2024 South American Championship at Buenos Aires, Argentina – Day 1
by ISCYRA 21 Nov 15:52 PST
November 20-23, 2024
The 2024 Star South American Championship launched grandly today, completing two races in nearly ideal but demanding sailing conditions. Hosted by the Yacht Club Olivos in partnership with the International Star Class, the event gathered some of the world’s top sailors to compete in Buenos Aires.
The first day featured beautiful sunshine, a consistent breeze, and exciting competition. The wind began at 12-15 knots for the first race, increasing to 16-20 knots during the second, coming in at angles between 130 and 145 degrees. The choppy conditions posed an additional challenge, testing the crews’ skills and stamina.
Both races commenced without issues, highlighting the tightly contested field. Paul Cayard (USA), sailing with Pedro Trouche (BRA), won the first race. Cayard, President of the Star Class and a highly decorated and adaptable sailor globally, displayed his affinity for the Rio de la Plata, where he clinched his Star World Championship title back in 1988.
“We had an excellent day, sailing with Pedro again for the first time in about five years. It’s wonderful to team up with him once more; he’s a fantastic partner. We borrowed this boat, so we’re tweaking it and improving it, and our speed seems quite good,” stated Paul Cayard, who, along with Pedro Trouche, holds a provisional lead after two races. “The winds and currents here are rather complex; it’s trickier than I recall, making it challenging. In the first race, we reached the first mark in 4th place but managed to overtake the leaders, including the Altolaguirre brothers, a strong local duo from Rosario. We had a poor start in the second race but fought back to finish 2nd. It was a fantastic first day for us, and we look forward to more days in this championship.”
The second race concluded with a win for local Argentine brothers Leandro and Lucas Altolaguirre, who are certainly among the competitors to keep an eye on. The duo recently shared second place points, finishing third at the 2024 Star World Championship in San Diego this past September, solidifying their position as top contenders.
The competition remains extremely close, particularly among the leaders, with minimal margins separating them, promising thrilling races in the days ahead.
Looking Ahead
The championship resumes tomorrow, with two more races planned each day until Saturday, November 23, when the South American champions will be announced. With favorable conditions anticipated to continue, both sailors and organizers are bracing for an exciting week of competition in Buenos Aires.
Quick Links:
