Sailors from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx Dominate the Spanish Adaptive Sailing Championship

The Kakapo Open Race, the first international adaptive sailing regatta in Catalonia, concluded after a week of exciting races and an unparalleled spirit of sportsmanship.

The weather was exceptional throughout the competition, but on the final day, the organizing committee decided to suspend the races due to strong waves that compromised the sailors' safety. Despite this, the participants maintained the cheerful atmosphere that characterized the championship.

The event, held from July 15 to 21 at the Barcelona International Sailing Center (BISC), brought together over thirty sailors from different countries, competing in the Hansa 303 individual and double categories. In the double category, there were two subcategories: mixed teams, consisting of one disabled and one non-disabled sailor, and teams where both sailors have disabilities. The competition also served as the Spanish Championship for adaptive and inclusive sailing, highlighting the importance of inclusive sports in Catalonia and throughout Spain.

In the women's individual category of the Kakapo Open Race, Jana Mestre from Club Vela de Port d'Andratx was crowned champion, finishing seventh in the overall standings. She was followed by Mari Carmen García, also from Club de Vela de Port d'Andratx, and Anna Nadal from Club Náutic l'Escala, in second and third positions, respectively.

During the first phase of the individual competition, held from July 16 to 18, Portuguese João Pinto, the world runner-up in adaptive sailing, stood out as the main winner. Pinto, from Clube Naval de Portimão, dominated the overall standings from the first to the last day, securing the Kakapo Open Race championship in this category. British sailor Rory McKinna from Clyde Cruising Club and Canarian sailor Daniel Llaca from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria completed the podium in second and third positions, respectively.

In the mixed double category, for teams consisting of one disabled and one non-disabled sailor, held from July 19 to 21, João Pinto and Luciana Matias from Clube Naval de Portimão led the standings until the final day of competition. Murcians Víctor González and his daughter Alejandra González from Real Club de Regatas de Santiago de la Ribera maintained second place, followed by Daniel Llaca and Jaime Lang-Lenton from Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria in third place.

In the double category, where both sailors have disabilities, sailors from Club de Vela Port d’Andratx, Rory McKinna and Luis Berastain, were the winners, joined on the podium by their clubmates Mari Carmen García and Ramón Gutiérrez in second place, and Anna Nadal and Àngels Roca from Club Nàutic L’Escala in third place.

In the Spanish Adaptive and Inclusive Sailing Championship, Daniel Llaca was crowned champion in the individual category, followed by Jordi Cargol from Club Náutic Costa Brava & Club Vela Palamós in second place, and Pau Toni Homar from Club Vela de Port d'Andratx in third place. In the women's category, Jana Mestre took the victory, with her clubmate Mari Carmen Garcia as runner-up.

In the double category of the Spanish Championship, the podium was as follows: first place went to Víctor and Alejandra González; second place to Daniel Llaca and Jaime Lang-Lenton; and third place to Pau Toni Homar and Alejandro Solera from Club Vela de Port d'Andratx. Their clubmates dominated the rest of the overall standings, with Isaias Iglesias and Carlos Beltran finishing fourth, Jana Mestre and Andreu Gamundi fifth, and Luis Berastain and Rory McKinna seventh.

The closing ceremony and awards presentation were led by Fundación Mi Alex, Paola Masfurroll, manager of the Catalan Sailing Federation, Inés Vizcarro, and the director of operations of the Fundación Barcelona Capital Náutica, Juli Hernández.

It is worth noting that during the ceremony, the Kakapo Open Race Trophy was displayed, where the names of the winners will be added each edition. This trophy was designed by renowned sculptor Patricia Cancelo.