It was a relatively short race course in Lisbon for these big VO65 sailing boats with a strong wind, enhanced by some rain showers and squalls, as icing on the cake to make this an exciting In-Port Race.
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| Start Mirpuri Lisbon In-Port Race |
The Start was delayed somewhat, to observe the variations of the windshift. But then, all Boats started, most on Starboard tack but Clean Sea and Akzo Nobel on Port tack. Brunel was not the fastest but pushed Maphre and tacked as first, and was the leader on the top mark rounding, followed nicely by Clean Seas.
Clean Seas came back strong and taken the lead on rounding the bottom Mark. Later however Clean Seas fell back.
Vestas had the slow start and later on received a starboard-port penalty, causing her to end up in the back of the fleet.
Maphre was also a slow starter, squeezed between Brunel and Vestas sailing some legs in 5-6 place, but recovered in later legs.
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| Brunel pushing Mapfre on last Mark |
Brunel was strong all race, with a leading roll in all but one Mark rounding. In the last 2 Legs Maphre came up strong, but using a wind sqall just before the last Mark , Brunel rounded this just on Maphre's bow. Brunel than pushing Mapfre as leeward boat into the wind causing her to stall and allow Brunel to spear away to the finish.
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| Brunel wins just ahead of Mapfre |
Mapfre came still close but Brunel kept a cool head and took the Victory.
A link to videos of this In-Port Race, Full and Highlights, and other VOR Leg races is available in my Video Tab.
