The bay of Playa Blanca looked radiant this Saturday, July 12, with numerous Latin sailing fans gathered on its promenade to enjoy an exciting and final day of regattas of the Latin Sailing Cup of the South. In addition to the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Trophy, framed in the festivities that the tourist town is experiencing in honor of its Patron Saint, the V Cup was at stake, which was finally awarded to José Pascual Perdomo's boat, the majorero Di Napoli Isidoro y Manuela III. The southern boats, Cristian Sánchez's Tritón, and Virginia Morales' Playa Blanca, completed the cup podium.
The wind did not give respite, with intense gusts that made the crews sweat and caused more than one tack, in a day as spectacular as it was physical that had the added emotion of knowing that the last points of the Cup were at stake and with the head of the classification quite even, with the Di Napoli (9 points) in first position, followed by Playa Blanca (12 points) and Tritón (13 points).
The latter precisely, with Cristian Sánchez at the helm, was the one that started the day with more force and thanks to a good reading of the conditions, he advanced, achieving the triumph in the first regatta of the day, followed by Romerito and Jameos del Agua. José Pascual Perdomo's Di Napoli was fourth and Playa Blanca, with Virginia Morales in command, was in eighth position after risking betting on a larger sail with the hope that the wind would ease, a strategy that did not give him results with a wind that, far from subsiding, intensified at times.
After the sail change, Playa Blanca had a very good second and last regatta corresponding to the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Trophy, which Romerito snatched at the last moment, but achieving a second place that was worth to stay with the third drawer of the Cup podium with 21 points. Di Napoli Isidoro y Manuela III entered third, awarding the V Latin Sailing Cup of the South with 16 points, with a Tritón that crossed the finish line in fifth position and had to settle for second place on the podium adding 19 points, without being able to revalidate the title achieved in the last edition.
As for the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Trophy, with the calculation of the two regattas of the day that could again go sailing for the enjoyment of the fans, the victory went to David Martín's Romerito, with Tritón and Di Napoli completing the podium.
After finishing the competition, the boats approached the iconic stone of Playa Blanca, meeting point of the southern fans to enjoy the show and where they received the warm applause of the public, who said goodbye to this fifth edition started on June 15 and has had an average of twelve boats in contention per regatta, a total of five trophies disputed -Marina Rubicón, Papagayo, Piedra Playa Blanca, Castillo Águila and Nuestra Señora del Carmen- and seven regattas of the nine planned, since those of June 29 were suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
The day concluded with the awards ceremony held at the AAVV La Aurora, in an act of fraternization where local and federative authorities, crews, family members and sailing lovers shared impressions and emotions.
The awards ceremony was attended by the councilors of Sports and Festivities of Yaiza, Ángel Lago and Daniel Medina, respectively; the president of the Insular Federation of Latin Sailing, Juan Manuel Pérez; the vice president of the Canarian Federation, Ana Curbelo, in addition to the southern councilors Beatriz Vázquez and Freya Finch.
All highlighted the importance of this competition that has returned to Playa Blanca the illusion of seeing the boats competing again in its waters, recovering this native sport that remembers its seafaring tradition. "It is not only sport but it is culture," said Ángel Lago, who assured that "seeing so many boats at sea and people excited on the avenue is the best reward."
Lago also had words of thanks to both federations for betting on this Cup and to all the boats because "without you, who participate and fight day by day, it would not have been possible", confirming satisfied that this competition each year is getting better and that they will start from now "to plan the 2026 so that it remains a success."
For his part, the president of the Insular Federation of Latin Sailing, Juan Manuel Pérez, pointed out that "it is essential that this Southern Cup exists", highlighting the camaraderie between the teams, how
involved they are with the test and the beauty of this competition and the southern coast, adding that "it is a good preparation for the Insular Championship and the Canary Islands Championship."
The V Latin Sailing Cup of the South has been organized by the City Council of Yaiza, with the support of the insular and Canarian federations of Latin sailing and the Marina Rubicón marina, whose facilities have been the base port of the competition.