Young sailors shine on the second day of the 61st Gran Día de la Vela – Bufete Frau

The 61st Gran Día de la Vela – Bufete Frau continued this Sunday, August 24th, at the Club Nàutic S’Arenal (CNA) with its second day of racing, where young sailors from the Optimist Initiation, Optimist Sub11, Techno 293, and iQFOiL classes once again took to the water for an intense day of competition.

After a spectacular start during Saturday’s opening day, the weather conditions took a turn, as the light and unstable wind delayed the start of the races until noon, just as the forecasts had predicted. The starting signal was finally raised at 1:00 p.m. for the Optimist Under11, Optimist D, and Techno 293 fleets, and at 2:00 p.m. for the iQFOiL class.

In the Optimist area, the race committee was forced to abandon the first race due to major wind shifts and instability, adjusting the course to resume racing with valid starts. Meanwhile, on the board course, the Techno 293 class successfully completed three consecutive races without setbacks, right before the wind picked up slightly to around 11 knots, allowing the iQFOiL fleet to compete, although they couldn’t complete their full planned program.

With two days of competition completed, discards are now in play, and the standings are starting to take shape. In the Techno 293 class, local sailor Fernando Terrasa (CNA) is emerging as the clear favorite for victory, mirrored by Jorge Ruiz (CNA) in Open iQFOiL. In Optimist Sub11, James Lawrence (RCNP) currently dominates, while in Optimist D, the rivalry between clubmates Jordi Roig and Claudia Darder (RCNP) is shaping up to be one of the event’s most thrilling battles.

Beyond the sporting results, the Gran Día de la Vela also represents an exceptional logistical and organizational effort. As Álex Durán, the technical director of Club Nàutic S’Arenal, explains: “Out at sea, more than 60 people are working to coordinate the racing areas, while onshore we have a team of 15 to 20 people, in addition to the club’s dock staff. It’s like organizing a national or international championship, with the same technical and human resources. Having up to 120 boats on the starting line is a unique experience, especially for the youngest sailors, who gain invaluable learning and the motivation to compete at the highest level.”

The competition will continue tomorrow, Monday, August 25th, in the waters of the Bay of Palma and Llucmajor, where much remains to be decided in this opening stage of the 61st Gran Día de la Vela – Bufete Frau.

Results: https://www.grandiadelavela.com/es/default/races/race-resultsall