2024 J Class Barcelona Regatta – Day 3
by J Class Association 9 Oct 12:06 PDT
7-11 October 2024
J Class Barcelona Regatta 2024 Day 3 © Sailing Energy
Velsheda and Svea remain tied after another intense day.
Following four thrilling and fiercely contested races in strong winds at the J Class Barcelona Regatta, Velsheda holds the overall lead; however, this is merely due to a tie-break advantage as they won the second race of the day over Svea.
For the second consecutive day, race victories and second places were exchanged between Velsheda and Svea, with both teams accumulating the same total of six points. Rainbow, participating in their first significant J Class regatta as a team, has faced challenges, suffering a penalty at the start of the first race today, which severely impacted their performance since it takes considerable time to maneuver a heavy J Class yacht through a 360-degree penalty turn. In the second race, as the wind increased to over 25 knots, Rainbow finished third, unable to compete with the more seasoned teams.
All tied and preparing for the next round.
With scores level after the first two races, Svea secured a solid start in Race 3 from the pin end, successfully pushing Velsheda to the less advantageous right side. Rainbow couldn’t keep pace with Svea upwind in the 14-16 knot breeze. By the first windward mark, Svea, with Bouwe Bekking strategizing, had a 40-second lead over Velsheda, eventually winning by 47 seconds. Rainbow’s penalty for tacking too close to Velsheda put them behind, finishing over three minutes later.
Shortened just in time…
As the second race commenced, winds and seas intensified rapidly, increasing from 18-19 knots before the start to over 22-23 knots midway up the beat and surpassing 25 knots on the run. Velsheda won the start and skillfully controlled their competitors toward the lay line. At the top mark, they were already ahead by 30 seconds, showcasing their impressive crew work. By the run’s halfway point, the wind continued to build, and although the J Class trio presented a spectacular sight at full speed downwind, a prudent choice to shorten the course to one round was made. Velsheda crossed the finish line, ending with an 18-second winning margin after 35 minutes of thrilling action.
Tom Dodson, Velsheda’s tactician, remarked, “We are alternating race victories with Svea, which is fantastic, while Rainbow is keeping up when possible. It’s competitive racing. In the first race, we targeted the left side of the beat, with Svea securing the lead. There weren’t many overtaking opportunities, and Svea quickly shut us down. In the second race, our early positioning on the left side allowed us to focus on survival as the wind picked up. We managed to edge out Svea by mere seconds.”
Dodson further noted, “Both of our teams boast significant experience, while Rainbow is clearly improving, although they might have preferred lighter winds for such an early regatta in their campaign.”
Great atmosphere
At the race dock in the vibrant Marina Port Vell, a crowd of eager spectators observed the magnificent J Class yachts up close. The atmosphere was charged with energy, crews rushed to repair damaged sails, yet smiles were plentiful, indicating they were reflecting on two truly memorable days of competition.
Paul Kelly, long-serving captain of Svea, smiled as he said, “It’s fantastic that the boats are so evenly matched; it keeps us all vigilant and adds to the fun. In the first race, we opted for a smaller jib as we expected the wind to increase— which it did—allowing us to extend our lead over Velsheda. The second race featured a poor start for us, and Velsheda took off. We made up some ground during the run. At one point, we hit 32 knots, and with a spinnaker as large as a tennis court, it pushed us to our limits. We hope for lighter winds tomorrow to take a breather. We have some sail repairs and replacements needed, including damage to a couple of spinnakers and some work on the mainsail, but nothing is unmanageable.”
Simon Fisher, navigator of Rainbow, shared, “Today was another intense day on the water. We anticipated when the breeze would pick up, and it delivered right on cue. We felt a bit unlucky regarding the penalty, as performing a 360 on these boats takes considerable time, making recovery nearly impossible. We hoped to employ a different strategy, but a significant left shift occurred that we missed.”
“The second race went better; we had a solid start, but it became a drag race to the left, where Velsheda gained control over us and Svea before tacking and leaving us behind the lay line. After that, it felt a bit like a procession. While it’s frustrating not to have better results, we’re still learning and spending valuable time on the water. Tomorrow looks to be lighter, which could be beneficial, and we’ll keep pushing forward.”
Racing is set to commence around 12:30 PM CET on Thursday, with expectations for lighter winds, 7-13 knots from the NW, which should alter the dynamics of the competition after two windy days that, while welcomed, differ from the usual light winds typical in October in Barcelona. The Regatta is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.
J Class Barcelona Regatta Day 3 Results:
Race 3
1. Svea 1h 14m
2. Velsheda +47 secs
3. Rainbow +3m 29 secs
Race 4
1. Velsheda 35m 43 secs
2. Svea +18 secs
3. Rainbow +2m 25 secs
Standings after Day 3: (four races, no discards)
1. Velsheda 6pts
2. Svea 6pts
3. Rainbow 13pts
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