Catalan Jordi Xammar and Galician Nicolás Rodríguez win the Christmas Race of Palamós. Photo: Alfred Farré

Today, in the waters of Palamós Bay (Girona), the 41 edition of the Christmas Race, an international race of Olympic and youth classes of the World Sailing, has been completed, in which 400 vessels from 23 countries have participated. The Catalan-Galician crew formed by the Olympic Jordi Xammar and Nicolás Rodríguez has been the winner in 470 Male. While the French Cassandre Blandini and Aloise Returnaz, in 470 Women, are the winners of the Manuel Albalat Trophy, the absolute winner of the Christmas Race. There have also been Spanish victories in non-Olympic classes. In Europe the Catalan Sergi Pérez, in Laser Radial Male, the bat Rafael de la Hoz, in 420 Female Aina Colom / Vicky Reynés and in 29 er Albert Gelpí / Alexandre Boquet.

In 470 Men Jordi Xammar and Nicolás Rodríguez (CN Garraf) depended on themselves to win. The Catalan-Galician crew had to stay ahead of the Germans Simon Diesh and Philipp Autenrieth and so they did. The Spaniards were rooms at the sixth German Medal. At the end of the first Xammar / Rodríguez, the Ukrainians Borys Shvet / Pavlo Matsuyev, seconds and Diesh / Aytenrieth, third. Very good performance of the bats-Andalusian crew of José Manuel Ruíz and Fernando Dávila (CN Mar Menor / CN El Candado) finishing fourth.

In 470, the Catalan-Balear crew formed by Silvia Mas and Paula Barceló (CN S'Arenal) has won the subchampionship. They went from less to more and after winning the Medal Race they climbed a post in the general by finishing second, ending among the champions, the French Cassandre Blundi / Aloise Retortaz that were imposed on six of the nine trials disputed, and the third, Charlotte Yven and Marine Riou. The Olympics in Rio 2016, Bàrbara Cornudella and Sara López, who were in a possible area throughout Christmas Race, finished the Medal and fell to the fourth place in the final general.

In the Finn Alex Muscat class (CN Garraf) he has lost his position on the podium at the Medal Race. The Catalan has not been able to defend his position and after being seventh in the final, he has closed his participation in Palamós fourth in the general. The victory has been for the great favorite, the Argentine Olympic Facundo Olezza, second has finished the Croatian Milan Vujasinović and third the Czech, Ondrej Teped. The Italian Alessio Spadoni won the Medal Race.

In the 49er class the brothers Federico and Arturo Alonso (RCR Astur de Regatas) tried it until the last moment, have been third in the Medal and have finished to a podium point, fifths in the general. The victory has been for the French Kévin Fischer and Yann Jauvin. Second the Poles Dominik Buksak (Szymon Wierzbicki and third the French Erwan Fischer / Thibault Julien.

In FX, Dutch crews have been the clear dominators from beginning to end. Kister / Becker, Lambriez / Janmaat and Van Dongen / Van Vught have copped the podium. The Catalan Carla and Marta Munté (CN Cambrils) have been the best Spanish in sixth place in the final general.

In the 29th triumph of the Catalans Albert Gelpí and Alexandre Boquet (CN El Balís), second were the Italians Margherita Porro and Luca Fracassi and third the Russians Ivan Volchkov and Nikita Kanafev.

In 420 females, the Aina Colom and Vicky Sisk (CN S'Arenal) baleares were proclaimed champions, followed by the French Clara Olive and Lea Carpentier and third by the alicantinas Julia Miñana and Silvia Sebastiá.

In 420 Male triplete on the podium of French crews, first Devic / Carpentier, second Cousin / Migraine and third Balanger / Cron. The Catalans Eduard Ferrer / Carlos de Maqua (CN El Balís) have finished in fifth position.

In Laser Standard the Russian Sergey Komissarov has not given any choice, so he arrived with a good mattress of points to the Medal Race. The Dutch Duko Bos has been second and third the Polish Filip Ciszkiewicz. The Alicantino Jesús Rogel (RCN Torrevieja) has been the best Spanish seventh in the final general after being sixth in the Medal Race.

