Category: Winter Series
Joaquín Blanco (RCNGC), Alison Young (British sailing team) and Alfonso Fernández (RCN Tenerife) took the three golds in the Laser class in the International Gran Canaria Trophy (Trofeo Isla de Gran Canaria), which finished today in the bay of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. RCNGC sailor Luis Cabrera won the gold in the men’s Radial and Carlota Sánchez took the gold in the women’s Laser 4.7.
Blanco, member of the Spanish Pre-Olympic team, had a tough win over fellow RCNGC sailor and world youth champion Joel Rodríguez, sewing up a championship that didn’t get off to a great start for him. This is Blanco’s third gold in a row in just over a month, after his wins at the 16th Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela and the Palamós Christmas Race.
“These results help to boost my confidence and are a step up before the important events I’ve got coming up. I’m off to the world cup in Miami now and then I’ll be back in Gran Canaria for the Regata de Carnaval, followed by the Semana Olímpica de Cádiz, the Spanish Championship in Valencia, and the Trofeo Princesa Sofía, finishing in June with the Olympic class worlds in Canada.”
During the award ceremony, held this afternoon and attended by City Councillor Mimi González (Ciudad de Mar) and the president of the Canary Islands Sailing Federation, Joaquín Blanco, RCNGC president Óscar Bergasa commented on the presence of 12 boats in the 2.4mR Paralympic class, saying that, in his opinion, this consolidates the club’s support for disabled sailing.
Representatives from 16 countries took part in the international regatta, 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 third and final day of competition started as expected, with 10-12 knot winds and a heavy swell, but as the day wore on the winds shifted from northeast to southeast. The drop in the wind intensity meant all scheduled races could be held.
Joel Rodríguez, who fought until the final day for first place in Laser Standard and ended up with the silver, said his result was “very positive”. At the end of the race he said that the most important thing was to take advantage of the chance to train with top sailors.
His next event is the Regata de Carnaval, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the final race in the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme and the first in the Laser Europa Cup series. Just a few days later, he’ll be sailing in the Semana Olímpica Andaluza, the second race that counts towards the Spanish Pre-Olympic team after the Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week.
The gold in Laser Radial was for British Olympic sailor Alison Young, who came fifth in London in 2012. She had a poor start in the Canary Islands event but came through on the second and third days, taking first place.
RCNGC sailor Luis Cabrera, silver in the overall Laser Radial and gold in the men’s, said “I knew I had a chance, but I knew I had some tough competition as well”.
Cabrera mentioned the importance of the wind shifts during the race and was positive about his results as he looks forward to his next race, at the Canary Islands Radial championship, in Tenerife.
Alfonso Fernández, from Tenerife, took the gold in Laser 4.7, a class initially led by RCNGC sailor Patricia Reino. As expected, Sweden’s Hans Asklund won in the 2.4mR Paralympic class, with five firsts in the eight races held. The first Spanish competitor was Pablo García, in seventh place.
The crew of Nahuel Rodríguez (RCNGC) and Nicolás Rodríguez (RCN Vigo) won the gold in 470, a class with few competitors at this event.
In Techno (boards), the victory went to Britain’s Joshua Carey. Magüi Suárez (RCNGC), the top Spanish Techno competitor and the only girl in this class, took the silver.
Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath
Joaquín Blanco and Joel Rodríguez fought the closest battle on the second day of the International Gran Canaria Trophy (Trofeo Isla de Gran Canaria), which finishes on Sunday in the bay of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The two Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria sailors are evenly matched going into the final day, with a slight advantage for Blanco, who’s jumped from sixth place to the head of the classification table. The pre-Olympic sailor won two of Saturday’s three races.
Representatives from 16 countries are taking part in this international regatta, the third event of the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme, which is 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 weather conditions changed dramatically today for the second day of racing. After starting out with southeast winds of 14-15 knots, the day ended with 10 knot winds, allowing all three scheduled races to go ahead. Sailors also encountered a short wave from the southeast and a long wave from the northeast, which complicated sailing.
The other important news of the day was in Laser Radial, where the lead was taken by Alison Young, Olympic sailor at London in 2012 and member of the British sailing team. Young stole the lead from Canary Islander Luis Cabrera (RCNGC), who dropped to second place and is followed by Chloe Martín, the other British sailor racing this weekend at RCNGC.
