Team Animal of Vasco Serpa, CEO of SailCascais finished in the top spot in Vilamoura, where the XIII Dom Pedro Hotels Trophy, an annual event held 13th time this year, was organized in joint efforts of Dom Pedro Hotels and local sailing club CIMAV.
Vilamoura delivered top notch conditions for the first day of the XIII Dom Pedro Hotels Trophy. A solid westerly breeze of 12 to 16 knots with a short spaced half to one meter waves blessed the 13 boat fleet. Just perfect conditions to sail, beautiful to go upwind and on the runs as the planning and surfing were not guaranteed made it crucial to play those waves. 3 races were sailed with the team of Animal/Mobiag/SailCascais finishing the day at the top of the table with the 2nd place and two bullets.
“The results might be a bit misleading. The competition on the water was fierce and we really had to sweat it. But we sailed well and were happy in the end,”- said a happy Serpa.
Arriving to the shore the fleet was greeted by the well known traditional Dom Pedro Hotels hospitality with the on-the-pier cocktail drinks. These made it easy for everyone to tie their boats and roll the sails!
With a bullet and a fourth place on the two races sailed on Sunday the Animals sealed their victory at the XIII SB20 Dom Pedro Hotels trophy in Vilamoura. Team Dom Pedro of Jose Paulo Ramada finished second followed by Sargo of Jorge Lima in third.
For the last day the westerly breeze was established blowing at 16 to 20+ knots and the sea creeped a bit higher providing magnificent conditions for the fleet to play. Team Animal of Vasco Serpa, started the day in beautiful fashion with a bullet. Despite a slow start, good boat speed, boat handling and patience played on their favour to grab the lead at the top mark never to give it back. Dom Pedro Hotels/Generali of Jose Paulo Ramada followed with Sargo of Jorge Lima closing the podium on the first race.
On the second race Dom Pedro Hotels had a perfect start, crossed the fleet on Port, sailed to the right followed close by a group of three other boats and by holding the pressure took the gun. Awesome sailing on the tough conditions as the wind was averaging 20+ knots and the sea was providing those surfing conditions. Sargo followed and Bicasco was third.
The third race was cancelled due to increasing winds but everybody was satisfied by what they had. “Vilamoura is just just amazing. The sailing is awesome and our hosts Dom Pedro Hotels just keep everybody happy. Definitely deserves a three day regatta and that is what we are working on to establish starting next year” said ToZe Barros the president of the Portuguese SB20Class.
Sailcascais had four boats competing and we transported three other boats to the event. “We are super satisfied to help making it happen” said Vasco Serpa, “This is definitely a regatta we want to invest. It’s super nice. Weather, hosts, competition. All here!”
The fleet is now back to Cascais for the 2nd Spring Cup on 19-20th May!
