BMW Oracle's Bertrand Pacé wins the Open de España

Final Pacé-Presti

It turned out to be a "French" final for the Open de España and a very tough one. Bertrand Pacé and Philippe Presti, the two French finalists, offered an exciting and hard fought final under shifty conditions, 20-kont winds and big waves. Racing was very close and what probably made the difference was Pacé's ability to stay calm and come back after the third match. On the other hand Presti committed unnecessary errors in the fourth and fifth matches, showing he had problems handling stress.

Bertrand Pacé sailing at the final of the Open de España. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Phillipe Presti sailing at the final of the Open de España. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Bertrand Pacé sailing at the final of the Open de España. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

All five matches of the final between Pacé and Presti were very close. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Phillipe Presti sailing at the final of the Open de España. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Man overboard

During the third match and with the score tied at 1-1, the race was decided at the bottom mark. A hundred meters before the mark, Pacé's spinnaker was torn, a very frequent problem in sailing races. Nevertheless, Brad Webb in his effort to grab the spinnaker while rounding the mark fell of the boat. He didn't suffer any injury and was safely recovered by one of the chase boats but that Pacé was forced to abandon. Despite this major psychological setback, Pacé and his crew pulled it out together at the last two matches and won the final.

Bertrand Pacé's yacht is approaching the bottom mark and Brad Webb is trying to recover the torn spinnaker. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Now you see him now you don't. A few meters before the mark, Webb fell off the boat which passed right by his head. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Zach Hurst looking for Webb. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Where's Brad? Pacé, Hurst and Dawson were looking for Brad Webb. Calpe, 10 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing