The Vuelta España a Vela is in Valencia

The Vuelta España a Vela, Spain's Sailing Tour, arrived in Valencia on Monday. The nine boats that take part in the tour of Spain, arrived late in the afternoon after sailing the approximately 100 miles that separate Alicante from Valencia. The finish was expected to take place much earlier but when the fleet was at around 20 miles from Valencia a wind hole trapped them and it took more than 5 hours to cover the last stretch of the leg.

Valencia Sailing was at the finish line and we photographed the arrival of a part of the fleet. Given the controversy about the first regatta allegedly organized by the CNEV last July, we obviously wanted to verify the veracity of this one.

There is no doubt whatsoever, at least from what we saw, that it is a serious and apparently well-organized event. We talked to the race committee, the umpires and the crews. The sailors are all amateurs and the boats are probably not the fastest cruisers but this also happens in various other races. Boats do get penalized for rule infringement and when they use their engines they are immediately disqualified from a leg, as it already happened twice.

Media and public attention is non existent but this is of course irrelevant. The race commentator was, unfortunately, talking to himself but one shouldn't forget this is the first time such a race is organized and hopefully next year organizers might be more successful in attracting bigger crowds.

Weather allowing, the fleet is scheduled to start the next leg, Valencia-Castellón, on Wednesday early afternoon. Nevertheless, given the weather in Valencia on Wednesday morning, rain and hardly any wind, it is possible the start might be delayed. This leg will also be the shortest one of the regatta, less than 50 miles.

The Vuelta España a Vela is co-organized by the RFEV (Spanish Sailing Federation), Organización Vuelta España a Vela SL, Deporevents and CNEV, in order for the latter to fulfill its obligations under the Deed of gift.

The winners of the Alicante-Valencia leg receive their award from the Vice-President of the RFEV (Spanish sailing Federation). Valencia, 18 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Europcar is the only boat with an all-woman crew. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Europcar is the only boat with an all-woman crew. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Endesa Ceuta arrived in Valencia at 5th place. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Yahoo-Eurosport arrived in Valencia at 6th place. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The public area was unfortunately empty. Valencia, 17 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing