The second phase of the VIII Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Series kicks off

The Bay of Palma once again becomes the setting for an international Dragon class competition with the resumption, today Friday, December 13, of the VIII Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Series, organized by the Puerto Portals Regatta Club. The second round, which will last until next Sunday, December 15, resumes activity after a first phase marked by equality in the lead positions.

The Portuguese crew of the "Easy", led by Michael Zankel and representing the Clube Naval de Cascais, starts as the leader of the general classification with 10 points. Zankel and his team stood out on the final day of the first round with partials, which included a fourth, a third, and a victory, discarding their worst result from the first day.

In second position, just four points behind, is the "Goldkante" team, with Tanja Jacobsohn at the helm. Their consistent performance, despite some ups and downs, allowed the German crew to remain in contention for the lead. The provisional podium is completed by the "No Name Dragon" of the Spanish Francisco Javier Chacártegui, from Club Nàutic s’Arenal, who is tied in points with the second-place due to their good partial results.

The fleet, composed of 21 boats from six countries, will face a program that includes a maximum of six races over the weekend. The organization has planned 24 races in the entirety of the VIII Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Series until February 2025.

The general manager of Puerto Portals, Álvaro Irala, highlights the relevance of the Dragon class to the port and notes that a good number of these boats choose Puerto Portals as their base each year. Moreover, he points out that the organization of the Dragon Gold Cup in 2026 will be a top-level event, equivalent to a European or world championship, which could gather 90 or 100 boats. This regatta will significantly boost participation in next year's Winter Series.

Irala also emphasizes the economic impact that the winter regattas generate, benefiting sectors such as hospitality, car rental, and restaurants in Calvià.