(Punta del Este, Uruguay)- The most recent J/70 fleet to form is in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The YC Punta del Este has ten boats that were recently delivered and commissioned for the club and its owners. Over the last weekend of May, the Uruguayan
J/Distributor, Pedro Garra of Montevideo, organized a training clinic.
Will Welles of North Sails One-Design Group led the three-day program that was blessed with the most extraordinary “winter” weather anyone could imagine in Punta at this time of year. 
While
it would not be unusual to have gales, high 40s F and horizontal rain
at this time of year for a city that has hosted many Whitbread and Volvo
Ocean Races, this past weekend was the happy exception. Situated not
far north of the famous Cape Horn and the Antarctic Circle (and due east
of Buenos Aires, Argentina), Punta instead served up simply spectacular
weather for over five days. While penguins, sea lions and pups were
frolicking in the harbor (yes, penguins from Antarctica), the J/70s were
sailing in awesome “shirts & shades” weather.The training program entailed an overview of tuning onshore and evening reviews by Welles followed by 2.5 days of on-the-water short course racing and coaching by a cast of local talent that included Welles, Stu Johnstone and “Chato” from YCPE. Coverage of the event was also provided by “Norbi” at El Faro sailing TV (see http://www.elfaro.tv).
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