Members of the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria sailing team Joel Rodríguez (Standard), Luis Cabrera (Radial) and Patricia Reino (4.7) are leading the Laser class in the International Gran Canaria Trophy.

The international regatta started today, Friday 9 January 2015, in the harbour of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with representatives from 16 countries: Turkey, the United Kingdom, Peru, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Holland, Switzerland, Russia, Finland, Tunisia, Bahrain and Spain.

This is the third event of the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme, organised by Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria with the support of the Gran Canaria Cabildo and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Hall.

The nearly 100 sailors competing today encountered winds of 6-7 knots and reasonable waves, in conditions that allowed two of the three scheduled races to go ahead, as winds died down for the final race.

LASER STANDARD
Joel Rodríguez took a strong lead, justifying his place as world youth champion, with first places in the two races held, ahead of Peru’s Stefano Peschiera and Poland’s Jonasz Stelmaszyk. Joaquín Blanco, also from RCNGC and member of the Spanish Pre-Olympic team, is in sixth place with a second and a tenth place.

LASER RADIAL
Luís Cabrera was off to a good start, winning the two regattas, with Lanzarote sailor Alejandro Bethencourt coming second. Third place went to UK sailor Chloe Martin, who was first in the women’s category. The second woman was Alba Elejabeitia, from Real Club Náutico de Tenerife.

LASER 4.7
The podium’s dominated by Canary Islands sailors, with a first place for Patricia Reino, from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria, second for Héctor García, from Real Club Náutico de Tenerife and third for Andrea Machado, also from RCNGC, ahead of the Norwegians.

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In first place on the classification are Finland’s Rosa Lindquist and Rose Marie Hartman, with second places in the two races, followed by Russians Boris Kucherenko and Alexandr Moskvichev. Third place went to Nahuel and Nicolás Rodríguez, from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria. The absence of Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo was noted. The pair is currently out of Spain due to other commitments on the international circuit.

2.4 PARALYMPIC CLASS
The Swedes dominated on the first day, with Hans Asklund, Klas Andersson and Per Ahrbom taking the first three places. José Guerra, from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria and winner of the Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week (December 2014), didn’t score in the first race. He’s now in eighth place after a sixth and a fifth, although he could move up with a possible discard tomorrow.

The second of the three days’ racing will be held on Saturday 10 January, starting at 11:00 hours in two race areas. The 2.4 class will be racing in the area next to the retaining wall and the other classes will be racing in the area near the city’s new courthouse. Races in the Techno class (windsurfing) are also scheduled to start.

Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath