Over a dozen yachts competed for a week of racing in the
beautiful Bay of Pozuelos, off Puerto la
Cruz, Venezuela,
in the 11th annual South Caribbean Ocean Race (SCOR). Sailors,
hailing from Curacao, Venezuela
and the US
mainland, enjoyed brisk winds and fair weather during the August 20 to 27 event, which saw winners in four classes.
“We
had a new race program with one week of racing,” says participant and
organizer, Maurizio Costanzo.
“This coincided with the ‘Anzoategui
Nautical Week’ and also the ‘Virgen del Valle’ (Patron saint of fishermen) holiday, which
increased the number of boats racing.”
The
regatta comprised the following traditional races over successive days: Regatta “Marina
Mercante”, Regatta “Bahía
de Pozuelos”, Regatta “Este-Oeste” (to the
Piritu
Islands with an overnight stay and beach
barbecue), and Regatta “Virgen del Valle.”
In the Racing class, the yacht Mascalzone, a new
Malbec 290 captained by Maurizio Costanzo,
debuted in style and won the Class just weeks after arriving from
Argentina. Edwing Otero, skippering the Beneteau
First 35, Olafo,
sailed to a comfortable win in the Racing/Cruising Class.
At the helm of his classic wooden
yacht, Kemy
III, an S & S 39, Pierre Roelens led the Cruising Class.
Daniela Rivera,
won the Freestyle Class sailing aboard a Star named
Carupano.
At the end of the
week’s racing, sailors enjoyed the sunset at the hotel Mares Mares, situated on the canal system of the tourist complex
El Morro. Prize giving followed cocktails. Trophies where specially designed by
the master of sailing and creator of the SCOR, Professor Costanzo,
and were accompanied by a poem composed by Costanzo
which added the final touch to the evening.
To everyone who participated in any way, who
bathed the bay with their colors, we wish to thank you and hope to see you all
again next year, inviting those from other latitudes to contact us,” Costanzo says.
Event
sponsors included Mitsubishi, Urbaneja County Council
and the State of Anzoategui´s
Sports Institute.
