Elaya wins Leg 1 of the 9th Thousand Islands Race
by SCOR 20 Sep 2022 20:37 UTC
16-25 September 2022
Elaya wins Leg 1 of the 9th Thousand Islands Race © SCOR
Slovenian "Elaya" with her owner Dušan Ušenicnik at the helm is the winner of first leg of 9th Thousand Islands Race sailed on 278 nautical miles long course form Rijeka to Porto Montenegro marina in Tivat.
First leg has brought all that best describes Thousand Islands Race as one of the most demanding regattas in the Adriatic setting up hard to resist challenges and at the same time hard to conquer. It started with already traditional calm at the start in Rijeka. However, on the course among over thousand islands of Croatian part of Adriatic winds were as strong as 30 knots at times. That has led to retirement of three boats luckily without harm to any crew.
Firstly Austrian "Vento Cadela" had to retire due to damage to its forestay and returned to Rijeka in the first night from Sunday 18 September to Monday 19 September. Secondly Austrian "Canopus" with crew of two retired after passing Lošinj and thirdly Austrian trimaran "Namaste" was after damaging one of its hulls sought help and found shelter in calm port of Gršcica on the island Korcula.
The finish line in Tivat was firstly crossed by Croatian "Damaco" owned by Berislav Vranic after 49:23:03 racing hours. It was swiftly apparent that his lead under corrected time will be hard to keep because "Elaya" was close and have crossed the line just 43 minutes after "Damaco" and took the lead under corrected time.
It was also sufficient that no other boat can overtake her neither, because Slovenian "Kapro" owned by Maks Vrecko finished more than two hours after "Elaya", however, still enough to place him second under corrected time. Podium for the first leg will be occupied as follows:
Last boat to arrive to the finish line was the Austrian trimaran "Sayg I", only remaining multihull in the race deserving a recognition for its persistency and endurance in these hard conditions.
On Wednesday 21 September, after short rest, promotional race regatta Thousand Island + 2 will be organised by Porto Montenegro Yacht Club where participants of Thousand Islands Race will join local sailors that will be followed by award ceremony for both regattas.
Second leg of Thousand Islands Race will start on Thursday 22 September from Tivat on the same course back to Rijeka where boats are expected to arrive form Saturday 24 September to Sunday 25 September.
Event website: www.scor.hr/regate/2022e/tir.htm
Results:
1. Elaya SLO Dušan Ušenicnik JK Loka Timing
2. Karpo SLO Maks Vrecko JK Loka Timing
3. Damaco CRO Berislav Vranic JK Galeb, Kostrena