Multihull Cup 2024 Enjoys Excellent Winds Once Again
by Phil Riley 28 Sep 11:17 PDT
27-29 September 2024
After a delayed start, the second day of the Multihull Cup 2024 finally provided excellent racing conditions, completing two races successfully.
Initial winds of 6-7 knots led to a temporary postponement near Mallorca’s southwest coast, but as a mistral from the northwest set in, breezes built to 14-16 knots by the end of the first race and reached up to 18 knots by the completion of the second. The day was marked by sunny weather, with a distant storm keeping clear.
Results from Saturday featured a different champion for each of the windward-leeward races.
In the day’s opening race, Adrian Keller’s Irens 78, Allegra, found its pace to finish just 20 seconds behind Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s 80-ft VPLP-custom Highland Fling 18, a result which was transformed into a corrected-time victory of 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
The second race of the day showcased a shift with Highland Fling 18 capitalizing on the increasing wind to take a decisive lead, finishing more than 3 minutes ahead on the water and winning by 37 seconds after ORCmh handicap adjustments.
For the Dragon, the conditions were not conducive to the 60-ft Bañuls Design McConaghy-built Mc2 60, which struggled to compete with its larger rivals in either race. However, the crew’s spirit was evident when they were individually recalled in race 3 as they aimed for an early start.
Currently, Allegra leads the standings with 4 points, followed closely by Highland Fling 18 with 5 points, while Dragon sits at 9.
“With a thrilling coastal race yesterday and two challenging windward-leeward races today, we have produced some exciting competition for a small but highly competitive fleet,” remarked Multihull Cup Event Director Andrea Grimm.
“The owners and crews have relished some fantastic racing, and as always, our host marina Port Adriano has offered excellent hospitality in an elegant environment. The competition is tight at the top, so everything is at stake for the final day on Sunday.”
Racing is set to resume tomorrow, leading up to the celebratory prize-giving event at Port Adriano later in the afternoon.
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