Shotgunn Opens Strong on Light-Air First Day at the Cape 31 Europeans
- Victoria Tomlinson Cheney
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The opening day of the Cape 31 European Championship saw the fleet head out full of anticipation, eager to get the event underway and make the most of the breeze forecast to arrive around midday. Conditions remained light for much of the morning, but spirits were high as teams waited patiently on the water, ready for the first start of the championship.
When the wind finally settled enough to race, Race One began with a general recall — a clear sign of how competitive and tightly packed this world-class fleet is. On the second attempt, the fleet got away cleanly, with just one boat OCS.
At the first top mark, Shotgunn rounded in the lead, with Jiraffe close behind and Kalantis in third, while Stig was right on their transoms. Shotgunn extended their advantage throughout the race, showing impressive speed and teamwork to take a convincing win — the first of the championship. Jiraffe held firm in second all the way around, with Stig pushing hard to complete the podium. Akheilos also impressed, steadily working their way up through the fleet in the challenging light-air conditions.
Race Two saw a reshuffle at the front, with Akheilos leading at the top mark, followed by Pacific Yankee and Firstings. But just as momentum built, a passing rain shower shut the breeze down completely. With no sign of recovery, the race committee made the call to abandon racing for the day and send the fleet ashore.
Back at the club, teams were welcomed with drinks and tapas and a warm greeting from Club President Rafael Gil March. The first daily prizegiving, hosted by Commodore Jorge Forteza Castro, celebrated the opening race winners and the camaraderie that defines this competitive fleet.
Shotgunn owner and skipper, Michael Wilson, on the dock after racing said,
“We managed to get clear at the start and have the freedom to do what we wanted to do. We popped out at the top mark first. The team sailed brilliantly and kept concentration high — we’re happy to start the regatta with a win,” said the Shotgunn team after taking the opening race of the championship.
With more racing scheduled for tomorrow and a promising forecast ahead, the Cape 31 fleet is set for an exciting continuation of the 2025 European Championship.
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