After four excellent, hard fought races in brisk winds at the J Class Barcelona Regatta, it may be Velsheda which is credited with the overall lead, but that is only on tie break which falls the way of the beautiful 91-year-old as winners of today’s second race ahead of Svea.

For the second day in a row the race wins and second places were traded equally between Velsheda and Svea, both teams sharing the same six points aggregate. Rainbow have not been lucky so far at this, their first major J Class regatta as a team. Receiving a penalty at the start of the first race today proved costly as, of course, it takes a long time to dial a heavy J Class yacht through a 360-degree penalty turn. And as the breeze picked up to more than 25kts in the second race Rainbow landed another third, just unable to match the two much more experienced teams in the bigger breeze.

All square and squaring up 
Sitting all square after the first two races, Svea won the Race 3 start nicely at the pin end and so were able to quickly squeeze Velsheda off to the less favoured right side of the upwind. Rainbow was not quite able to match Svea for speed upwind in the 14-16kts breeze. By the first windward mark Svea, with Bouwe Bekking calling tactics, was already 40 seconds clear of Velsheda, going on to win by 47 seconds. Rainbow’s penalty at the start for tacking too close to Velsheda cost them dearly and they were forced to try and play catch up finishing over 3-minutes behind.

Shortened, just in time… 
The second contest saw the winds and seas pick up quickly, from 18-19kts just before the start there was more than 22-23 by halfway up the beat and over 25 on the run. Velsheda won the start and were able to control her two rivals to the layline. At the top mark they were already 30-seconds up, showing off their polished, impressive crew work. By halfway down the run the breeze was still building and whilst the J Class trio were a magnificent spectacle at full speed, fully loaded downwind, the prudent decision was taken to shorten the course to one circuit. Velsheda led through the finish, the winning margin proving to be just 18-seconds after 35-minutes of adrenalin pumping action.

Velsheda’s tactician Tom Dodson enthused: “We are sharing race wins turnabout with Svea which is great, Rainbow is in there when they can be. But it is great racing. The first race was a race to the left-hand side of the beat and Svea got there and led. There were not many passing places and what there was Svea shut us down quickly. The second race we came out first to that left side. In that race it was a bit of a switch to survival mode from racing, as the wind built pretty quickly. We kept racing and only beat Svea by a few seconds.”

Dodson reflects: “Both our teams are very experienced whereas I think the Rainbow guys are coming on leaps and bounds but they maybe would have liked a little less wind than this for such a regatta so early in their campaign.”

Great atmosphere 
Back at the race dock in the heart of the Marina Port Vell, watched by dozens of interested spectators who clearly relished the chance to see the magnificent J Class yacht trio up close, the atmosphere was a mix of intense activity, crews working to get damaged sails off to the repair loft but all the time mixed with broad smiles and, no doubt a measure of relief, but all reflecting on two really memorable days of racing.

Paul Kelly, longtime Svea boat captain, grinned: “It is great the boats are so close, there is nothing in it and it is keeping us all on our toes. It is proving great fun. The first race we went for a smaller jib as we thought the breeze would build which it did and in the end, we just extended ahead of Velsheda. The second race we had a bit of a bad start and Velsheda got away. We came into them a little on the run. But I think we saw 32kts at one point and with the spinnaker the size of a tennis court it was a little bit on the edge. Now we all are hoping for a bit of a lighter day tomorrow to get a little respite. There is a fair bit of sail replacement and repair going on, we have some damage to a couple of spinnakers and got a bit of work to do on our mainsail, but there is nothing we can’t fix.”

And Simon Fisher, Rainbow’s navigator reports: “It was another full on day on the water. The question was always going to be when the breeze would build, and it did and right on cue. I think we were a little unlucky to get the penalty but to do a 360 on these boats you can imagine takes a long time and there is not really any coming back from it. It is pretty expensive. And so, we did try to do something different but there was a big left shift which we did not get.

“The second race was better we got a good start, but it was a bit of a drag race to the left and Velsheda nailed it and got in a position to control us and Svea before tacking and leaving us over the layline. And after that it was a bit processional. But for us it was a bit frustrating but we are still learning the boat and from that point of view all the time on the water is good. Of course, it is frustrating and we have not been lucky but we are learning. Tomorrow looks lighter which might be good, and we keep on pushing.”

Racing is due to start around 1230hrs CET Thursday with a forecast for a lighter breeze, 7-13kts from the NW which should add a different complexion to the competition after two breezy days which, though very welcomed, are a little different from the long-term prediction for the light winds which usually prevail in October in Barcelona. The Regatta is hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.

J Class Barcelona Regatta Results and standings 

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 four races, no discards 
1 Velsheda 6pts
2 Svea 6pts
3 Rainbow 13pts

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