John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing made a flying start to the 44Cup Cartagena in Spain, winning two of the opening three races as the RC44 fleet battled some of the most severe conditions in the class’s history.
Following Storm Charles’ passage across Spain’s Murcia region, competitors faced winds gusting to 25 knots and steep waves of two to three metres in the season’s concluding, non-discardable event.
In conditions described as the “liquid Himalayas”, Peninsula Racing recorded two victories and a third place to establish an early lead.
Two Wins for Peninsula Racing
The Gibraltar team took control of race two on the opening beat, rounding ahead of Chris Bake’s Team Aqua before extending its advantage to the finish.
In race three, Peninsula Racing won the start and led throughout. A major right-hand wind shift helped the team consolidate its position, while GeMera Racing moved into second ahead of Charisma.
Winning Waves: John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing powers through heavy seas off Cartagena, taking two race victories and a remarkable third place to lead the 44Cup season finale after the opening day. Photo: Nico Martinez
Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto credited the crew’s boat handling and its decision to use a J3 jib in anticipation of strengthening winds.
“The reality is that we need to enjoy days like this, because obviously it was very good, especially in these waves and wind conditions,” said Vascotto.
“In reality it's just ‘one good day’; nothing more. We know that tomorrow can be exactly the opposite, especially in this fleet, where you have so many boats that can win.”
The conditions pushed the boats close to their limits.
“I’m pleased to have returned with all my teeth! The wind was pretty much at the limit of the class. I think that we touched today the highest speed that I've ever seen in this boat – 23 knots.”
Downwind Drama: The 44Cup fleet powers downwind off Cartagena in challenging conditions, with Peninsula Racing taking the early overall lead ahead of GeMera Racing. Photo: Nico Martinez
GeMera Racing Takes Opening Race
Markus Törnqvist’s GeMera Racing provided the strongest challenge, winning the first race before adding fifth and second places.
Aleph Racing initially led but lost ground after a gennaker sheet slipped beneath its bow during a gybe. Black Star Sailing Team briefly inherited the lead before GeMera benefited from a wind shift to move ahead and secure victory.
“I've never seen waves this big in this class, which made it very hard to sail the boat,” said GeMera tactician Francesco Bruni.
“It was hard upwind on starboard - the waves were right on the bow, and it was hard to keep the pace. We were right on the edge.”
Peninsula Racing also produced a remarkable recovery in that opening race. Forced to circle back after failing to lay the first windward mark, the team dropped to last before fighting through the fleet to finish third.
The result, combined with two subsequent wins, put Peninsula Racing firmly in charge of the early standings. The event follows a season in which GeMera topped the standings at Puntaldia, ahead of the class’s 20th anniversary programme in 2027.
Winds were forecast to ease to 10–12 knots for the following day’s racing, although a substantial swell was expected to remain.
