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La Sal 2009
LA RUTA DE LA SAL 2009
- “CLEM”, THE SWAN 56
OF JAIME OLAZABAL, AND “AIVIS”, THE FORTUNA 9 OF
MANUEL GUASCH, ABSOLUTE WINNERS OF LA RUTA DE LA SAL 2009.
- ALBERTO PALACHI’S “TIKETITOO”, A WALLY 88,7
SKIPPERED BY JESUS TURRO, AND “PLIS PLAY”, VICENTE
GARCIA’S FARR 520, WINNERS IN REAL TIME.
- ALL AGREE THAT THE SAL 2009 WAS A DIFFICULT REGATTA WITH MANY
CHALLENGES DURING THE RACE.
Louis Chevrolet -
Official Watch for La Ruta de La Sal 2009
The absolute winners of each version of the regatta received
a watch, a limited edition especially designed for La
Ruta de la Sal by the prestigious Swiss watch manufacturer
Louis Chevrolet. This well-renowned firm has been producing
these little pieces of art since 1911 and is inspired
by the famous car maker.
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THIS 22nd EDITION OF LA RUTA DE LA SAL BROUGHT TOGETHER ALMOST
300 VESSELS FROM NINE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. ALL PARTICIPANTS
DEMONSTRATED THEIR GREAT EXPERIENCE DURING A COMPLEX VOYAGE
“CLEM”, Jaime Olazábal’s Swan 56 (North
Version) and “Aivis”, the Fortuna 9 of the Ibicencan
Manuel Guasch (East Version) were proclaimed absolute winners
of the 22nd high-sea sailing regatta La Ruta de la Sal, celebrated
from April 9 to 11, 2009, which brought together almost 300
vessels from nine countries. “CLEM”, a Mallorca-based
vessel designed by the Argentinean German Frers, was the third
in real time to cross the arrival line in Sant Antoni de Portmany.
She had covered the distance of 147 miles in 1 day, 5 hours
and 32 minutes. In compensated time, this was enough to beat
Daniel Turro’s “Solete”, a GS 45 of the RCN
of Barcelona, second in real time in the North Version, and
“Tiketitoo”, Jesús Turro’s Wally 88,7,
winner in real time of the regatta from Barcelona and third
in general. Jaume Serra’s “Atlant del Vent”,
a B&C 52, second in real time in the North Version and first
Ibicencan boat to reach Sant Antoni de Portmany, became fourth
in the general classification.
The Ibicencan ship owner Manuel Guasch, winner of the East Version,
covered the distance of 117 miles from Denia in 1 day, 11 minutes
and 37 seconds. This meant that he could beat “Milocha”,
the Fortuna 12 of Francisco Martínez of the RCN of Torrevieja,
who became second in the general classification. Another Fortuna,
la “Posidonia Una”, Ramón Balanzat’s
Fortuna 9 of the CN of Ibiza, became third in the East Version.
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| Arrival
at the port of St. Antoni de Portmany |
According to Jesús Turro, skipper of the Wally 88,7 “Tiketitoo”,
winner in real time of the East Version of La Sal, the regatta
was very complex. “From the start until midnight of April
9th we navigated magnificently. With moderate winds from the
northeast we reached a good speed and were heading almost directly
towards Ibiza, with a slight tendency to drift towards Mallorca.
From midnight on, when we were about 20 miles away from our
destination, the wind started to weaken. The morning was very
tough and we had to struggle in order to advance, as there was
a complete lull in the wind.” The meteorologist Tomas
Molina, crew member of “Tiketitoo”, indicated that
the navigation strategy had been optimal, at a good speed and
with the intention of crossing the arrival line between 1:00
a.m. and 2:00 a.m. of April 10th, until the wind started to
weaken.
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TIKETITOO,
a Wally 88,7
in St. Antoni de Portmany |
The
crew of TIKETITOO
receives the salt sack upon arrival |
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| Crew
of ATLANT DEL VENT upon arrival |
Crew
of PLIS PLAY upon arrival |
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The
fleet of “La Sal”
at the CN St. Antoni de Portmany - Ibiza |
At
the pier |
IVicente García Torres scored an important success with
his “Plis Play”, a Farr 520. Together with his victory
in real time at the last Ruta de la Sal, he has accumulated
five absolute victories during the last few years. This means
that his team is the one that has achieved most victories in
real time of this regatta. This is a true record, and it is
very difficult to outperform, in particular due to the fact
that in 2008 “Plis Play” had won both in real and
in compensated time. To this day, this has happened only few
times. After arriving at the Club Náutico of Sant Antoni,
Javier Carratala, the skipper of “Plis Play”, said
that the regatta had been particularly tough. “During
the entire voyage the wind was very unstable”, he said.
“It blew from the northeast, then from the east or even
from the southeast, and then it was very calm. The most critical
moment of the entire regatta probably was the moment when we
passed La Mola”, Carratala continued, “as the sea
was calm with some waves, and hardly any wind.”