In Laser 4.7 the lead also changed, as Patricia Reino (RCNGC) gave up her first place to Alfonso Fernández, from Real Club Náutico de Tenerife. In second place is Carlos Pavillard, also from RCNT.
In 470 Nahuel Rodríguez and Nicolás Rodríguez won the three races during the second day, taking them to first place in the classification for this small fleet, ahead of the Russian and Finnish teams.
In the 2.4mR Paralympic class the Swedes continue to dominate, with Hans Asklund maintaining the lead. The first Spanish sailor classified is Pablo García, in sixth position. The Paralympic class is new to this season’s Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme and is a step forward for the host club, which is aiming to boost the level of this class.
Techno (boards) had its first day of racing today. Britain’s Joshua Carey is in the lead with a third and two firsts. He’s followed by RCNGC team members Eduardo Santana and Javier Rodríguez. Magüi Suárez, the only girl competing in this class, had a very good start but was penalised for being over the line in the third and final race, finishing fourth.
Three races have been scheduled for Sunday, the final day of competition, and the award ceremony should start at around 16.00 hours. Similar wind and sea conditions are expected, as well as an exciting final in all classes, as the points in the top places are very close.
Photo by Alberto Sánchez
Translated from Spanish by Jane Mcgrath
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.
470
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
Alison Young, british sailor, working at the gym.
Competitors from Turkey, the United Kingdom, Peru, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Holland, Switzerland, Russia, Finland and Tunisia, as well as Spain, will be taking part in the races that will kick off the RCNGC 2015 sailing calendar.
For 470, 2.4, Laser Standard, Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial there’ll be three days of competition (9, 10 and 11 January). Racing in the Techno class will be at the weekend only.
Trophies will be awarded on 11 January.
In the 2014 International Gran Canaria Trophy, the gold in the men’s 470 went to the Russian crew of Pavel Sozykin and Denis Gribanov. The pair took the silver at the most recent Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela, held in December, after battling it out for the gold until the last day with Gran Canarian sailors Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo, who finally took the victory.
In Laser Standard the win went to Lithuanian Martis Pajarkas and in Radial the overall victory was for Finland’s Tuula Tankanen.
The 2014/15 Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme has already held the 16th Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela and the Trofeo Internacional AECIO Ciudad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. After this weekend’s International Gran Canaria Trophy, the programme will end with the Regata de Carnaval Ciudad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (13, 14 and 15 February), which is particularly important this year as it’s the first race in the Laser Europa Cup series.
Translate from Spanish by Jane McGrath
Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria has taken the gold in the three premier classes of the 16th Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela: Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo in 470, Joaquín Blanco in Laser Standard, and Kevin Cabrera in Laser Radial. In the new Paralympic class, the gold went to RCNGC sailor José Guerra, who’s about to embark on a challenge that will take him to 15 regattas throughout continental Europe in 2015.
Sailors from 23 countries have taken part in the 16th Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela, the first event on the new Spanish Olympic series. Spanish Royal Sailing Federation President, José Ángel Rodríguez Santos, and pre-Olympic team manager, Tony Ripoll, travelled to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to attend the competition.
The participation of representatives from 23 countries was one of the strong points stressed by Mimi González, City Councillor for Ciudad de Mar (Sea City). She said that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, one of the main supporters of this project, values the way the presence of these young sailors and their coaches and the ripple effect of the social networks help to promote the city as a tourism destination.
Sailing on the final day of this year’s Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week was once again characterised by strong wind and sea conditions, which allowed all the scheduled races to be run on time.
Joaquín Blanco (RCNGC) has been one of the key figures in the competition. He’s a member of the Spanish Pre-Olympic team, which dominated the field from start to finish. Blanco barely stepped down from the podium. “Today conditions were very stable and that allowed me to secure the victory. A home win is always very special”, he said.
In 470, Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo (RCNGC), eighth in the international ranking, are ending the year with a victory they fought the two Russian crews for right up to the last minute. The Russians took second and third spot on the podium.