In Laser Radio Feminino the Italian Olympic Francesca Clapcich was able to defend her position in the leadership by controlling her main opponent in the struggle for victory, the Dutch Maxime Jonker, who won the Medal, but the transalpine finished second and thus took the title. Third was also the Olympic Tatiana Drozdovskaya. The first Spanish was the Catalan Laura Oliva (CM Torredembarra).

In Laser Radio Male Rafael de la Hoz (CN Mar Minor) has been made with victory after winning the Medal Race. The bat has ended up tied to points with the Catalan Matías Sabaté (CN El Masnou) second. The British Milo Gill- Taylor has finished third.

In Europe the victory of Sergi Pérez (CN L'Estartit), dominator from beginning to end. It was the only class that did not make Medal Race, which ended with three sleeves in which the gerundense made a 13-4-1. The second square has been for Alejandro Pareja (RCN Torrevieja) and third the Catalan Daniel Campoy (CN Port d'Aro).

If in the previous days the excess wind was the one that marked the pattern in the final day to eolo it was difficult to enter, but finally he went to the quote after noon finally all the Medal Race could be disputed, thus completing a successful Christmas Race.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Finn (31 participants)
1 Facundo Olezza (ARG), 20 p
2 Milan Vujasinović (CRO), 26 p
3 Ondrej Teach (CZE), 30 p
4 Alex Muscat (ESP), 32 p

Laser Standard (41 participants)
1 Sergey Komissarov (RUS), 17 p
2 Duko Bos (NED), 25 p
3 Filip Cizkiewicz (POL), 33 p
.
7 Jesus Rogel (ESP), 53 p

Female Radio Laser (22 participants)
1 Francesca Clapcich (ITA), 11 p
2 Maxime Jonker (NED), 14 p
3 Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), 19 p
.
7 Laura Oliva (ESP), 41 p

Male Radial Laser (34 participants)
1 Rafael de la Hoz (ESP), 19 p
2 Matías Sabaté (ESP), 19 p
3 Milo Gil-Taylor (GBR), 23 p

470 Male (28 participants)
1 Jordi Xammar / Nicolá Rodríguez (ESP), 22 p
2 Borys Shvets / Pavlo Matsuyev (UKR), 23 p
3 Simon Diesch / Philipp Autenrieth (GER), 24 p

470 Women (10 participants)
1 Cassandre Blandi / Aloise Returnaz (FRA), 16 p
2 Silvia Mas / Paula Barceló (ESP), 29 p
3 Charlotte Yven / Marine Riou (FRA), 32 p

420 Women (39 participants)
1 Aina Colom / Vicky Sisk (ESP), 14 p
2 Clara Olivé / Lea Carpentier (FRA), 18 p
3 Julia Miñana / Silvia Sebastiá (ESP), 29 p

420 Male (55 participants)
1 Jules Devic / Tim Carpentier (FRA), 22 p
2 Paul Cousin / Ulysse Migraine (FRA), 46 p
3 Enzo Balenger / Clemen Cron (FRA), 3 p
.
5 Eduard Ferrer / Carlos de Maqua (ESP), 56 p

49er (16 participants)
1 Kévin Fischer / Yann Jauvin (FRA), 24 p
2 Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki (POL), 37 p
3 Erwan Fischer / Thibauth Julien (FRA), 40 p
.
5 Federico Alonso / Arturo Alonso (ESP), 41 p

FX (13 participants)
1 Jeske Keters / Robin Becker (NED), 16 p
2 Bart Lambriex / Cecile Janmaat (NED), 23 p
3 Cas Van Dongen / Pim Van Vugt (NED), 25 p
.
6 Carla Munté / Marta Munté (ESP), 39 p

29er (19 participants)
1 Albert Gelpí / Alexandre Boquet (ESP), 12 p
2 Margherita Porro / Luca Fracassi (ITA), 24 p
3 Ivan Volchkov / Nikita Kanafev (RUS), 24 p

Europe (40 participants)
1 Sergi Pérez (ESP), 13 p
2 Alexander Couple (ESP), 25 p
3 Daniel Campoy (ESP), 26 p

The strong wind marks a new epic day in Palamós

The 470 sailing through waves in the waters of Palamós. Photo: Alfred Farré

Three Spanish crews arrive in second position in the different Olympic classes at the final day of the 41 Christmas Race: Alex Muscat in Finn; Jordi Xammar and Nicolás Rodríguez in 470 Male and Bàrbara Cornudella and Sara López in 470 Female. In non-Olympic classes After the time of last Tuesday that left the fleet on the ground, the north wind continued to blow with force between 25 and 35 knots, but today the height of the waves on the coast of Palamós, allowed half of the fleet to resail on Christmas Race after a great work of the Regata Committees. The Europe, 420 Women, 29er and Laser Radio were left on the ground for caution.