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| Skippers’
Meeting in Barcelona and Denia |
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| Jesús
Turro and Tomas Molina of TIKETITOO Wally 88,7 at the
North Version |
The
fleet is ready |
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| Welcome
of the crews in Barcelona and Denia |
Jaime Olazábal, owner of the Swan 56 “CLEM”
and absolute winner of the North Version of La Sal, showed himself
particularly satisfied with the performance of his boat. He
has already participated in five editions of this classical
sailing regatta and spoke about the difficulties of navigating
under surprisingly unstable conditions as from midnight of April
9th. “The last miles were worst, due to the calm and fragile
wind and the absolute impossibility of establishing a clear
technique,” he said. The Ibicencan Manuel Guasch, with
his Fortuna 9 absolute winner of the East Version of La Sal,
on the other hand stated: “This time, the short length
of our boat has been a great advantage for us. On other occasions,
this is just the contrary. Competing with the second group of
the fleet allowed us to enjoy stronger winds right before reaching
Tagomago and along the northern coast of Ibiza. Although they
were unstable and reached up to 35 knots at some points, we
were able to advance very rapidly during the final miles of
the regatta, and this has been favourable for us with respect
to the compensation of time.
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| Welcome
committee at the Village de La Sal in St. Antoni de Pormany
- Ibiza |
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| The
Village de La Sal in St. Antoni de Portmany - Ibiza |
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Louis
Chevrolet, official watch of
"La Sal" at the Village |
Barcelona
Boat Show at the Village |
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| Bahlsen
at the Village |
“Products
of the Balearic Islands” for all participants at
the Village |
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| Tasting
Caldo Aneto after arriving |
Europcar
at the Village |
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| Stand
of the Consell d’Eivissa with informacion about
the island |
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| The
Village de La Sal – St. Antoni de Portmany - Ibiza |
According to Pepe Ferres, president of ANAM and director of
the regatta, this Ruta de la Sal once again confirmed that it
has never been an easy regatta. “Although they navigated
within a rather short period of time, technically and tactically
it was a very complex competition. Navigating in an area affected
by one weather front that is disappearing and another one that
is arriving bears a certain risk and means that the forecasts
are not very accurate. There were very unstable and variable
winds, both in intensity and direction, as well as long and
time-consuming calms. For the shorter boats, the last part of
the regatta was characterised by heavy showers and squalls of
up to 35 knots. Generally speaking, it was a panorama of hard
work and little tactics. In the end, strategic decisions with
respect to real time turned out to be the most effective ones.”
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| Press
conference CNSA |
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| The
Village de La Sal y at the CN Sant Antoni de Portmany
- Ibiza |
The Club Náutico of Sant Antoni de Portmany, for the
first time final destination of La Sal, turned out to be an
excellent choice. The quality of its installations, its services,
its operational capacity and the enthusiasm of its staff have
doubtlessly contributed to a successful regatta. For Pep Tur,
president of the CN de Sant Antoni, it was all worth the trouble.
He predicts a great future in the relationship between Sant
Antoni de Portmany and the Regatta La Ruta de La Sal. He indicated
that next year “the remodelling works of our marina will
be finished and we will even have new headquarters, which means
that the regatta will benefit from a magnificent base. For our
club, La Ruta de La Sal has turned into a paramount sports objective.”
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| Welcome
reception of the participants at the town hall of St.
Antoni de Portmany and award ceremony of La Sal |
La Ruta de La Sal is carried out in cooperation with the Consell
d’Eivissa, the departments of Tourism and Commerce, Industry
and Energy of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Sant Antoni de
Portmany townhall, the Estació Náutica of Sant
Antoni and Sant Josep, Denia townhall and Barcelona townhall.
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| José
Sala Torres, Mayor of St. Antoni de Portmany at the official
awards ceremony |
Josefa
Marí Ribas, Consellera de Promoció Turística
del Consell d’Eivissa at the official awards ceremony |
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| Pepe
Ferres, Director of the Regata |
Awards
ceremony |
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| CLEM,
the Swan 56 of Jaime Olazabal Winner of the North Version |
AIVIS,
the Fortuna 9 of Manuel Guasch, Winner of the East Version |
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| TIKETITOO,
Alberto Palachi’s Wally 88,7 and PLIS PLAY, Vicente
Garcia’s Farr 520, winners in real time |
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| Official
awards ceremony – La Ruta de la Sal 2009 |
The 22nd high-sea regatta La Ruta de la Sal was organised by
the Mediterranean Yachtsmen Organisation ANAM (Associació
de Navegants d’Altura Mediterranis), in close collaboration
with the Reial Club Maritim of Barcelona, Real Club Náutico
Denia and Club Náutic Sant Antoni de Portmany –
Ibiza, with the support of Ports de Balears, Autoritat Portuaria
de Barcelona, Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento y Seguridad Maritima,
Guardia Civil del Mar, the Real Federación Española
de Vela, Federació Catalana de Vela, Federación
de Vela de la Comunidad Valenciana y la Federació Balear
de Vela.
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| Dinner
and “Fiesta de La Sal” at Es Paradis |
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