Challenging Isla del Sec Trophy Concludes CN Sa Ràpita's 2024 Single-Handed Circuit

This weekend, ten boats participated in a new edition of the Isla del Sec Trophy, organized by Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita (CNR). This regatta is part of the Single-Handed Circuit for cruisers that the club schedules throughout the year.

The race course covers 42 nautical miles, round trip, between the club and Isla del Sec (located off Portals Vells). The fleet set off punctually at 10 a.m. with a wind speed of 16 knots. However, after passing Cabo Blanco, the wind dropped dramatically to 7-8 knots. In the middle of Palma Bay, the fleet encountered some calm areas, with winds ranging from 1 to 3 knots. “Some participants got stuck in those calm spots, while others were able to read and anticipate the situation and avoid them,” explained Carlos Esteller, CNR's Cruise Director. “For a long time, half of the fleet sailed with a tailwind, while others had headwinds, creating a very curious situation,” he recounted. “Overall, the wind was quite chaotic, especially on the way to Isla del Sec,” he analyzed. “Crossing Palma Bay, between the cliffs and the bay, always holds surprises for sailors: wind shifts, strong winds, or calms,” he noted.

At 2:23 p.m., the "Huayra" was the first boat to pass Isla del Sec, completing the leg in just over 4 hours. The return to Sa Ràpita was marked by a strong headwind of about 23 knots from the middle of the bay, “with significant waves, forcing continuous tacking. Passing Cabo Blanco wasn't easy,” Esteller pointed out. “In summary, it was a tough race,” he summed up. As an anecdote, “S’Indio III” by Joan Lladó had to retire half an hour after the start due to problems with the spinnaker. “They had to throw it into the water, and we retrieved it from the committee boat,” Esteller explained.

Ultimately, the winner of this edition of the Isla del Sec Trophy in the ORC category was “Huayra,” helmed by José Martín (Club de Regatas Puerto Portals), followed by “Kyo V,” skippered by Guillermo Durán (CMSAP), and “Malvado,” led by Guiem Martí (CNR). In the RI category, the podium consisted of “Pepa” (CNR), “Cartujano,” captained by Juan Salvà (CM S’Estanyol), and “Beduino,” commanded by Pere Fullana (CNR).