In the Finn class, the Argentine Olympic Facundo Olezza, arrives leader in the Medal Race. Today, with two seconds in place, he keeps the head of the table, but with the Catalan Alex Muscat (CN Garraf) and the Croatian Milan Vujasinović, who follow the wake, second and third of the general four points from the South American. The great protagonist of the day was the Finnish Mikael Hyrlyainen, who proved to be a great specialist with strong wind winning the two tests of the day and placing fourth in the general. Muscat made two rooms on a complicated day for him. The Medal Race will also sail the Cantabre Victor Gorostegui (RCM Santander), which is eighth in the general.

In 470, the Catalan Jordi Xammar and the Galician Nicolás Rodríguez (CN Garraf) have temporarily lost their leadership, although the difference is two points with the new leaders, the Germans Simon Diesch and Phillip Autenrieth. Xammar and Rodríguez marked a 2-5-3. Third are the Ukrainians Borys Shvet and Pavlo Matsuyev. The bat José Manuel Ruiz and the Andalusian Fernando Dávila (CN Mar Menor / CN El Candado) have climbed to the fourth position. The Catalan are David Charles and Joan Herp (CN El Balís / RCN Barcelona).

In 470 Feminine the French Cassandre Blandin and Aloise Returnaz remain untreatable two more first and there are already seven out of eight possible. They lead with solvency on the Catalan Bàrbara Cornudella and Sara López (CN El Balís) and the Silvia Mas and Paula Barceló (CN S'Arenal), separated between them by just one point. The Catalan Medal Aura Miquel and Andrea Doreeste (CN Vilanova / CN Port d'Aro) will also be held.

The 49ers had a single trial first thing in the afternoon. In which the Assyrian brothers Federico and Arturo Alonso (RC Astur de Regatas) made a fifth, the same position they occupy in the general. The Poles Dominik Buksak and Wierzbicki are the first. One point behind is the Danish Frederik Rank / Nikolaj Hoffmann and the French Kévin Fischer / Yann Jauvin.

In Laser Standard the Russian Sergey Komissarov is first prominent, followed by Dutch Diko Bos and Czech Viktor Tepell. The Joan Cardona Ballet (RCN Palma) comes seventh and will seek the podium at the Medal Race. The Sicantine Jesus Rogel, who did a second in the first test of the day, then made an off-line with a black flag, bringing it down to the eighth position.

In 420 Male clear domain of French crews that are giving no choice. Devic / Carpentier, Balanger / Cron and Cousin / Migraine will play the medals. The best Spanish are the Catalan Eduard Ferrer / Carlos de Maqua (CN El Balís) in fifth position. The Medal Race, the Catalans Alex Bru / Nil López (CN El Balís), are also to be held in the sixth; the Gallegos Adrián Domínguez / Antoni Ripoll (CN El Balís), sepmos and the Andalusian Pablo Flethes and Manuel Páez (CN Puerto Sherry / CN Sevilla), will be held in the second place.

Tomorrow Thursday the exit of the Medal Race will be ahead at 10 in the morning.

CLASSIFICATIONS (After Day 4)

Finn (31 participants)
1 Facundo Olezza (ARG), 14 p
2 Alex Muscat (ESP), 18 p
3 Milan Vujasinović (CRO); 18 p

Laser Standard (41 participants)
1 Sergey Komissarov (RUS), 7 p
2 Duko Bos (NED), 19 p
3 Viktor Teach (CZE), 22 p
.
7 Joan Cardona (ESP), 34 p

Female Radio Laser (22 participants)
1 Francesca Clapcich (ITA), 30 p
2 Maxime Jonker (NED), 35 p
3 Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), 22 p
.
7 Laura Oliva (ESP), 50 p

Male Radial Laser (34 participants)
1 Victor Simo (ESP), 15 p
2 Matias Sabaté (ESP), 15 p
3 Rafael De la Hoz (ESP), 17 p

