Yesterday…(fouth day of competition)

We ran a total of 4 formula races.

The first two races were in light winds (10-16 knots), Gonzalo and I (Wilhelm) waited until the last minute to decide what sail to take, as the winds here can pick up very quickly. In the end most of us went with big sails ( 11.8) for the first two races.

Gonzalo won the first two races with ease and I came second, Mathias Pinheiro and Jean Paul had good speed in the light winds and were right up there to take a third and a fourth each.

After an hour brake, we set of to do two more races, we changed down to 10.7 as the winds picked up to around 18-28 knots.

On the first race, Gonzalo, Edward and I had a really good fight, after a few swapping positions Gonzalo took the win, I came 5 seconds behind with Edward finishing very close behind as well.

On the last race of the day, I lead until the last downwind, and going to the finish, Gonzalo tacked a few meters before and overtook me to take the win on what was a close battle to the end. Jean Paul came back strong and finished in third.

Today…(fifth day of competition)

A total of 3 formula races, back to back, were completed on perfect formula conditions raging from 15-20 knots.

On the first race, Gonzalo and I had a match racing battle again, I lead the race until the last upwind were Gonza overtook me after some tactical sailing. Mathias Pinheiro held his 12 meters down and came close to take third place.

Second race of the day, Gonzalo Edward and I started port tack and just managed to pass in front of the fleet and round the top mark together followed by Mathias. On the downwind, Gonzalo and I stayed close together on the left side of the course, while Mathias, Edward and Jean Paul towards the middle. The second upwind was about the same With Gonzalo rounding in ahead of me. On the downwind, Gonzalo jibed early which at first seemed to be the wrong choise as I was on a much better angle and passing ahead, but half way down, a strong gust came through and he managed to regain the lead and round the last mark in first were he controlled it until the end. I came in second followed by Jean Paul, Edward and Mathias.

The third race, Gonzalo and I started on port again and took an early lead. Gonzalo stayed ahead on the downwind and rounded in first with myself coming 10 meters behind. On the upwind, Gonzalo opened up a few meters from me, and as we started the last downwind, I jibed early and lost a lot, by the time I rounded the bottom mark, Gonzalo was clearly ahead and Jean Paul was very close to me followed by Edward and that’s how it finished.

So with 11 formula races, Gonzalo already secured the title with myself in second, however, the fight for third will be decided tomorrow on the last planned formula race, between Jean Paul COL 1 and Edward COL 1111. Mathias Pinheiro BRA 5 is secured in 5 th and taking the title in the masters, followed by the vice world grand master champion, Ricardo Conde BRA 8 and Top Chilian formula racer Herman CHI 11.

In the women Monika Villeas took the tittle and on the Super Master James Cock is the winner.

We switched to slalom in the afternoon and manage to do one final on 7.8 and big boards. Gonzalo hit the line at 0 seconds to do a perfect start and take the lead, I came in second close behind, we had a good battle on the 4 jibes until the end. Gonzalo took the win, I came in second and Mathias in third. We started another final, I lead until the second mark, but the winds just shut down and that was it for the day.

With this, Gonzalo also takes the Slalom tittle and myself in second. Mathias is secured in 3 rd and takes the masters title.

Tomorrow we plan to do one formula, two slalom and one long distance to finish of with gold and complete all the races scheduled for the event.

Wilhelm Schurmann