Day 2 of the 13th edition of the Paul & Shark Trophy, International Dragon Cup, the event organized by Italy’s Yacht Club Sanremo started with virtually zero wind. But then, after a two-hours long postponement, the organizers’ and sailors’ patience was rewarded  with a good easterly breeze of around 12 knows that enabled the 33 teams to complete two races. Today’s fresher wind meant a closer fleet, with faster manoeuvres and much contested mark roundings.

The day’s wins went to two different teams: the first race to Estonian crew of Port Artur skippered by Mihkel Kosk. “In the morning it looked very uncertain that we were going to have any racing, the weather forecast was not promising. But we managed to get in two good races in very even conditions so I’m sure that everybody is very pleased.” Declared Kosk. “We had a first and a seventh place and my team is very happy because it’s the first time we’re sailing a Dragon, we’re excited and emotions run high.”

Race two went to class veteran Ivan Bradbury on Blue Haze, who thanks to today’s results -a fifth and a first- has closed the gap from Ukrainian team Bunker Prince with helmsman Yevgeni Braslavets, that has managed to maintain the top but with only a two-points margin on the British crew and on another class expert like Russian Anatoly Loginov on Annapurna, tied hat points in second. Big gains were made by young Swiss team Sophie Racing skippered by Hugo Stenberg too, who are now in fourth position and have overtaken Germany’s Khaleesi, led by female skipper Nicola Friesen.

The leading Italian crew after three races is Little Diva skippered by Michele Benvenuti in twelfth while multiple national champion Giuseppe Duca on Yanez is seventeenth, closely followed by Fafnir in eighteenth.

More races are scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday starting from 11am, with a more promising weather forecast with a good westerly, sunny skies and warm air temperature.

Full results at this link

The Paul & Shark Trophy is the first event of the season for the class in Sanremo, anticipating the Dragon 90th Anniversary Regatta planned for next October on the Ligurian Riviera, the event expected to be one of the top rendez-vous on a national and international level for the quality and number of teams taking part, so much that as of today more than 100 boats have already registered.