Following Storm Charles’ crossing of Spain’s Murcia region in the early hours, this morning the 44Cup fleet tentatively made its way out of Cartegena to be greeted by 20 knot winds and one of the severest wave states the class has seen in its 20 or so years of existance.

Today was the first day of the 44Cup Cartagena, the concluding and non-discardable event of the 44Cup season for the owner-driver RC44 one designs, taking place here thanks to the generous support of the Ayuntamiento de Cartagena, Gobierno Región de Murcia and the Autoridad Portuaria de Cartagena.

In the ‘liquid Himalayas’, complete with 2-3m waves and winds peaking at 25 knots, it was John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing which was one of the few teams to display consistency, posting two wins from the three races.

In the second race, on the first beat Peninsula Racing overcame Pietro Loro Piana’s Aleph Racing and defending champion Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika, that initially looked strong on the right, to lead into the top mark ahead of Chris Bake’s Team Aqua. And from there the Gibraltar team’s extended away to claim her first bullet of the regatta.

In the third race, Peninsula Racing won the start and simply led from there on, again reaching the top mark with Team Aqua in her rearview mirror. A giant right shift on the second beat further benefitted Peninsula Racing and caused GeMera to take second ahead of Nico Poons’ Charisma. A heavily port tack-favoured run with few passing opportunities causing the Gibraltar team to make further gains and to win her second win of the day and take an early lead at the 44Cup Cartagena.

Peninsula Racing felt fast today admitted her Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto. Perhaps it was because of their small home team advantage – although John Bassadone’s team is from Gibraltar, it has more Spanish crew than any other here. Or was it because her Italian tactician, Vasco Vascotto can ‘do no wrong’ at present, arriving fresh from calling tactics on both the recent Rolex Middle Sea Race and 52 Super Series winners.

“For sure it's a good period, but unfortunately I know how it goes,” commented Vascotto. “Suddenly it disappears like a genie in the lamp - and you lose everything! The reality is that we need to enjoy days like this, because obviously it was very good, especially in these waves and wind conditions. 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.”

Today Vascotto felt they had started well and praised the crew for how well they sailed. He believes that they won race three due to being the only crew to anticipate the breeze building (which it did) and choosing their J3 jib.

As to the wave state Vascotto observed: “The conditions were tough. 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.”

The only real threat to Peninsula Racing today came from Markus Törnqvist’s GeMera Racing which won today’s first race, following it with a 5-2. Their win was not nearly as clear-cut as Peninsula Racing’s. This again Pietro Loro Piana’s Aleph Racing had managed to lead into the top mark ahead of Christian Zuerrer’s Black Star Sailing Team. But on the run, while gybing, after a gennaker sheet went under the bow on Aleph Racing forcing her to gybe back, leaving her overstood and dropping her to last. This handled the lead to Black Star Sailing Team with the Mehmet Taki-steered Wow! Sailing Team up to second. However having been one of the first to gybe GeMera Racing came back from the right and benefitting from a shift drew level with Black Star Sailing Team gate, finally ahead of her on the beat with Team Aqua pulling up to second at the top mark. Gemera Racing went on to claim the first bullet of the regatta.

“It was a very tough day in the water,” noted GeMera Racing tactician Francesco Bruni. “I've never seen waves this big in this class, which made it very hard to sail the boat. We did a very good first downwind and kept it clean after that. I’m super happy with that first race and with the day in general. 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.”

Even in that race Peninsula Racing was star of the show. Coming into the first top mark round they had been unable to lay it and were forced to circle back leaving them last. They fought back ;gained a place at the leeward gate and were up to sixth at the top and, incredibly on the final run made further gains to come home third.

Tomorrow the wind is supposed to be 10-12 knots and although it is expected to still be wavy, it should be less ‘epic’ than today.