(Bilbao,
Spain- 13th Nov)- A wonderful charity regatta was recently hosted at
Real Club Maritimo de Abra in Bilbao, Spain. However, this year after
waiting for more than two hours on land the committee decided to suspend
sailing for the day because of wind gusts up to 45 knots. A wise
decision despite the fact that a number of J/80 World Champions in
attendance said they had just sailed in conditions nearly as severe in
Newport a month earlier!
Nevertheless, the Spanish J/80 sailors
fun-loving approach to life and sailing were not going to hold them
back. Salsa and flamenco dancing on tables anyone? Another rendition
of Frank Sinatra for the ladies? Or, something more sublime like a
seminar about tactics, strategies, how to sail better and tuning? The
latter did take place during the day and some of the other happened to
take place in the night as a show of solidarity to those supporting
FUNDESO!
During
the evening in the halls of RCMA and CSR the "III Dinner FUNDESO"
brought together supporters, friends and supporters of this humanitarian
organization to the delight of many. "The foundation works to build a
more just and more humane society through development programs involving
comprehensive and sustainable strengthening of civil society in Latin
America, Africa and Asia. FUNDESO also carries out projects to raise
awareness to Spanish society of inequalities in life around the world.
FUNDESO was founded in 1995 by Rafael Guardans Cambo after years of
pursuing such endeavors himself."
How seriously do the Spanish
sailors take such humane efforts? Well, in their act of solidarity to
those in need, several World Champions and Olympic Medallists in sailing
co-signed and dedicated a photo for auction for FUNDESO- including Iker
Martinez and Xabi Fernandez, Gold and Silver in Athens and Beijing,
triple World Champion and three-time European Champion in the 49er
Class; Jose Maria "Pichu" Torcida, the two-time J/80 World champion; and
the indefatigable Peter Rossi, the 2009 TP-52 World Champion and 2010
runner-up on MATADOR and winner of Copa del Rey in 2009 and 2010. The
J/80 Bilbao fleet thanks everyone for their generous collaboration and
contributions! You can learn more about them and why the Spanish J/80
teams support them at http://www.fundeso.org. For more J/80 Bilbao sailing information.