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News
CHALLENGING RUTA DE LA SAL 2008
A complicated regatta for genuine
experts in open sea sailing
Jay Walker and Plis Play absolute winners of the 21st
Ruta de la Sal.
More than 300 boats started, 201 arrived and 134 classified
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| Start
of the regatta at the RC Maritim de Barcelona and the
RC Nautico Denia |
There was consensus among the main participants. Both the Dutch
skipper Eric Jassen of the J-34 “Jay Walter”
and absolute winner of the North Verion, and Vicente García
from Alicante, responsible for “Plis-Play”,
a Farr 520, absolute winner of the East Version and winner in
real and compensated time, agreed with Pepe Ferres, director
of the regatta. And so did Jesus Turro, winner in real time
of the North Version with “Walliño”,
a Wally 60:
Even though the sailling regatta La Ruta de la Sal del
2008 might not be remembered as the toughest one, all
participants agreed that it was a difficult regatta, a very
difficult one indeed, and possibly the most complicated celebrated
to date. And, as pointed out by Mr. Turro, a diverting race
with all the attractions needed to be a great high-seas yacht
regatta, one that creates affection and builds up new skills.
The weather forecast was unsettled, at times even contradictory,
and even though some of the participants stated that the forecast
turned out to be true, others said that the predictions were
little useful to precisely map the expected route. To sum it
up: a complicated regatta forcing the participating yachts to
face all kinds of situations such as light winds, strong winds,
rain showers, night calms, a strongly agitated and confusing
sea combined with light and unstable winds - conditions that
caused a few broken masts and the loss of two rudders. Furthermore,
there were many minor breakdowns and a number of torn sails.
It was cold, and then, during the final part of the race from
Tagomago to Ibiza, when the participants virtually were at the
end of their rope, strong winds started to blow, reaching up
go 35 knots.
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WALLIÑO,
Walli 60 of Jesús Turro,
RCN Barcelona - Real time North version |
PLIS
PLAY, Farr 520 of Vicente Garcia,
RCR Alicante - Real time East version |
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| Jesus
Turro taking the salt bag, the symbol of the regatta |
Pepe
Ferres, Ricardo Urgell, Jordi Baijet, Albert Bergues and
Joan Antón Matas, at the Village de la Sal in Ibiza |
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| Tomas
Molina, at the Village de la Sal |
Female
crew of EUROPCAR at the Village de la Sal in Ibiza |
Due to these complex conditions, some 45 % of all participating
vessels finally managed to finish the regatta. More precisely:
130 boats crossed the finishing line after a sea passage which,
according to Pepe Ferres, director of the Ruta de la Sal, perfectly
combined all those qualities that define a good sailing regatta.
“Quite often, a sailing competition forces the participants
to test their skills against each other under diverse conditions.
The final classification is defined by the average result of
each difficulty resolved. This year, this has been particularily
true for the 21st edition of the Ruta de la Sal. The teams that
managed to classify have proved to be genuine experts in open
sea sailing. The regatta was very difficult and, in many respects,
those who managed to finish it can consider themselves very
successful. Congratulations to all of them”, Mr. Ferres
said. “Although the weather conditions were very confusing
and there were areas where we knew that the fleet would encounter
extremely harsh condtions, the organisation was able to permanently
control what was happening on the sea. The communication procedures
carried out regularily by the regatta control team of Tagomago
in order to position each and every participant and the efforts
of the support vessels were very efficient. Our comunication
channels, elaborated and optimised in the course of many years,
allowed us to perfectly attend all emergencies together with
the boats of the Salvamento Marítimo, and to permanently
know the individual position of all participating boats. Thus,
we were able to keep control over all drop-outs of the regatta,
to get information about all boats in difficulties and to know
about those that continued the race without major problems.
Indeed, we are very satisfied with the overall result of this
edition of La Sal. We were perfectly able to cope with all difficulties
so that those who managed to finish the regatta had fun and
– as I already said – the classifications were pretty
open so that the options to win were not excessively restricted.
The sportive level was extremely high and there is no doubt
that the competitors are genuine experts in open sea sailing.”
Once again, the North Version of the Ruta de
la Sal was won by a foreign team. In 2007, the winner was Caro,
a German J&V50. This year’s absolute winner is the
Dutch yacht Jay Walker, a J 35, skipperered
by Eric Jansen. Second is Aivis, a Fortuna
9, skippered by Manuel Guasch of the Club Náutico of
Ibiza. This yacht is a frequenter of the Sal and has participated
more than fifteen times now. Third is Gamón Brigas’
Grop, a First 38.
