J-Class Barcelona Regatta – Day 3: Tight Racing as Winds Rise

For the second consecutive day, Velsheda and Svea continued their thrilling duel on the water, each securing a race win and a second-place finish. Both yachts now sit tied with six points apiece. Meanwhile, Rainbow, competing in their first major J-Class regatta, endured another challenging day, with a costly penalty and stronger winds proving too much for the less experienced crew.

Neck-and-Neck Action

Heading into the third race, Svea took control at the start, nailing the pin-end and forcing Velsheda onto the less favourable right-hand side of the course. Rainbow struggled to match the pace of the more seasoned teams in the 14-16 knot breeze. By the time they reached the windward mark, Svea, under the expert guidance of tactician Bouwe Bekking, was 40 seconds clear of Velsheda, who found no opportunities to claw back. Svea extended their lead to finish 47 seconds ahead, with Rainbow more than three minutes behind after serving a penalty for tacking too close to Velsheda.

Shortened Race, Full-On Conditions

As the wind and seas picked up in the fourth race, the J-Class fleet was treated to full-on, exhilarating conditions. With winds building to over 25 knots, the decision was made to shorten the course to one lap. Velsheda dominated from the start, taking control of the fleet and holding a 30-second lead at the top mark. Their well-drilled crew demonstrated superb handling in the increasingly rough seas, with Velsheda eventually crossing the line just 18 seconds ahead of Svea after 35 minutes of intense action.

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Velsheda’s tactician, Tom Dodson, reflected on the day: “We’re trading race wins with Svea, which is fantastic, and Rainbow is doing well when they can. In the first race, Svea got to the left-hand side of the beat, and there weren’t many opportunities to pass—they shut us down quickly. In the second race, the wind built fast, and it became more about survival than racing. We just managed to hold on to beat Svea by a few seconds.”

Learning Curve for Rainbow

October 05, 2024. 37th America’s Cup – J-Class Rainbow. Photo Credit: AC37 media

Rainbow’s navigator, Simon Fisher, acknowledged the learning curve for their team. “It was another intense day on the water. We were a bit unlucky with the penalty—it takes a long time to dial a J-Class yacht through a 360-degree turn, and there’s no real coming back from that. The second race was better, but it was a drag race to the left, and Velsheda got the edge. It’s frustrating, but we’re still learning the boat, and any time on the water is valuable.”

Rainbow’s team, despite their struggles, are optimistic about the forecast for lighter winds tomorrow, which may offer them a better chance to close the gap on their rivals.

Dockside Atmosphere

Back at the dock in Marina Port Vell, the atmosphere was lively, with spectators enjoying the sight of the magnificent J-Class yachts up close. Crews were hard at work repairing sails and preparing for the next day’s racing, with Svea’s boat captain, Paul Kelly, commenting on the intense competition: “It’s great that the racing is so close—it’s keeping us all on our toes. In the first race, we opted for a smaller jib, anticipating the breeze would build, which it did, and we managed to extend our lead. The second race was tougher—we had a bad start, and Velsheda got away, but we pushed hard down the run. At one point, we saw 32 knots with a spinnaker the size of a tennis court—it was right on the edge!”

Kelly also hinted at some overnight work for the teams: “We’ve got some sail repairs to do—two spinnakers and a bit of work on the mainsail—but nothing we can’t fix. Hopefully, tomorrow brings lighter conditions.”

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Looking Ahead

With two more races scheduled for Thursday, starting around 12:30 CET, the forecast predicts lighter winds of 7-13 knots from the northwest. After two breezy days, the shift to gentler conditions should offer a different challenge for the teams.