(La Manga, Spain)- As part of their efforts to grow tourism in La Manga,
Spain, the local Chamber of Commerce and tourism authorities created
the Open J/80 Championship La Manga to attract an international
clientele of sailors and sporting enthusiasts. The Director General of
Sport and Physical Activity, Antonio Peñalver, helped start the
International Open J80 La Manga del Mar Menor to be held from 7 to 10
September. Peñalver noted the importance of these events that "enhance
the image of the Mar Menor as a tourist destination while presenting its
waters as the most suitable for water sports."Attending the event were a "who's who" of Spanish J/80 sailors and other International sailors. These sailors included the Spanish contingent- Carlos Martinez, Rayco Tabares and Hugo Rocha, plus Glenn Darden (top USA team), Massimo Rama (top Italian team), Mikael Lindqvist (top Swedish team), Vitalli Tarakanov (top Russians team).
From this star-studded cast, whom might emerge as the ultimate winner sailing against some of the world's best J/80 sailors? Incredibly, it was Canarian sailor Gustavo Martinez Doreste sailing the equally tongue-twisting UNA MOSCA EN MI SOPA (A Fly in my soup) to an impressive 24 pts after nine races, just under a 3rd average in this fleet of champions. Second was Hugo Rocha on TURISMO DE ALGARVE sailing to 28 pts. Third was Javier Aguado on CROCS with 31 pts. Fourth Rayco Tabares on HOTEL PRINCESA YAIZA and fifth was Carlos Martinez on MAPFRE. The Americans Glenn Darden on LE TIGRE were 8th, the Swedes Mikael Lindqvist were 9th and the Russians Vitali Tarakanov were 11th. For more J/80 Open La Manga Regatta sailing information
