The annual Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, which was founded in 2020 with the mission of creating awareness for marine conservation projects to protect the world’s oceans, has come to close following the second day of thrilling racing in Cascais, Portugal.
Organized in partnership with Clube Naval de Cascais, each day’s racing was opened by Mayor of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras in a ceremony which included a symbolic battery of a fire from the historic Fort Santo António da Barra, and will officially close after witnessing The Ocean Race Europe fleet set sail for Alicante on Sunday.
Over 70 boats took part in the final day of racing in a variety of classes which saw the undeniable highlight of the event, the fleet of IMOCA 60s and VO65s taking part in a points-scoring coastal race for The Ocean Race Europe.
The VO65 race was won by Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, skippered by Yoann Richomme ahead of Akzo Nobel Ocean Racing and Sailing Poland. The IMOCA 60 race was won by Offshore Team Germany ahead of 11th Hour Racing Team and LinkedOut. Today’s contest made Portuguese sailing history as the first time the two classes have raced on the water together in Portugal.
In the other classes Green Eyes, skippered by Paulo Mirpuri won the NHC class in real time and claimed the Mirpuri Foundation Perpetual Trophy. In NHC corrected time the winner was Rational – German Kitchens skipped by Miguel Graça. ORC A was won by Syone, skippered by Nuno Neves and 2 Hot 2 Handle skippered by António Tânger Correia won ORC B. Didier Thomas’ O Barquinho won APIC and Augusto Castelo Branco took the honors in the Optimist Youth class.
The 12-strong fleet of VO65s and IMOCA 60s arrived in Cascais on Wednesday in a thrilling finish to their first leg that saw all 12 boats finish within minutes of one another, after four days of racing. Alongside these stars of the sailing world, young sailors had their chance to demonstrate their talent, competing over three days of Optimist racing.
