INDIGO J/24 "Sailor's Cup" Champion

(Cordoba, Argentina)- The past weekend was the second and final round of the fall J/24 championship on Lago San Roque called the "Sailor's Cup", sailed off the picturesque Andean Mountains' town of Cordoba.

An excellent fleet turnout of seventeen boats produced close competition with the top five all riding "roller coaster" finishes over the two weekend event with six races completed.  It was evident the various J/24 teams are increasingly more even in their performance, boat speed and teamwork are such that many races aren't determined until the final 100 meters by those making the fewest mistakes!

In the end, is was Team INDIGO led by Despontin Ezekiel, who managed to win the championship after an excellent final day posting finishes of 2-4-1 for 16 net pts.  Just behind them a true Argentinean polo pony race hit the pelota into the goal!  The next four boats finished within four points of each other!

Taking second on a tie-breaker was CALEUCHE PHONE SERVICE followed by CAIDO DEL CIELO in third, also with 21 points.  By virtue of winning one of their first races, the team on MARIA MARIA sailed by Julia Wheat, Vicky Allende, Carlos Trigo, Miguel Bailo and Ramiro Camiloto finished fourth with 24 pts.  They were followed in fifth by A PRUEBAS DE BALAS with 25 pts!  A close finish indeed for these crazed mountain J/24 sailors who know how to have lots of fun.  Must be the deliciously yummy pampas fed beef and sweet malbec red wines that all grow in the region.  For more J/24 Cordoba sailing information

CARRER Takes J/24 Cordoba Championship

(Villa Carlos Pax, Cordoba, Argentina)- As they have for years, the "400 Club" as it's known amongst the J/24 sailors that go sailing in Argentina's Andes Mountain range hosted yet another fantastic regatta, weather be damned.  Located not far from its famous vineyards for making the delicious red Malbec's and for snow-skiing in yet another direction (like at the top of the lake!) the J/24 sailors made the most of what can be some of the world's most spectacular sailing conditions as well as it's craziest.  Think of sailing on any Swiss Lake, Lake Dillon in Colorado or Nevada's famous Lake Tahoe; micro-bursts are normal and boats sailing at one another with spinnakers on opposite legs are simply part of the game.

For this year's event, the Campeonato Centro de la Republica Cordoba, it was Pablo Despontin's team on CARRER that managed to win by the narrowest of margins.  With 21 boats on the water of Lago San Roque from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza and Neuquen the fleet managed to sail three races over the course of three days, such is the case with mountain breezes!

On the first day of sailing, the fleet managed to get in two good races with a reasonable winds.  The second day of racing was difficult and the RC was only able to get in one good race due to highly variable climatic conditions that went from storm to calm and mountain "Borneos" of 180 degrees changes in wind direction, until it settled to about 8 to 10 knots.


Despite the weather conditions, there was incredible enthusiasm and very cool racing amongst the J/24 sailors despite the heat of the competition. Not to mention, of course, was the absolutely amazing party in the evening with beautiful people, fine wines & champagne and incredible fireworks magically reflecting off the lake like it was a mirror!

Sadly, there was no racing Monday since there was a complete lack of wind.  As a result, the regatta ended with three races counting with no throw-outs.  True to their tradition for this event, the regatta organizers, 400 YCC, J/24 Cordoba Fleet and others had a fabulous closing ceremony and awards.  To next time, as they say, but this time with more wind!  See J/24 Cordoba photos in Picasa photos.  More J/24 Cordoba pictures on Facebook.