470 Male (28 participants)
1 Simon Diesh / Phillip Autenrieth (GER), 12 p
2 Jordi Xammar / Nicolás Rodríguez (ESP), 14 p
3 Borys Shvets / Pavlo Matsuyev (UKR), 19 p

470 Women (10 participants)
1 Cassandre Blandin / Aloise Returnaz (FRA), 8 p
2 Bàrbara Cornudella / Sara López (ESP), 22 p
3 Silvia Mas / Paula Barceló (ESP), 23 p

49er (16 participants)
1 Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki (POL), 21 p
2 Frederik Rank / Nikolaj Hoffmann (DEN), 22 p
3 Kévin Fischer / Yann Jauvin (FRA), 22 p
.
5 Federico Alonso / Arturo Alonso (ESP), 35 p

420 Male (61 participants)
1 Jules Devic / Tim Carpentier (FRA), 16 p
2 Enzo Balanger / Clement Cron (FRA), 34 p
3 Paul Cousin / Ulysse Migrane (FRA), 36 p

420 Women (39 participants)
1 Aina Colom / Vicky Sisk (ESP), 10 p
2 Clara Olive / Lea Carpentier (ESP), 16 p
3 Maria Bover / Carmen Pieras (ESP), 21 p

Class 29er (19 participants)
1 Albert Gelpí / Alexandre Boquet (ESP), 8 p
2 Ivan Volchov / Nikita Kanafev (RUS), 14 p
3 Tània Bonilla / Núria Miró (ESP), 21 p

Europe Class (40 participants)
1 Sergi Pérez (ESP), 8 p
2 Alexander Couple (ESP), 11 p
3 Oriol ArruFat (ESP), 19 p

The temporary fort causes the suspension of the third day of the Christmas Race

Spectacular wave passing through La Llosa de Palamós. Photo: Alfred Farré

The strong weather of wind, rain and waves that has plagued the Gerundense coast since yesterday has caused the suspension of the third day of the sailing Chritmas Race. Sustained winds of 25 knots of north component with 30-35 and 4-5-meter waves have prevented the fleet from leaving port.

The tests were scheduled to start at 11: 00 in the morning, but the weather parts were being carried out and the wind was still blowing in the bay of Palamós.

The meteorologist of the Christmas Race, Enric Agud, explains that "the deep depression in the Mediterranean is raising waves of up to 10 meters to 10 miles from the field of regatas (ocean buoy of Begur) and winds of more than 30 knots. These conditions will be maintained throughout the day. The time shall be at least 24 more hours."

The director of the race, Carles Palomares, who has gone out to see in situ the state of the sea explained that "the conditions were not suitable to compete, due to the strong waves in the area of race fields located opposite Cap Gros, La Llosa and Platja d'Aro." The most responsible of the race is confident that "the sea conditions will be more favourable tomorrow, as this is what today posed the greatest danger to the regatists."

The forecast for tomorrow is to blow winds of 20-22 knots of intensity. Palomares comments that "the idea for tomorrow is to modify the routes with barloventos-sotaventos and if the thing remains difficult to try to mount the field of races inside the bay."

Xammar / Rodríguez continue leaders with the arrival of the temporary to the Christmas Race

The storm reached the bay of Palamós with force. Photo: Alfred Farré

The weather forecasts were met and the progress in the start of the tests on the second day of the Christmas Race allowed for the competition on Monday in the waters of the bay of Palamós. The north component wind at first hour was already installed between 15 and 20 knots and as the day went forward it was up to 25 with 30 rachas, so after the second or third test in the different classes, the organization decided to send the fleet to port.

In 470, the Catalan Jordi Xammar and the Galician Nicolás Rodríguez (CN Garraf) have taken the lead and with two first they have taken the lead ahead of the Germans Simon Diesh and Phillip Autenrieth, who have followed the stela with two seconds. The Ukrainians Borys Shvet and Matsuyev are third parties, today also with two third parties as partial posts.

In Finn there is a triple tie in the head of the classification between the Argentine Facundo Olezza, who yesterday led in solo and today has made an off-line with black flag, the Catalan Alex Muscat (CN Garraf), who has also made an off-line but has resolved it in the second manga of the day with a first and the Croatian Milan Vujasinović, which has been the most effective with a 1-2.