Eric Jansen, owner of the Jay Walker said: “We are very
happy to have won the Ruta de la Sal. The conditions have been
difficult for us, especially during the final part with squalls
of over 30 knots and high bow waves. We did not expect to win,
but after a few hours on the sea we realised that we were on
fourth position, with the entire fleet behind us. We were sailing
at a magnificent speed, even faster than other boats that were
much larger than ours. This was the moment we realised that
we might have a chance to reach one of the fist positions of
the classification. I navegate with a long-standing team and
we have been participating in competitions with this boat for
six years now, so we really do know this boat very well. I believe
that the decisive factor was our output during periods of light
winds. During these calms we were working very hard to advance
and get ahead of the other competitors. And during the final
part, when the conditions deterorated and the waves and the
winds got so strong that they virtually put a boat of 35 feet
to its logical limits of navegation, we knew how to take advantage
of the winds from the south coast of Ibiza in order to keep
up a speedy rhythm.”
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| Skippers'
Meeting at the RC Maritim Barcelona and RC Nautico Denia |
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| Handover
of the Captain's bags to the participants |
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| Welcome
dinner in Barcelona and Denia |
This year’s winner in real time of the North Version
is Walliño, a Wally 60 owned by Jesús
Turró, that crossed the finishing line after 1 day, 2
hours, 12 minutes and 57 seconds since leaving the harbour of
Barcelona. The fleet of the North Version had left Ciudad Condal
at 7:20 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, with north winds reaching
approx. 12 knots, low temperatures and 159 miles ahead. “We
are very satisfied with the result. This is our third victory
in real time. However, we have not yet succeeded in winning
in compensated time. The weather forecast proved to be right.
To sum it up: it was a complicated journey with all kinds of
conditions. We had north winds reaching up to 22 knots so that
we were able to reach a speed of up to 13 knots”, Jesús
Turró noted, “I believe that the key to our victory
was our experience with the Ruta de la Sal, a good team and
an impeccable yacht.”
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| Regatta
Committee at the Village de la Sal in Ibiza |
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| The
Village de la Sal |
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| Boutique
de la Sal |
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| Stand
Producte Balear |
The absolute winner of the East Version this
year is Vicente García’s Plis Play,
a Farr 520 of the RCR of Alicante. She was the first to arrive
in real time after 20 hours, 22 minutes and 19 seconds after
having left Denia. The second is Jazztevale,
José Maldonado’s X-35 of the RCN of Denia, and
the third is Javier Marín Washbourns’ Insotel
Blue Brothers II, a X332 of the CN Ibiza.
The fleet of the East Verion left the Real Club Náutico
de Denia on Thursday, April 20, at 4:10 p.m., navegating under
very uncomfortable conditions. The sky was very cloudy, steady
rain alternated with showers, and although the wind was generally
very light – between 6 and 12 knots – there were
quite strong waves. This panorama persisted during the first
few hours of the race. After a very calm period, the last part
turned out to be very uncomfortable and difficult, with strong
bow winds and heavy waves. “The sea was very agitated
when we left Denia, there were some rain showers and north-northeastern
winds reaching around 12 knots. During the afternoon the wind
changed to east and then calmed down. The worst, however, where
the waves,” Javier Carratalá, skipper of the Plis
Play, commented. “We are very happy about the
result and this is our fourth victory in real time of the Ruta
de la Sal. This was exactly our aim. It is very difficult to
win because each year, the Ruta de la Sal, reaches a higher
competitive level and there are better competitors.” Vicente
García, the owner of the boat, also showed himself satisfied
with the victory in compensated time. “We are very satisfied,
after all, it is the first time to win in compensated time after
four victories in real time. The regatta was very complicated,
but it was worth it.” It must be highlighted that the
only female team of the fleet, Isabel Garcías Europcar,
an X-35 became sixth in the category Alfa 3.
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| Stand
IMOI |
Stand
Casino de Ibiza – Ibiza Gran Hotel |
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| Ambiente |
Stand
Louis Chervolet |
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| Stand
Europcar |
Stand
Salon Nautico |
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| Village
de la Sal |
La Ruta de la Sal, as repeatedly pointed out
by Pepe Ferres, has never been an easy regatta. And this year’s
edition has once again proved this fact to be right. It will
be remembered as a regatta for genuine sailing experts who hav
a lot of methodical knowledge needed for open sea sailing. A
complex, yet enjoyable regatta that obliges us to congratulate
all participants who in fact managed to cross the finishing
lina at Botafoch. For ANAM, the organisers of the Ruta de la
Sal, the countdown for the 2009 edition is already on. As usual,
the regatta will start on Easter thursday, which, due to the
peculiarities of the calendar, will be the 9 of april of 2009.
Things will probably be very different then, but who knows.
We will be navegating with GMT+1 summer time, and as Easter
will be celebrated 21 days later than this year, the regatta
will take place in the middle of spring time so that the regatta
will not be a winter regatta. A new scenario for a magic regatta
full of attractions.
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| Welcome
reception at the Ajuntament d'Eivissa |
The official presentation cermony took place
on Saturday and was hosted by Josefa Marí, Consellera
de Promoción Turística Consell Insular d’Eivissa.