In the women’s 470, the win went to Mallorca’s Marina Gallego and Fátima Reyes. Russians Alisa Kirilyuk and Lyudmila Dmitrieva came second and the bronze went to Spain’s Ángela Pumariega (Asturias) and her crew member, Gran Canarian Patricia Cantero (RCNGC).
Kevin Cabrera, from RCNGC, took the gold in Laser Radial after a very even battle with Holland’s Benjamin Wempe. Third place went to another member of the RCNGC team, Luis Cabrera, one of the three sailors distinguished at this event by the Spanish Olympic Committee. During the Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week award ceremony, Cabrera, Gustavo Martín and Patricia Reino received the medals awarded last year by the Spanish Olympic Committee in recognition of their sports achievements.
In the women’s Laser Radial, Lithuanian Viktorija Andrulyte had a strong win. Martina Reino, an RCNGC youth sailor, took the bronze medal. The silver went to Poland’s Agata Barwinska.
Races were held in three categories of board sailing. In RS:X 9.5, Club de Vela Formentera led the field, with Joan Cardona first and Sergio Escandell third. Second place went to Holland’s Matthijs Van’t Hoff.
In the women’s RSX:8.5, the victory went to Pilar Lamadrid, from Club Puerto Sherry (Cádiz), ahead of her two Dutch rivals.
In RS:X 8.5 junior, the Dutch took first and second place, leaving the bronze for Ángel Granda, from RCNGC.
The Olympic Sailing Week closed with the invitation to the 420 class, which included local competitors. The final placings were Elías Aretz/Elio Hoyos (1st), Wichy Hernández /Guillermo López (2nd) and María Caba/Carla Díaz (3rd).
F18 and Nacra 17 were dominated by the Germans.
The award ceremony was held this afternoon.
Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath
Just four points separate two crews fighting for first place in the 470 class of the 16th Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week, due to end on Monday in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s harbour. Russians Pavel Sozykin and Denis Gribanov lead the race with 22 points, closely followed by Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo, from the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria sailing team, on 26 points.
Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria is the organiser of this 16th Olympic Sailing Week, which has brought 200 sailors from 24 countries to the bay in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas City Hall (Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas), Cabildo de Gran Canaria and private companies Anfi and Naviera Armas are backing the event.
The weather conditions have played a starring role in the first three days of racing. The sea and wind conditions have been very favourable and all the races scheduled have been held. The weather’s expected to remain the same for the fourth and final day tomorrow. Contestants faced 6-10 knot northeast winds today, with some shifts and a swell without strong waves.
Another Russian crew, formed by the Sheremetyev brothers, is just three points behind Barreiros and Curbelo, increasing the tension for Monday’s final.
Back on shore, the Gran Canarian sailors explained they’d suffered “too many shifts in the wind” and had problems with the second close hauls in the two races on this third day of sailing.
In the women’s 470, the Spanish crew of Marina Gallego (Club Náutico La Rápita) and Fátima Reyes (Club Náutico Arenal) moved up to first place. Spain’s Angela Pumariega, from Asturias, and crew member Patricia Cantero, from Gran Canaria (RCNGC), are holding onto second place.
Cantero explained that after the first close haul in the first race, the wind shifts had been tough on them, but in the second heat the wind had let up and things went a lot better.
The considerable Russian presence in this competition, as seen both in the results and the number of contestants, is due to coach Mikhail Zabolotnov’s conviction that “Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria is the best club in Europe”, as he told television company Panorama Vela. The company has brought a team of professionals to the island to make programmes about the competition for Spanish and international audiences.
In Laser Standard, Joaquín Blanco is not only holding the lead after six races, but is also facing the final day 12 points ahead of his closest rival, Holland’s Yuri Hummel. World youth champion, Joel Rodríguez (RCNGC), is fighting from fifth place.
As in the men’s 470, the difference is minimal in the top places in Laser Radial. Holland’s Benjamín Wempe is just one point ahead of Kevin Cabrera, from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria. In third place is Lithuanian Viktoria Andrulyte, who took two firsts on Sunday.
Racing has finished in the Paralympic class, with a victory for local sailor José Guerra, who won seven of the nine races held, taking the victory from his Finnish and French rivals.
In RS:X 9.5 the lead has gone to Joan Cardona, from the Balearic Islands, who’s two points ahead of Holland’s Matthis Van’t Half. The final could go either way.
