48th Palamós Christmas Race Day 2
by Jaume Soler 20 Dec 12:08 PST
18-22 December 2024
ILCA 4 class on day 2 of the 2024 Palamós Christmas Race © Alfred Farré
Another long day in the 48th Palamós Christmas Race, which has reached its halfway point after the first two days of competition. The wind, which blew strongly from the north (tramuntana) in the early hours of the morning, ended up disappearing after midday and returned in the early afternoon, reaching up to 14 knots in intensity, allowing two races to be sailed on the ILCA course and one on the 420 and 29er course. The forecast for Saturday is for sunshine and light winds from the south (migjorn) between 5 and 8 knots.
The Argentinean Bruno Römer in ILCA 4 is the only one who has been the leader since the first day, although with a minimal difference with respect to his pursuers. In the rest of the classes there has been a change in the leading positions, with the Italian crews in the 420 class taking five of the first six places in the general rankings.
El Haddadi in the lead in the ILCA 6 class
In the ILCA 6 class, the Italian Rayene El Haddadi has taken the lead after a 5-1. The Circolo Nautico Bardolino sailor was the most consistent of the day. Earlier, British sailor Archie Munro-Price was provisionally in the overall lead after a second place, but he gave up the lead after the last race in which he did a 27, ending the day in second place. Less lucky was the first leader, the Swiss Ulysse Raison who made an 8 but in the fourth and last race of the day, made an off line with a black flag, falling to third place overall. The first three but, are in a fist separated by only two points between them. Quim Ferrer (CN Sant Feliu de Guíxols) with 11-3 remains two points off the podium, fourth. The first female is the Polish Hanna Rogowska.
Römer does not give up in ILCA 4
Also very tight is the classification in ILCA 4 where the Argentinean Bruno Römer who made a 4-8 remains leader of the overall, but with a lot of competition behind, as second to a point is Joan Camats (CN Arenys de Mar) who made a 7-2 and two Swiss Leanne Turrin, who with a 3-5, being also the first female. Just one point and one place behind is Mireia Garriga (CN Sant Feliu de Guíxols).
The Italians in power in 420
The Italian crews have become the great dominators in the 420 class. Alessio Cindelo and Sara Valente are the new leaders of the overall after an almost perfect day with a 2-1. The exception is the Italians Ilan Vedel and Frederico Flandorffer who are second after a 6-5 and five points behind Cindelo and Valente. Third place goes to Alessandro Maria Ricci and Luca Pellegrini. The first female crew is Ludovica Pastorino and Sofia Derin Bottio, fifth overall. To find the first Spanish crew we have to go to the seventh position with Maria Blanco and Alex Camps (CN El Balís).
Polish dominance in 29er
In the 29er class there was a change of leadership, although the Polish crews continue to dominate the overall. In this case it is Symon Kolka and Bartosz Zmudzinski who have taken the lead after winning the only race sailed today. Five points behind are the Dutchmen Folkert van Surkum and Lara Ganzevles who finished second and climb to second place and the first leaders, the Poles Antonina Puchowska and Alicja Dampc finished ninth and drop to third place, but they are still the first women. The first Spanish crew is the Balearic crew of Francisco Truyols and Ignacio Martín (RCN Palma) in eleventh position.
Sustainable regatta
The Palamós Christmas Race has been a CLEAN REGATTA for two editions, recognised by the international Sailors for the Sea association.
Aware of the environment and the presentation of the seas, the regatta carries out different actions related to sustainability, such as PaperLess, Be One With the Sea, No Plastics, Green Regatta, Sailors for the Sea.
In recent editions, plastic has been completely eliminated and the use of refillable bottles has been encouraged through water fountains placed in different parts of the club.
The Palamós Christmas Race is organised by the Club Nàutic Costa Brava - Vela Palamós, with the support of the Spanish and Catalan Sailing Federations, as well as the institutional support of the Catalan Government, the Girona Provincial Council and Palamós Town Council.
Results can be found here.