nàutic Costa Brava Vela Palamós Club, reaches its 45 edition with a participation close to the 300 crews and 400 regatists of both Olympic sailing (470 Junta, ILCA6 Female and ILCA7) and light sailing (ILCA4, ILCA6 Male and 420 Male and Female), representing 17 countries.

As for international participation in the new Olympic category 470 Joint the level is highest with the presence of the three-time world champion of Optimist the Italian Marco Gradoni; the also Italian Benedetta Di Salle, twice world champion of 470 Young Women; the current absolute European champions, the Israelites Nitai Hasson / Saar Tamir and the subchampion of the absolute world, the Portuguese Diogo Costa, among others.

Also the current Spanish champions of 470 Junta, the Balar María Bover, the champion of Europe, a world bronze of Optimist and several world and continental podiums of 420, which teamed with the canary Pablo García will fight for victory in Palamós.

By class the participation will be as follows: ILCA4 Male (32 registered), ILCA4 Female (17 registered), ILCA6 Male (43 registered), ILCA6 Female (32 registered), ILCA7 (24 registered), 420 Male (72 registered), 420 Female (31 registered) and 470 Joint (21 registered).

Countries present at 45 Christmas Race: Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

The Christmas Race is organized by the Club Nàutic Costa Brava Vela Palamós, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Catalana de Vela. And it has the collaboration of the General Secretariat of l'Esport de la Generalitat, the Diputació de Girona, Ports de la Generalitat and the Ajuntment de Palamós.

2021-12-17: Christmas Race begins... on the horizon of the Paris Olympic Games

Here's to Christmas Race... from left to right Anna Julia, Lluís Puig, Pere Vila, Xavier Torres, Miquel Avigó and Cristina Pujol (Photo Alfred Farré)

The 45th edition of the international race Christmas Race, which will be held from 18 to 22 December in the waters of the Bay of Palamós and which will bring together about 300 boats from 17 countries, has been presented today at the Club Nàutic Costa Brava Vela Palamós. Following the cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic, the gerundense race returns with strength with 370 crews, 400 regatists from 17 countries

This Saturday will be the day of registration and from Sunday to Wednesday the competition will be held for the classes ILCA4 Male and Female, ILCA6 Male and Female, ILCA7, 420 Male and Female and 470 Joint, will be the classes participating in the 45 edition of the Christmas Race.

Christmas Race also makes this year a commitment to sustainability, making it a sustainable race. For the first time the registration of participants will be made 100% telematics, that is, without paper and by another band will also be free of plastics, a water source has been installed to the facilities of the Nautic Club Costa Brava Vela Palamós because both participants and organizers who go to sea can recharge their reusable canteens before leaving and do not carry plastic bottles at sea, to avoid as much as possible marine pollution.