In 470 women dominate the French Cassandre Blandin and Aloïse Returnaz two new first positions. They are followed by the Olympic Bàrbara Cornudella and Sara López (CN El Balís) and the Catalan-balar crew of Silvia Mas and Paula Barceló (CN S'Arenal), which are confirmed in podium positions.

At Laser Standard the domain is of Russian Sergey Komissarov who has been confirmed as leader with two first partials. Second is Dutch Duko Bos and third is Czech Viktor Tepell. The Alicantino Jesús Rogel (RCN Torrevieja) is the first Spanish in fifth position.

In Laser Radio Feminino, the Italian Olympic Francesca Clapcich, who with two second positions dominates the general with five points on the Dutch Maxime Jonker, has become a new leader. Third is the Olympic Belarusian Tatiana Drozdovskaya.

In FX the Dutch domain is maintained with three crews from the Netherlands copying the podium, which is formed by Keters / Becker, Lambriex / Janmat and Van Dongen / Van Vught. The sisters Carla and Marta Munté (CN Cambrils) occupy the fourth square two points from the podium.

In 49er head the fleet the Poles Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki. The French Fisher / Jauvin and the Danish Rask / Buhl follow. The Asturians Federico and Arturo Alonso (RC Astur de Regatas) are fifth in the general after winning the first test of the day and a DNS in the second.

The Europe class was the first to finish. After the first manga and with more than 20 knots established in the field of regatas it ended the day. The Catalan Daniel Campoy (CN Port d'Aro) won the test, while the general still led by Sergi Pérez (CN L'Estartit) who was third in the manga, allowing him to continue leading the general with three points of advantage over the Alicantino Alejandro Pareja (RCN Torrevieja). Third is Catalan Oriol Arrufat (CN El Balís).

In 420 females the Aina Colom and Vicky Reynés (CN S'Arenal) baleares have been placed in the head of the table after a 4-2. The first leaders, Lala Akrich / Tata Homar (RCN Palma / CN S'Arenal), were unable to complete the second test today, giving way to the first position down to the sixth square. Second are the French Clara Olive / Lea Carpentier and third the Majorcan María Bover and Carmen Pieras (RCN Palma).

In 420 Male two sleeves could be played. The French Jules Devic and Tim Carpentier are leaders, who keep the fleet's head ahead of the Italians Riccardo Spe / Tommaso Iacchia. The first Spanish are Nacho Dávila / Javi Mestre (CN El Balís) in fifth position.

In 29er, the Catalans Albert Gelpí and Alexandre Boquet (CN El Balís), with two first as partial, are first consolidated with six points of advantage over the Russians Ivan Volchev and Nikita Kanafev. Third are the Catalan Tània Bonilla and Núria Miró (CN Garraf).

CLASSIFICATIONS

Finn (31 participants)
1 Facundo Olezza (ARG), 10 p
2 Alex Muscat (ESP), 10 p
3 Milan Vujasinović (CRO), 10 p

Laser Standard (41 participants)
1 Sergey Komissarov (RUS), 5 p
2 Duko Bos (NED), 18 p
3 Viktor Teach (CZE), 19 p
.
5 Jesus Rogel (ESP), 24 p

Female Radio Laser (22 participants)
1 Francesca Clapcich (ITA), 30 p
2 Maxime Jonker (NED), 35 p
3 Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), 22 p
.
7 Laura Oliva (ESP), 50 p

470 Male (28 participants)
1 Jordi Xammar / Nicolás Rodríguez (ESP), 4 p
2 Simon Diesh / Phillip Autenrieth (GER), 9 p
3 Borys Shvets / Pavlo Matsuyev (UKR), 11 p

470 Women (10 participants)
1 Cassandre Blandin / Aloïse Returnaz (FRA), 5 p
2 Bàrbara Cornudella / Sara López (ESP), 11 p
3 Silvia Mas / Paula Barceló (ESP), 13 p
FX (13 participants)
1 Jeske Keters / Robin Becker (NED), 15 p
2 Bart Lambriex / Cecile Janmat (NED), 17 p
3 Cas Van Dongen / Pim Van Vught (NED), 29 p
4 Carla Munté / Marta Munté (ESP), 31 p

