Artemis claims honours

But Cristabella overhauls Matador on the final day of the Hublot PalmaVela

In a nice southwesterly breeze which built to 12 knots, and an airplane-free sky, the final races of the 7th Hublot PalmaVela took place today. All the fleets were out on the water with the Maxis and TP52s on their coastal races in the Charlie area.

In the TP52 class Artemis was the predictable winner, but Cristabella managed a good second, whereas Magic Carpet 2 regain the lead in the Wally class. The Mini Maxi class didn't provide any surprises either, and was won by Udo Schutz's Container. In the J/80, Platú 25, RI1, and RI 2 classes, Peraleja Golf, Iberdrola, Cuadernos Rubio and Ciudad de Ceuta were the winners.

In the TP52 class Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis came thanks to her consistent performance during the two first days, where she managed to create a gap that allowed her to remain in the first place from start to finish despite winning no races during the last two days, following the departure of tactician Paul Cayard (in order to get back to San Francisco before the airports closed down). The surprise of the day was provided by John Cook's Cristabella, which won two races, kicking Matador out of the second place in the final results. Despite good results yesterday, the Argentinians lacked consistency throughout the regatta. This was the TP52s first race following significant rule modifications for this season and that the teams are still fine tuning their boats.

The Maxi Wallys and Mini Maxis classes completed a 15.77 miles coastal race in the Bay of Palma, with marks roundings at Sech and Illetas. In the Mini Maxis, a second place for Udo Schutz's Container was enough to secure them the overall win. The final race was taken by Sir Peter Ogden's Jethou, gaining the British team third place behind Andrés Soriano's Alegre, and knocking Neville Crichton's Shockwave from the podium. However it should be pointed out that Alegre won the International Maxi Assocition Mini Maxi comin out top of the owner-driven boats.

The Wallys held one of the most exciting race of this regatta. Piers Richarson's J One couldn't handle the pressure from Magic Carpet 2, which regained her form of the first days tp won the coastal race. After applying the discard, the British Wally 95 regained the top spot ahead of J-One, which finished third today, and Stefano Massa's Indio.

Among the boats racing in the handicap classes, in International Rating 1 (RI 1) Cuadernos Rubio claimed first place after posting a first and a second in today's two races. It was not Aifos' best day today. The Spanish Army's boat, with Jaime Rodríguez Toubes at the helm, could only manage a seventh and a fourth place, enabling Joern Bock's Minnic to claim second, one point ahead of John Bassadone's Península Petroleum with Iñaki Castañer at the helm.

Ciudad de Ceuta finished first in her class thanks to a win in the last race of the class. The boat skippered by Sergio Llorca benefitted from a mistake by Juan Cabrer's Vell Marí allowing Ciudad de Ceuta to claim victory for the first time since 2005, when he won his fourth and last Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre. Asier García's Modark was third after being very consistent throughout the whole regatta.

The ORC class, Russian X-35 won the final victory, winning today's both races, ahead of Miguel Mercada's Bruix IV of and Francisco Llompart's Omi II.

Prizes were presented at 1800 at the Real Club Naútico of Palma, in the presence of the Major of Palma, Aina Calvo, and the Oresident of the organizing committee of the Hublot PalmaVela, Javier Sanz.

Results: 

Other results here