Photos: Sergio Betancort
The Insular League of Latin Sail Boats of 8.55 meters was launched on Sunday morning, with the first of the eight programmed races being held, which in turn was valid for the Ciudad de Arrecife Trophy. The great novelty was the presence of Isla de Lanzarote, skippered by Alfredo Morales, with seven boats taking the start in the first race of the season. It was precisely Isla de Lanzarote that took the victory and is placed as leader of the Insular League of 8.55 Meter Boats.
The race was held with good wind conditions, blowing with an intensity of 16 knots and northwest direction. On land, the skippers hesitated between taking out the small or medium sail, most of them opting for the small one due to the strong gusts that were recorded. The regatta field was a triangle, with two buoys located next to the Insular Center of Nautical Sports and the third in the high seas. The boats had to make three and a half laps to this course.
Villa de Teguise and Isla Graciosa, had problems at the start. Both boats miscalculated the distance with respect to the Committee boat and took the start very late with respect to the rest of the boats. Isla de Lanzarote made a great start and took the lead of the fleet from the beginning. Volcán de la Corona ? Grúas San Ginés, skippered by Jonathan Umpiérrez, was placed second and followed closely by Puerto del Arrecife, skippered by Manri Rodríguez.
Santiago González, skipper of Villa de Teguise, demonstrated his experience in Latin sailing and his boat starred in a great comeback to have options to fight for the first positions. On the other hand, Isla Graciosa was not having its day, losing one of the sailors and suffering a tack in the last lap to the regatta field. Finally, the boat skippered by Alejandro Bethencourt headed for land and retired.
Isla de Lanzarote was increasing the difference with respect to the rest of the boats and it seemed that the victory was not going to escape. In the penultimate lap to the regatta field, Volcán de la Corona ? Grúas San Ginés was placed in the second position and Villa de Teguise was the third in the beacon located near land.
Puerto del Arrecife starred in a great comeback in the last lap to the regatta field, which earned him the second position in the finish line. The victory was taken by an untreatable Isla de Lanzarote and third would be Volcán de la Corona ? Grúas San Ginés. The fourth position was for Villa de Teguise, completing the regatta with the fifth place of Maestro Tito ? Playa Blanca and the sixth position of Maramajo.
Isla de Lanzarote, boat skippered by Alfredo Morales, becomes the first leader of the Insular League of Latin Sail Boats of 8.55 Meters. A boat that still has some improvements to finish to get it ready for the rest of the season. For its part, Puerto del Arrecife commands the classification of the Ciudad de Arrecife Trophy. The next race will be on Sunday, May 14.
