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470 General Event News

EXPERIENCE PREVAILS ON THE BAY OF PALMA AS THE TROFEO PRINCESA SOFIA IBEROSTAR OPENS

01 Apr 2019

A long opening day of the 50th anniversary edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia IBEROSTAR was more frustrating for the classes which were sent out to race earlier in the day as they had to contend with an unsettled, very light offshore wind before the afternoon sea breeze which took time to fill.

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2019 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Iberostar
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The classes which started later had the best of the day, the 470s and FX’s required to spend less time on the water waiting. The hotly contested 470 fleets, Men and Womens, enjoyed two decent races in the 8-10kts breeze on the Bay of Palma. Even the sunshine made a welcome return.

The return to Europe and the Trofeo Princesa Sofia IBEROSTAR is always highly anticipated by Australia’s hugely experienced Mat Belcher, double Olympic 470 medallist, and Will Ryan. The 2018 class champions here made a solid start to their European season with a fifth and a first to lie second in the Mens 470 behind Spain’s Miami World Cup winners Jordi Xammer and Nicolas Rodriguez.

“It is good way to start out first day back on the race courses in Europe. The competition was really good and it was a great decision to have us wait for the wind. We had 8-11kts and great racing, so much so it already makes you want to come back next year.”

“We got here about a week ago and so we are keeping it fresh.” Belcher reported, “I have a young family now and I have to try and have a balanced life. But it is great to be back in the with the main guys. We are highly motivated and to start off like we did today is good.”

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic regatta just 15 months away Belcher confirms that the top of the 470 fleet is racing at an exceptional level.

“We have so much experience and have been training pretty hard in Australia. But we love it here and the conditions match our style and so we always feel very comfortable here.”

“Every time we come back to the fleet we are amazed at how much the everything moves on. The level gets higher and higher. The racing, the dynamics of how people are racing and sailing the boat, the finesse, the detail, how active they are. There are too many good teams!. There are a bunch of younger guys coming through and really sticking it to us.”

“The list of what we have to improve on is too big. We have been sailing these boats for nearly two decades and the more you are this level, the more you realise what you have to do. You have to keep working harder and for us it is all about next year.” Belcher concludes.

Olympic 470 champion Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre also made a solid opening for the British team posting a 3,4, to lead the Womens class. 

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