Mariquita Book - mk2.5

MAHÓN X COPA DEL REY
DE BARCOS DE ÉPOCA
29 – 31 AUGUST 2013
In previous years this wonderfully named Spanish leg of the
Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge has produced very wild
conditions and the odd de-masting.
Being a small island, Minorca is susceptible
to the mistral blowing in from the Gulf of
Lyon and the 2013 regatta was no exception
to this. The finish
line is positioned
inside the harbour of
the beautiful town
of Mahón making
this one of the most
dramatic regattas of
the season.
With sail maker
Mark Butler on board
during the training
days, a few changes were made to the
jackyard, although it looked unlikely that
the top sail would be used in the big seas and
strong winds.
On Day 1 Mariquita experienced one of her
most dramatic days of the season, as bowman
Seb Stansfield recalled, “Definitely one of the
windiest races we’ve been in – we were flying
at the start with Cambria and Mariette. The
wind then picked up to over 20 knots and
we had some pretty
hairy moments up on
the bow.” Despite the
windy conditions and
big seas, Mariquita
beat her close rival
Cambria into third
place and was only
denied first by the
schooner Mariette
who enjoyed the
blustery conditions.
Unfortunately this was Mariquita’s final
race of the regatta as the wind continued
to pick up over the weekend and the race
committee abandoned the final races. This
was a disappointing outcome especially as all
the 15-Metre yachts – Tuiga, Mariska, The
Lady Anne and Hispania – had made the trip
to Minorca.
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