THE HELMSMAN CARLOS PAZ REVEALS THE SECRETS OF THE NEW PLATU 25 WORLD CHAMPIONS

“Vilagarcia”, the Spanish team from Galicia, triumphed in Punta Ala conquering the ambitious title of 2009 Platu 25 World Champion. “Vilagarcia” won against the very competitive Spanish Fleet – the “Invincible Armada” - that occupies almost all the first positions in the Gold list. From the first place to the 7th position the Iberian dominion was total; just the second place wasn’t Spanish but Greek thanks to “Modus Vivendi- 3Alfa” of Kostas Karageorgiou.

After 12 very competitive regattas, “Vilagarcia” won against the Greeks and their compatriots, winning the title. The key of their success is the very strong training and the incredible curriculum of the crew.

Carlos Paz, the talented helmsman of Vilagarcia explained: “We had a very good preparation during the last sail season. We were focused on the World Championship in Punta Ala and we worked quite hard for it. In the last three years we weren’t very lucky in the previous World Championships but we obtained very good results in the Spanish Championships: we won in the last three years!”.

During the World Championship in Punta Ala, the team of Vilagarcia keep on being calm and determined. As Carlos confirmed: “ An other key of our success was stay calm when we had a bad second day (7th and 6th position and a bfd during the three regattas on Wednesday September 30). We knew that the winner need to have a very good final days”.

So, from the day after, Tuesday October the 1st, “Vilagarcia” started a very positive trend: in the first regatta Vilagarcia arrived first, and second and first in the other two. As the Spanish team planed, “Vilagarcia” managed very well in the last days. During the very last day, Saturday October the 3rd, it conquered a first and a third place, obtaining the title of World Champion.

The key of the success is also in the enviable curriculum of the crew members. Carlos Paz started sailing when he was nine and he got experienced before with the Optimist and after on the 470 in the Olimpic team. He had been training in different classes for 14 years becoming a very versatile and sensitive yachtsman.

The same is for the other members, as Carlos Paz remarked: “At prow, there is Bernado Paz, 21 years old with a good experience at helm, he won a lot of international regattas. Joaquín Cores, piano man, 26 years old, he hasn’t a lot of experience but he is learning very fast. Esteban Gañete, Genova trimmer, 26 years old, he has a long experience. He has been sailing in Olympic classes like 49er and 470. Anton Paz, tactic, was an Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing in the Tornado class, and he took part in a lot of World Championships on Tornado and big boats”.

After the injection of adrenalin and enthusiasm received in Punta Ala, now “Vilagarcia” is planning the future: “For sure we’ll take part in 2010 Platu 25 Season, trying to obtain results as good as this year. We’ll take part also in the Platu 25 World Championship in Alicante, Spain, and in the Spanish Championship. Some of us will compete in other sail classes: Bernando Paz will start competing in the Finn class, Antón and me will keep on sailing in the Platu 25 class and also in the 49er”

For the winners, Punta Ala was something special, as Carlos confirmed: “We enjoyed the World Championship in Punta Ala a lot. We took away not just the title of World Champions but also memories of very nice days and perfect regattas. All the organisation was perfect and people of the Yacht Club of Punta Ala were fantastic!”.

Press Office: sabrinabonaiti@libero.it