WET AND WILD RACE ONE AT THE 69F YFGC GRAND FINAL IN BARCELONA

It was a dare: docking out at Marina Vela in Barcelona at 9,30 with the six 69F-fleet to go out racing, it was definitely a challenge. A challenge against the extreme weather conditions under which all of Europe is struggling right now. The wind was already blowing close to 20 knots and expected to increase, the sea state was much better than yesterday but the waves were still around 1,5 meters. But the 69F under 25 fleet of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup Grand Final won the dare and got one race in.

Nonetheless the whole fleet accompanied by the shore team and the brave race committee headed outside the harbor walls, and in less than expected was sailing Race One with 20 knots gusting 28, with the six teams involved in the racing capsizing and hardly keeping the boat steady. It was a wild ride, but it produced a winner, Enzedder Racing, followed by Team Jajo – DutchSail and Orient Express L’Oreal Racing Team, while Oceana Vivo, Alps Racing and Clean Sailors Youth Racing Team did not finish the race within the time limit.

Tomorrow there should be a window opening in the morning to go on with the qualification series, that will go on for the whole weekend until Sunday at 1,30pm, skipping the final round to then go straight into the best-of-three match race for the first two ranked teams.