Canarian sailor Luis Martínez, at the helm of Forty Five, J-80 European runner-up on Lake Garda

Image of the crew of Forty Five with its trophy. PHOTO: Jacoporaule.it

The boat headed by the Olympic sailor from Gran Canaria finished only one point behind the European champion, Peraleja Golf, also from Spain.

Carlos Martínez’s Peraleja Golf from Murcia won the J80 European championship, with 45 points earned in the nine races sailed on Lake Garda, Italy. The second and third places were also claimed by Spanish boats: Catalan Forty Five headed by Canarian Olympic sailor Luis Martínez Doreste earned the silver medal, while Ignacio Camino’s Nextel Engineering from Santander earned the bronze.

The last sailing day ended with the Spaniards dominating, and only in the first race did the top teams struggle to secure their positions. Peraleja Golf started the day with a third, while its direct rivals retained their positions. Luis Martinez Doreste’s Forty Five took second, while José M. Torcida’s ECC Viviendas, after having a very good start and making the right tactical decisions, managed to achieve leading positions, which enabled it to dominate the fleet and achieve its first partial triumph in the European.

In the second race of the day, with everything already settled, Peraleja Golf, Forty Five and Nextel Engineering started the race relaxed, letting the rest of the fleet take the risks that were now unnecessary for them. The partial result of the race was of no consequence, it was a mere formality for all three Spanish boats.

Final Standings J80 European Championship

1. Peraleja Golf 46 points
2. Forty Five 47
3. Nextel Engineering 58
4. ECC Viviendas 60
5. Team Baltic 80
6. Atlantis 87
7. OLJ Spirit 89
8. Crocs 96
9. Geodis 97
10. Ecole Navale 104