49er (16 participants)
1 Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki (POL), 21 p
2 Kévin Fischer / Yann Jauvin (FRA), 28 p
3 Fredrik Rank / Nikolaj Hoffmann Buhl (DEN), 30 p
.
5 Federico Alonso / Arturo Alonso (ESP), 47 p

Male Radial Laser (34 participants)
1 Victor Simo (ESP), 15 p
2 Matias Sabaté (ESP), 15 p
3 Rafael De la Hoz (ESP), 17 p

420 Women (39 participants)
1 Aina Colom / Vicky Sisk (ESP), 10 p
2 Clara Olive / Lea Carpentier (ESP), 16 p
3 Maria Bover / Carmen Pieras (ESP), 21 p

420 Male (61 participants)
1 Jules Devic / Tim Carpentier (FRA), 10 p
2 Riccardo Sepe / Tommaso Iacchia (ITA), 17 p
3 Enzo Balanger / Clement Cron (FRA), 19 p

Class 29er (19 participants)
1 Albert Gelpí / Alexandre Boquet (ESP), 8 p
2 Ivan Volchov / Nikita Kanafev (RUS), 14 p
3 Tània Bonilla / Núria Miró (ESP), 21 p

Europe Class (40 participants)
1 Sergi Pérez (ESP), 8 p
2 Alexander Couple (ESP), 11 p
3 Oriol ArruFat (ESP), 19 p

The Olympic Xammar and Nico Rodríguez lead the Christmas Race of Palamós

Class 470 Male fleet with Xammar and Rodríguez on the right. Photo: Alfred Farré

The Olympic in Rio 2016, Jordi Xammar, along with his new partner in this cycle, the Galician Nicolás Rodríguez, are the first leaders in the 470 Male class. In Olympic classes, the Catalans Alex Muscat and Bàrbara Cornudella / Sara López are second in Finn and 470 Women respectively and Laura Oliva and the Silvia Mas / Paula Barceló baleares, third in Laser Radio Female and 470 Women, respectively.

In 470, the Catalan Jordi Xammar and the Galician Nicolás Rodríguez (CN El Garraf) are the first leaders of the Christmas Race after the first day of race. Xammar and Herp - the current Spanish champions - began with a sixth but continued with two seconds that place them at the top of the table, although tied to eight points with the Ukrainians Shvet / Matsuyev. Third are the Portuguese Diego and Pedro Costa to three of the first two.

In 470, the Olympic women in Rio Bàrbara Cornudella and Sara López (CN El Balís) have started the Christmas Race with strength. The maremense crew after a 5-1-2 is placed three points from the leaders, the French Cassandre Blandin and Aloïse Returnaz. Tercers are the baleares Silvia Mas and Paula Barceló (CN S'Arenal), which with a 7-5-2, provisionally close podium square.

In the Finn class, the Argentine Facundo Olezza has debuted in Palamós with 1-3-1. The star is followed by the Catalan Alex Muscat with a 2-5-2, placing itself four points from the South American regatist. Muscat who was second in the last edition of the Christmas Race seeks his first victory.

In FX absolute domain of Dutch crews led by Bart Lambriex and Cecile Janmat. The Catalan Carla and Marta Munté are the first Spanish after the first day of competition after performing a 3-8-6-3 and are placed at one point of the podium posts that close Cas Van Dongen / Pim Van Vugt.

In the 49er class, the Poles Buksak / Wierzbicki are the first to control the general. The partials were won by French Kévin Fischer / Yann Jauvin, the Danish Fredrik Rank / Nicolaj Hoffmann Buhl, Erwan Fischer / Thibault Julien. The Assyrian brothers Federico and Arturo Alonso are the first Spanish crew to be placed in fifth position just eight from the podium.

In the Laser Standard class the Russian Sergey Komissarov has started mastering without too much complications by winning the first test and continuing with two seconds and leaving by taking 15 points to the second classified, Dutch Duko Bos. The first Spanish in the general is the Mallorcan Joan Cardona (RCN Palma) that began with good foot, with a second but then marked an 18 and a 10. Leading a group of three Spaniards, one point behind the bullet is the eighth of the Alicantino Jesús Rogel (RCN Torrevieja) and the ninth of the Catalan Món Cañellas (CN Cambrils).