The Dutch continue to lead in RS:X 8.5. They’re closely followed by Ángel Granda, from RCNGC, who’ll be starting the last day in third place in the overall classification.
In 420, the guest class, the lead has changed. Elías Aretz and Helenio Hoyos (RCNGC) are first equal on 22 points with María Caba/Carla Díaz. Wichy Hernández and Guillermo López have dropped to third place after a penalty for a false start.
Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath
Monday is the last day. Two races are scheduled for each class. Trophies will be awarded at around 17.00 hours, depending on how the day at sea goes.
Sailors from 23 countries will be taking part in the 16th Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela (Canary Islands Olympic Sailing Week), which was launched on Tuesday at Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria. The skills level and the number of sailors registered for this iconic race in the Spanish series were deemed “a success” by the Club’s sports manager, Francis Bautista, who highlighted the attendance of sailors who’ve already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and countries such as Russia, whose entire teams will be taking part.
The Russian, Lithuanian, Spanish and Portuguese Olympic teams and the Norwegian, Dutch and Turkish youth teams have brought all their members to the event in Gran Canaria.
The Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela is the first event on the Spanish calendar that will count towards entry into the Spanish Pre-Olympic sailing team. Several of the Club’s sailors, such as Onán Barreiros and Juan Curbelo in the 470 class, Joaquín Blanco in Laser Standard, and Martina Reino in Laser Radial, will be working for their places over the long weekend of the race.
Lucas Bravo de Laguna, Head of Sports with the Gran Canaria Cabildo, and Mimi González, City Councillor for Ciudad de Mar (Sea City), were at the launch to represent the two local bodies sponsoring the race, described as the “the Club’s most important event of the year” by Club President Óscar Bergasa, who led the press conference.
The Olympic Sailing Week is the longest-running event of the four races in the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme. After this race, which will be held from 4 to 8 December, the Gran Canaria club will be holding the Optimist Trofeo AECIO (26-29 December), Trofeo Isla de Gran Canaria (9-11 January) and the Regata de Carnaval (13-15 February).
One of the main innovations this year is the decision by European Region of International Laser Class Association (EurILCA) to start the Europa Cup series with the Regata de Carnaval Ciudad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This has boosted the interest of Europe’s top teams in taking part in the final race of the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme.
The RCNGC President announced that, for the first time, the Club is including Paralympic sailing in its winter races. The Club already has its team, comprising sailors Javier Ugarte and José Guerra, and several other European crews have confirmed they’ll be competing in Gran Canaria this winter.
City Councillor Mimi González, who sailed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, highlighted the Council’s support for the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme and its importance for the city, which is promoted as a winter sailing base.
González said that the 2013 Olympic Sailing Week, in which 374 sailors took part, had brought in half a million (489,780.72) euros to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. For the 2013 Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme, 689 sailors from around 20 countries came to Gran Canaria and the city earned 900,000 (892,747.62) euros, in figures announced by the councillor.
“At the Gran Canaria Cabildo we’re delighted to support the Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela, which has become a well established event”, said Lucas Bravo, who added that “the idea of the Gran Canaria Sail in Winter programme is fantastic for promoting the island abroad”.
In addition to defining Real Club Náutico as a symbol of Gran Canaria, Bravo reiterated the support of the Cabildo and confirmed the ongoing collaboration of the public institution.
Technical data
Sailors from 23 countries have registered.
Races will be run in two race areas:
- The first will be for the Laser class races (Radial and Standard) and 2.4 mR (Paralympic sailing).
- In the second race area, the 470 class, catamarans (Nacra and F-18) and RS:X (sail boards) will be competing.
The Olympic Week races will be held from 5 to 8 December, with three races a day starting at 11.00 hours.
(Translated from Spanish by Jane McGrath)
Lucas Bravo, Oscar Bergasa, Mimi González y Fran Bautista.
KNS Club altogether with NTG School from Norway decided to come to Gran Canaria for the second year in a row. Nor Team will be represented in everyone of the Events and Classes scheduled this next winter.Just like the huge Norwegian community in the Island the Nor Team is really appreciated in our Club.
EVENTS Dec 2021 – March 2022
