written by Matias Collins on June 14 of 2021 and read by 439
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Finally! The first Soling race was held in Brasil following a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It couldn't come too soon! If crews were not exactly tuned up, they more than made up it with their enthusiasm and eagerness to race.
The start of the two day event featured fantastic Fall weather. Ten teams finished three races as scheduled for Saturday June 12. Two teams from Rio Grande participated. At the start of race one sailor enjoyed a moderate 11-14 knot wind from the South/South West. A typical ISA standard course was set but only for two laps with a distance of 0.8/1.0 nautical mile legs. PRO Odecio Adams is one of the reasons that Brazilian teams are always at the top of the fleet when racing overseas. He routinely sets courses that many other teams face only at major events. The championship was fortunate to have his experience on and off of the water. He even had to make a course change during the race! Overall, the racing was close. Courtesy of VDS/ Odecio Adams is video of the downwind finish of the third race posted on the ISA website.
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After the first day of racing, recently re-elected VDS Commodore Cicero Hartman sailing on BRA 86 with Frederico Sidou and Andre Renard were leading by two points. In second place was BRA 73 with Marcos Ribeiro, Flavio Quevedo, and Alexandre Muller. In third position was BRA 45 with Kadu Bergenthal, Carlos Trein, and Roger Lamb. Interestingly, the course was established directly in front of the club house. Members could easily watch their favorite teams from the comfort of the club grounds while the sailors enjoyed the moderate SW winds. Two more races were scheduled for Sunday.
Sunday greeted sailors with more sun and brilliant Brazilian weather. However, the wind never arrived. The boats went slowly to the race course and floated…waiting for their limp sails to be painted by the next great artist. Eventually, the PRO sent the sailors back to land and club where they waited for wind that never developed. Therefore, BRA 86 with Hartmann, Sidou, and Renard won the South Brazil Championship holding their caipirinhas. Congratulations!
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