In Laser Radio Feminino the Swiss Maud Jayet dominates the general, followed by the Olympic Belarusian Tatiana Drozdovskaya at five points. Third is the Catalan Laura Oliva (RCM Torredembarra) that has performed a 5-8-5. The Italian Olympic Francesca Clapcich began with a 2-1 and an off-line black flag, which will be able to rule out from once the fifth test is disputed.

In Laser Radial Masculino, the absolute dominion of the Spanish crews that hold the first three positions, the bat Rafael de la Hoz (CN Mar Menor), first; the Catalan Matías Sabaté (CN El Masnou) and the Catalan Victor Simó (CN Vilassar), third. All of them separated by just three points.

In 29er the Catalan crew of Albert Gelpí and Alexandre Boquet (CN El Balís) is the first leader after performing three magnificent results, 1-3-3-2, which allows them to head the table with six points of advantage over the crew of the Russians Volchkov / Kanafev. The current champions of the Spanish Cup, Tania Bonilla and Nuria Miró (CN El Balís) are sexy and ahead of them fifth Laura Guzmán and Anisah Schumann (CN Garraf).

In 420 Male Galo domain with Jules Devic and Tim Carpentier, who dominate with absolute authority with 21 points of advantage over the second and third, the Catalans Nacho Dávila / Javi Mestre (CN El Balís) and Rodrigo Campos and Luis Moix (RCN Vigo). In female category the domain is of the Majorcan Lala Akrich and Tata Homar (RCN Palma / CN S'Arenal), the also baleares Maria Bover / Carmen Pieras (RCN Palma) are third.

In Europe, he is first the Catalan Sergi Pérez (CN L'Estartit) - the current Spanish champion of speciality - who is followed by Alicantino Alejandro Pareja (RCN Torrevieja) and seven by the Catalan Rafael Rabasa (CN El Balís).

The Christmas Race 2016 has been set in motion with great weather conditions with north-east winds of about 12 knots; although the forecast is that tomorrow Monday there will be a radical change in time and the entry of a temporary in the afternoon, it has caused the day to go forward an hour. The first exits are scheduled from 10: 00 in the morning.

CLASSIFICATIONS (DAY 1)

Finn (30 participants)
1 Facundo Olezza (ARG), 5 p
2 Alejandro Muscat (ESP), 9 p
3 Ondrej Teach (CZE), 11 p

Laser Standard (41 participants)
1 Sergey Komissarov (RUS), 5 p
2 Duko Bos (NED), 20 p
3 Filip Ciszkiewicz (POL), 22 p
...
7 Joan Cardona (ESP), 31 p

Female Radio Laser (22 participants)
1 Maud Jayet (SUI), 10 p
2 Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), 15 p
3 Laura Oliva (ESP), 18 p

470 Male (28 participants)
1 Jordi Xammar / Nicolás Rodríguez (ESP), 8 p
2 Borys Shvets / Pavlo Matsuyev (UKR), 8 p
3 Diogo Costa / Pedro Costa (POR), 11 p

470 Women (10 participants)
1 Cassandre Blandin / Aloïse Returnaz (FRA), 5 p
2 Bàrbara Cornudella / Sara López (ESP), 9 p
3 Silvia Mas / Paula Barceló (ESP), 14 p

FX
1 Bart Lambriex / Cecile Janmmat (NED), 9 p
2 Jeske Keters / Robin Becker (NED), 13 p
3 Cas Van Dongen / Pim Van Vugt (NED), 19 p
4 Carla Munté / Marta Munté (ESP), 20 p

49er (16 participants)
1 Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki (POL), 9 p
2 Fredrik Rank / Nikolaj Hoffmann Buhl (DEN), 18 p
3 Erwan Fischer / Thibault Julien (FRA), 20 p
...
5 Federico Alonso / Arturo Alonso (ESP), 28 p

29er (19 participants)
1 Albert Gelpí / Alexandre Boquet (ESP), 9 p
2 Ivan Volchkov / Nikita Kanafev (RUS), 15 p
3 Max Clapp / Ros Banham (GBR), 17 p

420 Male (60 participants)
1 Jules Devic / Tim Carpentier (FRA), 7 p
2 Nacho Davila / Javi Mestre (ESP), 28 p
3 Rodrigo Campos / Luis Sampedro (ESP), 28 p