The event started with a tribute to Albert Bergues,
who reached the fifth position of the BWR regatta. After that,
all participants who had taken part in ten or even in all editions
of “La Sal” were given a “fidelity
award”. Another prize was awared to the “young
navegators of the Balearic islands” as well as
to Isabel García’s “female team”
of the X-35 EUROPCARD.
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| Press
conference at the Village de la Sal in Ibiza |
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| Rally
de la Sal and Oldtimer show |
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| At
the Village de la Sal |
Thereupon, Jofefa Marí, Consellera de
Promoción Turística Consell Insular d’Eivissa,
and Maria Sintes, Directora General de Promoció
Industrial de la Conselleria de Comerç, Industria i Energia
del Govern de les Illes Balears handed over the trophies to
the winner in real time of the North Version,
in this case the team of Jesús Turro’s yacht
Walliño, a Wally 60 of the Real Club Náutico
Barcelona, and to the winner in real time of the East Version,
Vicente García’s Plis Play, a
Farr 520 of the Real Club Regatas Alicante.
After that, trophies were awared to the winners of the different
categories and subcategories and finally, to the absolute
winners: to JAY WALKER, Eric Janssen’s
J 35, winner of the North Version and to PLIS PLAY,
Vicente Garía’s FARR 520 of the Real Club Regatas
Alicante.
The presentation ceremony continued with the traditional dinner
at the Recinte Firal d’Eivissa and the Fiesta de “La
Sal”, accompanied by the sounds of the Orquesta TANIT.
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| Josefa
Mari Ribas, consellera de promoción turística
and Pepe Ferres, director of the regatta, welcoming the
participants |
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| Walliño
of Jesús Turro and PLIS PLAY of Vicente García
winners in real time |
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JAY
WALKER of Eric Janssen and PLIS PLAY of Vicente Garcia
Absolute winners of the regatta |
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| Evening
buffet and Party “La Sal” at the Recinto Ferial
of Ibiza |
CLASSIFICATIONS
NORTH VERSION:
REAL TIME
WALLIÑO, Wally 60 of Jesús Turro
of the Real Club Náutico Barcelona
ABSOLUTE WINNERS
1st CLASSIFIED: JAY WALKER, J 35 of Eric Janssen
2nd CLASSIFIED AIVIS, FORTUNA 9 of Manuel Guasch
of Club Nautico Ibiza
3rd CLASSIFIED GROP, FIRST 38 of Roman Bigas
ALFA I:
NIRVANA TRES, HANSE 470 of José Martín
Santiago of Club Náutico Vilanova
ALFA II:
FINAL DE OBRA, DUFOUR 40 of Reanaud Bossert
of Club Náutico Ibiza
ALFA III:
DESAFINO, X 35 of Miquel Colomer of Real Club Náutico
de Barcelona
INDIA:
AIVIS, FORTUNA 9 of Manuel Guasch of Club Náutico
Ibiza
BRAVO:
JAY WALKER, J 35 of Eric Janssen
CHARLIE:
GALAXIE FUNDACIO JOVES NAVEGANTS DE BALEARS, ONE OFF
70 of Raimon Martínez of Club de Mar and Real Club Náutico
de Palma
GOLF
AIVIS, FORTUNA 9 of Manuel Guasch of Club Náutico
Ibiza
HOTEL
AIRON, SUN ODYSSEY 37 of Jordi Espejo of Club Vela
Palamos
EAST VERSION:
REAL TIME
PLIS PLAY, Farr 520 of Vicente Garcia of the
Real Club Regatas Alicante
ABSOLUTE WINNERS
1st CLASSIFIED PLIS PLAY, FARR 520 of Vicente
Garcia of Real Club Regatas Alicante
2nd CLASSIFIED JAZZTEVALE, X 35 of Jose Luis
Maldonado of Real Club Nautico Denia
3rd CLASSIFIED INSOTEL BLUE BROTHERS II, X
332 of Javier Marí of Club Nautico Ibiza
ALFA I
PLIS PLAY, FARR 520 of Vicente Garcia of Real Club
Regatas Alicante
ALFA II
EL SINDICATO, IMX 40 of Ramón Juneman of Real
Club Náutico Denia
ALFA III
JAZZTEVALE; X 35 of José Luis Maldonado of Real
Club Náutico Denia
INDIA
INSOTEL BLUE BROTHERS II, X 332 of Javier Marí
of Club Náutico Ibiza
BRAVO
PORT MAGNUS, FURIA 332 of José Antonio Serrano
of Club Náutico San Antonio
CHARLIE
CABOT I SALOM – VELAMAR XV, ELVSTROM 30.5 Cruiser
of Jaume Cabot of Real Club Náutico de Palma
DELTA
NOOS, MAHE 36 F of Thomas Zehpfenning of Club de Mar
GOLF-HOTEL
FJU MAKKY, FORTUNA 9 of Carlos Tur of Club Náutico
Ibiza
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