Day 1
Last week, the truck started the long journey from Fortaleza, in the State of Ceara, south to Porto Alegre, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, host of the championship regata. Traveling more than 4,200 kilometers, the truck picked up boats from the States of Ceara, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Sergipe, Bahia, Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo. Finally, on Friday, the long journey ended at the Jangadeiros Yacht Club in Porto Alegre, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brasil.
The sky in Porto Alegre was bright and warm for the first day of the Brasilian HC14 and HC16 National Championship, locally known as Brascat. As the more than 100 sailors raised their brilliantly colored sails, the anticipation and adrenaline grew. Unfortunately, the winds were not as brilliant, and did not build. At the end of the day, thermal activity created enough wind for a single race.
The gun for the first race sounded at 5:30 and by 8:00 PM all sailors had returned to the Jangadeiros Yacht Club. Following are the results after the first day:
Hobie 16
1. Claudio Teixeira/Bruno Oliveira
2. Andre Montenegro/Juliana Baino
3. Joao Kramer/Lawson Beltrame
4. Daniel Azevedo/Fransisco Souza
5. Felipe Frey/Icaro Macena
6. Mario Dubeux/Karoline Bauermann
7. Carlos Sodre/Licinio Mendes
8. Ricardo Halla/Marcela Mendes
9. Igor Guimaraes/Ronaldo Moraes
10. Claudio Silva (Mika)/Fabio Pillar
Hobie 14
1. Adam Mayerle
2. Eduardo da Silva
3. Sebastiao Gomes
4. Klaus Muller
5. Alderson Pacheco
Day 2
The second day of the Brasilian National Championship HC 14 and HC16 regatta, locally know as Brascat, started with zero clouds in the sky, and zero wind on the water.
The Jangadeiros Yacht Club is located on the Guaiba River in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brasil. To the North, you can find the State of Santa Catarina. To the South, lies Uruguay. To the West, you can visit Paraguay, and to the East, across the Atlantic Ocean, one arrives in Africa.
Located 97 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, wind is principally generated by weather fronts or thermals, differences between the temperature of the land and the Guaiba River. By the middle of the afternoon of the second day, the elevated temperatures of 38 Celsius created thermal differences, which brought a refreshing breeze to the race course. The race committee quickly sent the competitors out.
The first race, with the thermal winds still building, raised adrenaline levels. Perhaps a bit too high, as several protests were registered in the first race. Unfortunately, as the land/water temperature differences fell, so did the wind. The second race was marked by all sailors chasing light wind puffs. By the third race, the wind direction became less certain as it shifted from East to West in a matter of minutes, and, shortly thereafter, back again. Back onshore, the racers called the third race a lottery.
After the second day, the results are:
Hobie 16
1. Andre Montenegro/Juliana Baino
2. Felipe Frey/Icaro Macena
3. Daniel Azevedo/Fransisco Souza
4. Jose R de Jesus/Marina S de Jesus
5. Joao Kramer/Lawson Beltrame
6. Claudio Teixeira/Bruno Oliveira
7. Claudio Cardoso/Mequias V de Queiroz
8. Ricardo Halla/Marcela Mendes
9. Mario Dubeux/Karoline Bauermann
10. Claudio Silva (Mika)/Fabio Pillar
Hobie 14
1. Adam Mayerle
2. Eduardo da Silva
3. Sebastiao Gomes
4. Klaus Muller
5. Alderson Pacheco
Day 3
The third day of this year’s Brasilian National Championship Hobie Cat 14 and 16 Regatta was an opportunity for sailors, family, and friends to experience a little bit of the local culture. With no races scheduled, the Brasilian Hobie Class Association organized a day trip to the “Serra Gaucho”.
Roughly translated, with credit to Wikipedia, a Gaucho is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The gaucho is a national symbol in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Gauchos became greatly admired and renowned in legends, folklore and literature and became an important part of their regional cultural tradition. With Rio Grande do Sul’s being the southern most state in Brasil, with Argentina, and Uruguay as neighbors, the residents of Rio Grande do Sul are fondly called Gauchos.
With more credit to Wikipedia, the Serra Gaúcha, or the “Gaucho Highlands”, is the mountainous region in the northeastern portion of Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil. This mountainous region is home to many Brazilians of German and Italian descent. Consequently, the cities in the Serra Gaúcha reflect German and Italian influences through their architecture, gastronomy and culture.
So, we all met the tour bus at 7:00 AM for a bit more than a “three hour tour.”
The first stop was the Miolo Winery. We all enjoyed a tour of the vineyards and wine making cellars and, at just a few seconds after 12:00 noon, we all enjoyed a variety of their special wines and champagnes.
After Miolo, and the “All Aboard” call, we headed to Gramado, one of the most notable tourist destinations in the Serra. Nevertheless, the city is very well done and, therefore, a destination that you should visit next time you are in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Fortunately, this evening, was the opening of Christmas season in Gramado. And, the city’s famous “lighting of the lights” ceremony. So, we all had many good laughs with Santa, Rudolf, and each other. As well as a spectacular front row seat to the light festival.
Final Update
On the final day of the 2017 Brascat, Brasilian Hobie Cat 14 and Hobie Cat 16 National Championship Regatta, the wind finally participated in the regatta. A frontal system moved through the area and brought stiff winds. Finally, the adrenaline was flowing strong.
Before breaking the great anticipation of who was crowned Brasilian National Champion, we must take a moment to recognize the champion of the entire regatta, Rafael Correa and Ricardo Dubeux. Ricardo is well know as a top international competitor in the Hobie Cat 14. This year, Ricardo raced with Rafael Correa. Rafael suffered an accident recently and lost movement in his lower extremities. Not allowing the accident to limit his life, Rafael has been pursuing challenges that most would not image. With great honor and congratulations, we recognize Rafael for his courage, determination, and performance on the race course. Congratulations!!
With slight and shifty winds during previous race days, only the nimble and, perhaps, mystical, were able to finish consistently. Felipe Frey/Icaro Macena and Andre Henriques/Juliana Baino were the two most consistent Hobie Cat 16 sailors during the first few days of the competition. The same honor goes to Adam Mayerle and Eduardo da Silva in the Hobie Cat 14 class.
During the final day, with stronger and more consistent winds, former HC14 and HC16 world champion Claudio Cardoso/Mequias V de Queiroz gave the fleet a run for their money. At the end of the day, Felipe Frey/Icara Macena rose to the occasion. With two firsts, a third, and a throw-out on the final day, Felipe Frey and Icara Macena widened the distance between them and Andre Henriques and Juliana Baino.
With only two points making the difference in the Hobie Cat 14 class, Adam Mayerle took home the gold!
Congratulations to Adama Mayerle, Felipe Frey and Icaro Macena.
Hobie 16
1. Felipe Frey/Icaro Macena
2. Andre Montenegro/Juliana Baino
3. Claudio Cardoso/Mequias V de Queiroz
4. Claudio Teixeira/Bruno Oliveira
5. Daniel Azevedo/Fransisco Souza
6. Joao Kramer/Lawson Beltrame
7. Jose R de Jesus/Marina S de Jesus
8. Ricardo Halla/Marcela Mendes
9. Claudio Silva (Mika)/Fabio Pillar
10. Igor G. Guimaraes/Ronaldo Moraes
Hobie 14
1. Adam Mayerle
2. Eduardo da Silva
3. Gustavo de Souza
4. Sebastiao Gomes
5. Marcio Fontes
Thanks Veleiros do Sul Yacht Club for the video