Balearia Ibiza Trophy - Day 1: Racing cancelled due to lack of winds

The Balearia Ibiza Trophy started with a frustrating combination of very light (between 3 and 5 knots) and shifty winds. After a postponment of various hours, the TP52 fleet made it to the race course only to face shifty conditions and dying winds.

The race committee finaly signaled a start at 1pm but was forced to give a general recall immediately after the yachts crossed the line. With winds down to 3 knots it was impossible to continue. At around 2:30 pm all boats were sent to shore, waiting for a possible start before 4:30 pm that never came.

It is the second consecutive day that racing is cancelled due to lack of winds. Although Tuesday was the first official racing day, the fleet tried to train on Monday without any success.

Nevertheless, some teams took advantage even of the slightest puff of wind, like ONO or Mutua Madrileña who tried new sails for light winds and studied even further the race course.

A result of these very poor conditions is that we will have to wait an additional day to see who will come out as winner of the 2006 Breitling Medcup season. Nacho Postigo, coach of Mutua Madrileña, emphasized the positive side of this cancellation as Warpath will have two races less in order to catch up.

Part of the TP52 fleet berthed and waiting for wind during the first day of the Balearia Ibiza trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The masts of some of the TP52 fleet. Anonimo, Mutua Madrileña and Warpath use Southern Spars masts while the rest of the boats use Hall Spars. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The frustrated first start. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Sailing with ONO

ONO sailing and waiting for the first start of the Balearia Ibiza Trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO sailing and waiting for the first start of the Balearia Ibiza Trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO sailing and waiting for the first start of the Balearia Ibiza Trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Part of the TP52 fleet berthed and waiting for wind during the first day of the Balearia Ibiza trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO sailing and waiting for the first start of the Balearia Ibiza Trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Looking in vain for wind. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO sailing and waiting for the first start of the Balearia Ibiza Trophy. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Tony Rey, tactician aboard ONO and recently recruited by the Spanish America's Cup challenger Desafío Español to call tactics in Valencia in 2007. Ibiza, 19 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing