2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series at Clube Naval de Cascais - Overall
by Clube Naval de Cascais 17 Mar 23:17 PDT
15-17 March 2024
Louise Racing wins on the return to Cascais.
The 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series took place from the 15th to the 17th of March, organized by the Clube Naval de Cascais.
With three scheduled races for the first day of the championship and with a less encouraging weather forecast, the fleet made up of 13 dragons, from 7 nations, managed to complete the program with the wind from the south with 6 to 9 knots of intensity, sometimes with light fog.
Louise Racing, captained by Grant Gordon and supported by Olympic silver medalist Luke Patience, Faye Chatterton and Elliot Hanson, did not leave much of a margin to the other competitors by take two bullets out of the three races on the first day. The Scottish team was very happy to finish the first day in the highest place on the podium. "It's great to be back in Cascais even with the weather a little cloudy. We are glad with our results especially because we are debuting a brand new PetitCrow 6.1 that we put in the water for the first time two days ago. We are glad with the speed of the boat and the team is doing a fantastic job." commented Grant Gordon.
At the end of the opening day, the second position was filled by belgian Xavier Vanneste Herbie's team and completed by local Olympic sailors Gustavo Lima and Frederico Pinheiro de Melo. Closing the podium at the end of that day was Pete Cooke's boat with Torvar Mrisky, Peter Nicholas and Harry Durcan.
On the second day of the 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series, the weather forecast dictated that the only window of opportunity to host any race would to take place was very early, with the Race Committee determining that the time for the first regatta would be at 10am on Saturday. With the wind from the east quadrant and at around 7 knots, as predicted, the starting procedures for the only race held on the second day began.
In the first attempt to start, the fleet pushed its luck too much, approaching the start line too early, with the competitors being sent back in a general recall. In the second and final attempt, and this time with the U flag, four boats were disqualified due to an early start, including Grant Gordon's Louise Racing and Pete Cooke's Meteor, respectively leader and third overall at the end of the first day. of races.
The victory in the fourth race of the championship, the only one held on the second day, went to the British Blue Haze team, led by Ivan Bradburry with Lars Hendriksen and George Leonchuck. They led the regatta from the beginning until they crossed the finish line.
Lars Hendriksen explained that "We haven't been to Cascais for 5 years and we were rehearsaling a new starting technique. We try to cross the start line full speed. This is a type of start that suits us very well and from the beginning of the race where we go at full speed and remain clear and our lives become much easier. We led the race from the beginning until the end where we worked on wind shifts and the rest of the fleet. It seemed easy but it's never easy (winning the race)."
At the end of the second day, Grant Gordon's Louise Racing team remained in the lead. The Royal Yach Squadron boat maintained its position because even with the disqualification in the fourth race, due to an early start, it was saved by the discard of the worst race of the overall. In second place was race four winner, Ivan Bradburry's Blue Haze. Xavier's Herbie fell to the last place on the podium after finishing the second day's regatta in third place.
For the last day of the championship, with three races scheduled, and the 7 best teams separated by 8 points, all scenarios were possible. Unfortunately, after waiting 2 hours ashore for wind conditions to race and also after the fleet sent out, the Race Committee decided to call an end to the day and consequently the championship.
With no changes to the overall, Grant Gordon's Louise Racing thus became the winner of the 2nd Cascais Dragon Winter Series. The Scottish team was followed by Ivan Bradburry's Blue Haze and then Xavier Vanneste's Belgian boat Herbie. The first Conrinthian boat, the first amateur team, was Guy Celis' White Pearl team with Katrien Lagey and Steven Vermiere.
The next event of the Cascais Dragon Winter Series Circuit will be the His Majesty King Juan Carlos Trophy, which will take place from the 19th to the 21st of April in Cascais. The best Dragon class teams in the world are expected to compete for one of the most prestigious Dragon class trophies.
This championship had the support of the Cascais Municipality, Visit Cascais, Cascais Marina, Vista Alegre and Pettitcrows.
Full results available here.