The 6th Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regatta was hosted by the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo from 1 to 3 September and incorporated the Spanish 6 Metre National Championship.

Light airs were a feature of the regatta and ultimately, despite the very best efforts of the highly experienced race committee, only three of the six planned races could be completed. But what the racing lacked in quantity it made up for in quality. A 27 strong fleet split evenly between the Open and Classic divisions put on a spectacular show against the stunning backdrop of the Galician coastline.

Ultimately Louis Heckly’s classic 6 Metre “Dix Août” and Violeta Álvarez’s “Stella”, one of the newest boats in the fleet, were the winners of the event, with the Spanish 6 Metre Championship being won by Pedro Campos’ “Bribon 500” in the classic division and Álvarez’s “Stella.”

For the Classics fleet, competition in the sixth edition of the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo’s prime event, could not have been tighter. On Friday Louis Heckly’s French team set off well, winning the first two partial victories, and on Saturday it was Pedro Campos’ “Bribon 500,” who with a comfortable victory in the only race held, was responsible for the close leader board, with a triple draw at the top of the board, between the French boat in first, Campos’ team in second, and Íñigo Echenique’s “Caprice,” in third.

Cancellation of the last day of racing due to the lack of conditions, saw the representatives from the Yacht Club de France, “Dix Août” proclaimed winners of the sixth edition of the Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regatta, and the RCNS boat, skippered by Campos, taking the Spanish Championship title with a first in the Classics division. Third place went to Echenique’s “Caprice” (Club Marítimo de Canido).

In the Open category, a great result for Violeta Álvarez’s “Stella.” The RCNS team, finished in second place on Friday and drew on points with leader Patrick Monteiro’s “Seljm” (Clube naval de Cascais). The team swept a victory in the race held on Saturday and moved ahead of the fleet with a two-point advantage over Monteiro.

With their result, and cancellation of Sunday’s racing, “Stella” celebrated a win in both the Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regatta, and as Spanish champions in the Open division. The Portuguese team, defender of the two titles at stake in the Ria de Pontevedra, finished the event in second overall, with third place going to British Jeremy Thorp’s “Battlecry.”

Following this year’s edition of the Rey Juan Carlos I El Corte Inglés Master Regata, on Monday Sanxenxo will see the official start of the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans. A training race is to be held on Tuesday, from 12:00h, where the action will kick off again, with the first of five days of racing, to decide the new European champions in the class.

Fotos © María Muiña / Regata Rey Juan Carlos I

FINAL RESULTS

Classics
1. “Dix Août”, Louis Heckly (FRA) 1+1+7=9
2. “Bribon 500”, Pedro Campos (ESP), 5+3+1=9
3. “Caprice”, Laureano Wizner (ESP), 3+4+2=9

Open
1. “Stella”, Violeta Álvarez (ESP), 2+2+1=5
2. “Seljm”, Patrick Monteiro (POR), 1+3+3=7
3. “Battlecry”, Jeremy Thohrp (GBR), 4+1+6=11

Click here for the full results

It is with great sadness that we report the death of past BISMA Secretary Rees Martin, who died suddenly on Saturday 20th February 2021. Rees was a true bon vivant and a great raconteur with an extraordinary technical knowledge of and love for classic yachts and traditional boat building. 

He owned the 1989 Pelle Peterson designed 6 Metre GBR102 “Bear” for many years, racing regularly with the British fleet and taking on the role of BISMA secretary from 2004 to 2010. 

During his time as BISMA Secretary, Rees played a key role in helping to tidy up the 6 Metre Class Rule, culminating in the publication of an updated Rule in 2007. That issue was the first to introduce Appendix A to the Rule, which allowed older boats a route to getting a valid certificate. Rees also led the organising team for the 2007 World Championship and was involved in supporting other major UK 6 Metre events including the 2014 European Championship in Falmouth, and he continued to provide advice and support to the class throughout his life.

In recent years Rees had very much enjoyed racing “Alert”, his delightful and beautifully maintained Tumlare which was been built in 1935. He played a key role in creating the popular Cowes Classics Week Regatta and provided advice and support to classic yacht sailors, builders and regatta organisers around the world. He was also Vice Chairman of the Association of Yachting Historians.

Away from sailing Rees had extensive connections in the art world having run a specialist art shipping company for many years. He leaves behind his wife Penelope and son Harry and our thoughts and prayers are with them and his family and friends at this difficult time.