MAY 9th

Open - Round 1 - Race 5

This is the second and decisive day for the participants of the Round 1 of the Open to qualify for the semifinals. Most of the participants are aware that they have to sail like if their lifes deppend on it.

You can see the determination in their eyes as they push their boats to the first race of the day which they'd hate to be last in the Mayan Riviera.

The weather has grant them to have more oportunities to prove themselves. Wind is only 8 knots and the day is sunny and warm.

Those who could take the best out of the 8 knots of wind we have for this race, on the first leg upwind are: Dhal, from Sweeden; Figueroa, from Puerto Rico; Ziolkwoski, from USA; Engwirda, from Australia; Zanesco, from Australia; and Viana, from Brasil.

On the second leg upwind the positions remained the same. We're sure that, with all this effort, tonight they will mantain their positions for a long time... laying down in bed.

Results

Open - Round 1 - Race 6

The start of this race comes to us with the equator of the day. The next group iis now leaving the shore for the first time today, to race a 2G. The wind has gone up and the sun will not lose sight of one second of this great party.

It is thrilling to hear the comments and expressions of the competitors; - Hey, we saw two turtles floating while we sailed! – A marlin jumped in front of us! And it is a fact that we are in front of a living sea of perfectly clear waters reflecting a blue sky. Today, palm trees are working as dusters cleaners that blow away the clouds.

The camera guys are happy with so much color around them. The interviews of the radio and television chains to the organization committee, participants and the staff, are endless. It is Sunday and also hundreds of visitors watch the race from other ships on the sea.

These are the scenes of the moment. And these are the winners.

Results

Open - Round 1 - Race 7

The spirit is “in-crescendo”. The first group comes back to the sea, while Ingrid, our special reporter is constantly capturing emotions with pen and paper. Michael Walker, on the surface, shoots his pictures with great expertise. Gonzalo Arcila is 10 feet down below the surface with his scuba gear with a video camera catching the moments when the catamarans fly over his head in the A mark.

The communication center boils with activity, like every single day. The editors select the best sequences for the daily videos. The images come out of the cameras and go into CD’s. In the Internet department, millions of bites come and go. We write what you are read and there’s no time for a Caribbean “siesta”.

And like everything that begins comes to an end, these are the numbers of the sails that, at the end, came first: 38, 03, 64, 44 and 50. Who are they, you ask? You are only one tack away. Sorry… click.

Results

Open - Round 1 - Race 8

The Principal Race Officer decides that this will be a 2G, due to the wind direction. Its speed has reached 13 knots. It is 3:30 pm. The air horn shatters the sound waves with its howl. The seagulls fly away and so the sailors.

60 Hobie Cats. 120 competitors. A lot of support with yells and some prayers are on its way to heaven while other illusions go deep into the sea.

Land ahoy! Is heard first from the first team formed by Geert Schouten and Alessio Diederiko from Netherlands. It is followed by Andrew and Shelley Springford from New Zealand; from the same country, Garth and Katie Stewart come in third… and so on, other teams arrive to the shore, right after they conquered the finish line.

Jim Morrison wrote some years ago “The End”. Some people, after this race will sing it again. However, this time, they will sing the “blues” version.

Results

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