The first stage of the competition, held in the Bay of Cádiz under favorable weather conditions with a westerly wind of approximately 10 knots, concluded with a very tight classification among the main contenders. The race consisted of a windward/leeward course of 7 miles for the larger boats and 3.6 miles for the smaller ones.
After applying corrected times, 'Brujo', the defending champion of the Juan de la Cosa and Nautical Week titles, claimed victory. It was closely followed by 'Sálvora', just 23 seconds behind, and 'Taboga IV', a second further back. These three boats, sailing under the flag of the Real Club Náutico de Cádiz, demonstrated the strength of their fleet at the start of the event.
The day also highlighted connections between renowned sailors. Juan Luis Páez and Sergio Llorca, both prominent sailors, were former teammates on the historic 'Cutty Sark', whose first boat was the current 'Taboga IV'. The competition remained close in the following positions, with 'Solerig VI' and 'Mar Amigo' completing the top five.
In real-time, the TP52 'Aifos' from the Naval Regatta Commission was the fastest, although time compensation relegated it to eighth place in the corrected standings.
By classes, 'Brujo' leads Class 3, followed by 'Sálvora'. In Class 2, 'Taboga IV' is in first place, while 'Mar Amigo' heads Class 1. Class 4 sees 'Vindio X' in the lead, and in the Circuito class, 'Diciassette' takes the first victory.
The competition continues this Friday, August 21st, with the second and final day of the Juan de la Cosa Regatta, which will determine the winner with two scheduled races. The trophy ceremony will take place in the evening at Bodegas Caballero. The Nautical Week, continuing over the weekend, is Spain's oldest cruiser regatta and counts towards regional and national championships.
