Sailing Season in Portugal: Amadeus Cup, Vilamoura & Audi MedCup, Cascais

Like sailing?  Dream of racing across the sea, water splashing on your face as you keep a small lead against your closest challenger?  Or, do you prefer to sit dockside at the yacht club and enjoy a cocktail while occasionally lifting your binoculars to see who is in the lead?  Either way TWO very exciting regattas are planned for Portugal in Spring 2010.   So, whether you are a sailor or a sailing groupie, get your deck shoes on and head to Vilamoura and Cascais in the next weeks….

Amadeus Cup II, Vilamoura, Algarve – 10 – 11, April 2010

The Vilamoura Marina in the central Algarve plays host to the second annual Amadeus Cup.  Sailors from Portugal and around the world are confirmed to attend, testing the waters of the Atlantic off Portugal’s southern coast. 

Vilamoura Marina, Home to Amadeus Cup 2010

This is a race of Dragon class ships, known for being a smaller, faster, sleek and elegant.  Originally designed in the 1920’s by Norwegian Johan Anker, this model of ship was raced competitively in the Olympics from 1948-1972.  There are just over 1400 dragons sailing worldwide, with the largest fleet docked in Germany.  Portugal is home to about 24 of the ships.    

The event honours Amadeu Baptista da Silva, the renowned sailor who died a decade ago.  Da Silva was among the first entrepreneurs to develop real estate in Vilamoura in the 1970’s.  His passion for the sea was integral in growing sailing at the regional level.  He participated in various tests of the Dragon class.  And, he was Commodore of the Clube International da Marina de Vilamoura (CIMAV), host of this event. 

More information:  CIMAV Website

 

Audi Med Cup – Portugal Trophy, Cascais – 11-16 May 2010

 
Now in its sixth season, the Audi Med Cup is acknowledged as the top regatta Circuit in the world today and attracts the very best designers, sailors and technicians.  This year the circuit begins in the western Portuguese city of Cascais (just 30 kilometers west of Lisbon).  The circuit continues with races in France, Spain and Italy.  

TP52 Day 1 - Quantum Racing, Portugal Trophy, 19 08 2009 © Ian Roman/ Audi MedCup

The classes of boats used in Audi MedCup Circuit are the TP52 and the GP42.  Although they may look similar to the untrained eye, they are subtly different from each other. 

Although some may think of sailing as a recreation, it is truly a mechanical sport.  Success comes to the team with the right combination of design innovation, preparation, speed, driving skill, reliability and good tactics. There is also the fact that sailing is an environmentally clean sport and, fundamentally it is about harnessing natural elements.  The winds change minute to minute, and day to day through a regatta, unlike an asphalt race track.

The schedule for this year includes: 

Portugal Trophy
Cascais, Portugal – May 11-16

Marseille Trophy
Marseille, France  - June 15-20

 Conde de Godó City of Barcelona Trophy
Barcelona, Spain – July 20-25

Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy
Cartagena, Spain – August 24-29

Region of Sardinia Trophy
Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy – September 20-25

Cascais will host the only event not located in the Mediterranean waters.   Open to the Atlantic, it has a reputation for stronger breezes and rolling swells that should prove to be exciting action for the sailors and spectators. 

Cascais Is the First Venue of Audi MedCup 2010

 Cascais started out as a fishing village, but gained famed as a resort for Portugal’s royal family in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  Today, it is home to about 35,000 residents and it is one of the richest municipalities in Portugal.   

More information:  Audi MedCup Website

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