Three races scheduled for the Breitling Regatta inaugural day

With a day of sea breezes predicted local forecasters suggest that three races should be possible today, the first windward-leewards of the 12th Breitling Regatta off Puerto Portals.

With just one week since Castellon any changes made to boats have been relatively subtle, so the form book – such as it exists in this demanding TP52 class – should be close to that of the last regatta.

Siemens, winners of the last regatta, have made a few crew changes, but other than that as far as their set up and the boat are concerned the team have done nothing more than routine maintenance. The 12-16 knot breezes should be well within the Reichel Pugh design’s preferred wind range. “We will just have to see how we go. It is hard to say you are confident in this fleet, but we have not changed anything really beyond routine maintenance.” Confirmed skipper and helm Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


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Mutua Madrilena re-inclined and taken some lead from the bulb and put it into internal ballast, resulting in a smaller bulb. “We know that the boat is quick, no doubt, so it will be down to what we do, tactics on the course. We have seen two different forecasts but yesterday we saw 15-16 knots from 170-175 degrees. The forecast suggested 180 but regardless I think we can be sure that we’ll get great racing and three races in.” said Peter de Ridder, Mutua Madrilena’s owner-driver.

After their first major outing in anger at Castellon, the Mani Frers designed Bambakou of John Coumantoros has undergone changes to assert a little more weather helm on the boat. “We have moved the keel forward and added a bit more mast rake.” Confirmed Bambakou’s Tom McLaughlin, “And we have some new sails, but nothing that was not already on the schedule. Castellon was a wonderful regatta, just we weren’t in it. I think we only beat one and a half boats. We are really only learning this boat and have a long way to go, and don’t really know how best to sail the boat at the moment. Castellon we were not too happy with and I guess just learned that we are not as smart as we thought we are, but we have the same team here and are looking forward to it.”