The boat helmed by Aythami Quintana won the only race held on Sunday in Playa Blanca and regained the lead in the VI Copa Vela Latina del Sur, with the final day set for July 11.
Playa Dorada, with Aythami Quintana at the helm, has reclaimed the top spot in the VI Copa Vela Latina del Sur after a Sunday marked by strong winds in the bay of Playa Blanca. Only one of the two heats planned could be held, and the boat from Yaiza took advantage of the conditions to win and snatch the lead from Tritón, which had been in first place since June 28.
The start, initially scheduled for 11:30, was delayed until 12:40 due to gusts of wind. The skippers, meeting with the competition committee, agreed to greenlight the first heat with sails raised, just behind the breakwater of Marina Rubicón. The alternative start closer to the coast was discarded due to the wind intensity, which was blowing between 17 and 18 knots, nearing the 20-knot limit allowed for sailing.
A fifty-minute race with a Yaiza podium
Playa Dorada was the boat that best interpreted the wind. Its good start and maximum performance in the upwind leg secured victory in a race that lasted fifty minutes. The podium for the day, corresponding to the Playa Blanca Trophy, was completed by Playa Blanca and Bernasan, both also from the municipality of Yaiza. Three local boats dominated the top positions, demonstrating the host's superiority in this edition.
The day was not without incidents. Three boats withdrew: Deportes Yaiza, Federico Pescamar, and Di Napoli, the latter from Fuerteventura. Di Napoli and Federico Pescamar were involved in an accidental collision, with the majorera vessel suffering more damage. Meanwhile, Jameos del Agua decided to stay ashore before the start.
The wind forces cancellation of the second heat
After the first heat, the boats returned to the starting point intending to compete in the second, but the wind exceeded twenty knots. For safety reasons, the competition committee cancelled the race and ordered all vessels back to shore. Four zodiacs from the organisation and another from Emerlan were available to assist the sailors. Residents of Playa Blanca watching the competition from the coast saw the boats return to port without completing the second race.
The provisional overall standings are led by Playa Dorada with 7 points, followed by Tritón (10), Di Napoli (12), Fayna Universal (14), and Bernasan (17). Everything will be decided on Saturday, July 11, although Di Napoli and the other boats from Fuerteventura will not be able to compete for the title due to prior commitments on their island. This leaves the championship battle reduced to the vessels from Lanzarote, with Playa Dorada and Tritón as the main contenders.
Final day in sight
The VI Copa Vela Latina del Sur will conclude on July 11 with two races scheduled. Playa Dorada, with a three-point lead over Tritón, is the favourite, but the wind and the skill of the skippers could change the outcome. The Yaiza Town Hall organises this competition with the support of the Canary Islands Federation of Latin Sailing Boats and the Insular Federation of Latin Sailing, along with the collaboration of Marina Rubicón. For fans in Lanzarote, the event is unmissable: the bay of Playa Blanca will once again be the stage for a day promising strong emotions. That is, if the wind allows it.
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