Plenty of racing and parties spelled loads of fun at the Discover the Caribbean Series, hosted November 9th to 11th out of Puerto Rico’s Ponce Yacht & Fishing Club.
Sergio Sagramoso, driving his J/122 Lazy Dog, won the CSA Racing Division with eight first place bullets in ten races, over Jaime Torres at the helm of his brand new Melges 32, Smile and Wave.
“It was fun competing against a new boat which Jaime and his crew was still learning how to race,” says Sagramoso. “The winds were light all weekend, always below 15 knots. Thing could have been very different had the wind hovered around 15 or more, as the Melges would have planed its way to certain victory. In sub-planing conditions it was still quite tight even though the results might show otherwise.”
In the One-Design IC24 Class, Marco Teixidor aboard Cachondo beat Alejandro Berrios driving Orion by seven points in 13 races on short windward-leeward courses.
“It’s been a while since Alejandro skippered a boat in competition but he has always been a solid sailor,” says Teixidor. “We got off to a good start on day one, but continued to improve throughout the weekend, especially our boat speed and boat-handling. I think what led to our win was the starts. We got off the line with speed and played the middle of the course well. Once we were in front, it was just a matter of consolidating our lead.”
Carlos Feliciano sailed to the top of the one-design J/24 class aboard his El Pavo Asado, with a close two-point lead over Jose Fullana’s KQ-LO, who won this class last year.
“We were in second and behind by four points the first day, then in first by one point on the second day,” says Feliciano. “By the third day, I had the option of not racing the last race and I was still in first place. I had new crew this year that led me to win; better tactics.”
In the Cruising Class, Jerome O’Neill aboard his J/39, Crystal, led with a commanding lead. Excellent light wind boat handling was the secret to O’Neill and his crews’ success.
“We led on day one by four points and consolidated that lead on day two with four bullets,” he says. “Day three was our worst despite having excellent starts, yet the feeling on the boat was that we had cleaned up with six firsts in 11 races. Our biggest challengers were the two J/30s, ONC 2 C and Joda 30, who battled it out for second and third.”
Jib & Main Class was almost a One-Design Hunter 216 class with four of six boats of this model taking part for the first time. Angel Davila won aboard his Guango, by a close three point spread over Joel Santiago’s Pura Vida.
“Pura Vida had a very experienced crew and in one race we beat them by one second,” says Davila. “I think that my consistency and the years with the Don Q Racing Team as tactician helped me to win. One trick was to finish all the courses ‘downwind’.
The Chalanas Class saw Steven Negron’s La Rosa win the 24-foot class, while Javier Maldonado’s Piolin championed the 28-footers.
The following weekend, the Discover the Caribbean Dinghy Regatta took place with over 20 sailors from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands racing in Optimists, Lasers and Sunfish. Ricardo Valenzuela led the Optimists, Juan Carlos Perdomo the Lasers and Jose Nigaglioni the Sunfish.
“The wind was light all weekend and what could only keep you safe in these conditions was to make good starts and maintain boat speed,” says Nigaglioni.
“My concentration and discipline during the weekend gave me the victory.”
For full results, visit: www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=647 or www.discoverpyfc.com
Carol M. Bareuther, RD, is a St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands based marine writer and registered dietitian.