420 Women (39 participants)
1 Lala Akrich / Tata Homar (ESP), 8 p
2 Clara Olive / Lea Carpentier (FRA), 12 p
3 Maria Bover / Carmen Pieras (ESP), 14 p

Male Radial Laser (34 participants)
1 Rafael de la Hoz (ESP), 11 p
2 Matías Sabaté (ESP), 12 p
3 Victor Simó (ESP), 14 p

Europe (40 participants)
1 Sergi Pérez (ESP), 5 p
2 Alexander Couple (ESP), 7 p
3 Rafael Rabasa (ESP), 13 p

The Christmas Race of Palamós continues with the pre-Olympic selection process 2017

The explanade of the CN Costa Brava / Vela Palamós full of ships. Photo: Alfred Farré

The traditional World Sailing Olympic and Youth class race will be held in the waters of Palamós Bay (Girona) from 18 to 22 December. The Catalan race has been chosen by the Real Federación Española de Vela (Spanish Federation of Sailing) as a point for the preparation of the 2017 Pre-Olympic Team.

If the Canary Olympic Week, held at the beginning of the month in Gran Canaria, was for the Laser Standard and Radial classes, the Christmas Race will be in addition to the Standard, for the bulk of classes: Finn, 470 Male and Female, FX and 49er. In addition to the non-Olympic classes Europe, it will score for its national ranking.

The participation is wide, with about 400 crews registered in 12 classes and 23 countries. The 41 Christmas Race will also be the Spanish Cup of the 470 class.

The Spanish Olympic selection races will serve to complete the 2017 pre-Olympic team, which is composed of the regatists who participated in the 2016 Olympic Games and those who achieved a place for their results in the 2016 World Cup. The rest of the places will be achieved, one part for sports results, and the other on a technical basis.

The other notable races for the 2017 pre-Olympic selection will be the Andalusian Olympic Week (25-28 January), the Olympic Week Torrevieja (9-12 March) and the Princess Sofia Trophy (28 March-1 April).

The Christmas Race is positioned as a sports and tourist reference

The Patronat de Turisme Girona Costa Brava has welcomed the presentation of the 41 edition of the International Olympic and Youth Class Regatta Christmas Race, which will be held from 18 to 22 December in the waters of Palamós Bay.

They will take part 636 regatists distributed in 371 vessels from 23 countries. The Christmas Race is considered one of the most important Olympic sailing races on the European continent and is considered by the World Sailing - the International Federation of Veles - as the first race of 2017.

The Christmas Race has become a race that links sport and tourism that is why the Patronat of Turisme has been the chosen place for this year's presentation.

The manager of the Tourism Patronat Girona Costa Brava, Ramon Ramos, has been in charge of opening the event by stressing that "the Christmas Race is a race of all gerundenses. Palamós and the Christmas Race have brought the candle and Girona to the world map in the field of promotional, sports and tourism."

In the sports part the vice-presidents of the CN Costa Brava / Vela Palamós, Xavier Ribera and Miquel Avigó, have made known the numbers of the race. Ribera has explained that "the contribution of a race like the Christmas Race in the economic field is very important. This year the number of registered ones has increased again, which is significant." Avignó has reviewed the participants "where six regatists who were at the last Olympic Games in Rio stand out, and to the fact that the race has been selected by the Spanish Federation of selection for the pre-Olympic team of 2017." He has accompanied them by Alejandro Abascal, Olympic champion and first winner along with Miquel Noguer de la Christmas Race 41 years ago: "This is one of the reference races. For an Olympic regatist the Christmas Race is like for an ocean regatist to pass the Cape Horn."

As for the institutional section, the sports delegate of the Generalitat, Josep Pujols, said that "it is a consolidated race. Palamós is the capital of the candle to our counties." The sports deputy of the Diputació de Girona, Carles Salgas, wanted to point out that "the last edition of the Christmas Race provided in the sector services about 380,000 euros and this year will be superior to more participation." The mayor of Palamós, Lluís Puig, has been in charge of closing the event and wanted to make it clear that "Christmas Race is of three importance: sports, economic and emotional. In this last section, Palamós would not understand a Christmas without Christmas Race."