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FISHING AND NAUTICAL SECTOR ON THE AGENDA, OUR SUBJECT IS SEA, NAUTICAL AND FISHING!
By Antônio Carlos Corrêa
Sailing competition in Ilhabela becomes luxury training for Lima
In addition to being a traditional sailing competition on the coast of São Paulo, the Ilhabela Monotypes Week also served as preparation for the Pan American Games. The result was a high technical level of the event, making this edition one of the strongest in history.
The couple from Bahia Juliana Duque and Rafael Martins are an example of sailors focused on the Pan American Games. “The level is very high in the Monotype Week and, for us, it's always good to come to the island, where we always find good sailors and very good lanes. This year it is helping us to test some different things, to assess how our level is in relation to the fleet, which also has other athletes who will be at the Pan”, explains helmsman Juliana.
Husband of Juliana and her bowman, Rafael confirms the goal of preparing well for the Pan American Games. “We have been preparing for the Pan for two years, even before qualifying. We are the only mixed duo in the Snipe class that also sail in all-male competitions. In this last year we have dedicated ourselves a lot and achieved good results. We travel a lot to train and compete with other teams, all to do a good job and get a medal for Brazil”, he adds.
The Pan also attracted foreign competitors to Ilhabela. This is the case of the Cuban Nélido Manso Lopez. Snipe world champion in 1999 and owner of three gold medals at the Pan American Games, he trains in Brazil alongside his daughter Iris. “Monotypes Week has been a very difficult and important championship for our preparation. After this competition, we'll return to Cuba and then continue to Lima. We will fight to reach the gold fleet, be among the top five and, who knows, fight for the podium”.
Nélido Manso Lopez was not the only sailor from outside Brazil looking for improvement. The Uruguayan and also world champion Ricardo Fabini competed in the initial phase of the Week of Monotypes.
star class
In parallel to the 46th Sailing Week of Monotypes, Ilhabela received the championship of the 7th District of the Star class. The competition received some of the main names in national sailing and the title was won by the duo formed by Marcelo Bellotti and Mauricio Bueno. With four victories in seven races, they lifted the champion's trophy with 9 points lost, five less than runners-up André Diomelli and Marcelo Jordão.
“I am very happy with the result. It's my third title in Monotype Week, but the Star Class 7th District trophy, the most traditional, I didn't have yet. We achieved a very good performance throughout the competition and I feel very comfortable sailing in Ilhabela, where I know the lanes, and I'm happy for the conquest alongside Maurício”, said Bellotti, who added. “I will remain focused on getting a good result in a Worlds. In the last one, I had a bitter taste, as a break took me out of the top 10. The next one will be in the Bahamas and I want to evolve to make a good championship”.
The 46th Ilhabela Monotypes Week brought together 300 boats in the city on the north coast of São Paulo, considered the national capital of the nautical modality. The competition precedes the traditional Ilhabela International Sailing Week, starting on the 13th.
