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Cascais recently celebrated the end of summer with the lively Cascais Vela championship, attracting over 200 sailors across five racing classes. This annual event has graced Cascais Bay for more than two decades, filling the waters with vibrant competition as it wrapped up its latest edition.

The championship kicked off on Friday with the ORC and J70 classes. Over the weekend, participants in the Finn, SB20, and NHC classes joined in, resulting in a total of 36 exciting races conducted under strong winds.

In the cruising category, the NHC – Marinade Cascais Regatta crowned Funbel/Nacex, helmed by António Noronha, as the big winner. In the ORC classes, impressive performances were recorded by Eagle I, skippered by António Domingues, who triumphed in the ORC B class, and Xekmatt, led by Hugo Barrier Henrique, claiming victory in the ORC A class. Xekmatt also earned the prestigious Pedro Mendonça Trophy for the coastal regatta held on Saturday.

Among the dinghy sailing classes, which included the J70, SB20, and Finn, the competition was fierce until the very end. In the debuting J70 – NationalGest Challenge, the Solyd Sailing Team emerged victorious, showcasing the skills of Vasco Serpa, Paulo Manso, Bernardo Plantier, and Gonçalo Lopes across eight races.

The SB20 – Astara Challenge also saw intense competition, concluding with the Xcellent team, steered by John Pollard, alongside Portuguese crew members Santiago Sampaio and Pedro Costa, winning the final race and securing overall victory.

The Finn class was highlighted by Jorge Pinheiro de Melo, who dominated the field, winning four out of five races to clinch the top spot.

Cascais Vela was not just about sailing; it offered an array of activities both on land and at sea. Each day featured social gatherings at the club, sponsored by Sagres Beer and Opção Global – Normas e Sinais. Additionally, Sailors For The Sea organized an underwater cleanup, successfully removing over 100 kg of trash, and awarded the event a platinum level for sustainability, the second-highest honor.

On Saturday night, the vibrant Bye Bye Summer party attracted hundreds to the Clube Naval de Cascais, marking its 23rd anniversary and offering a fitting farewell to summer.

Francisco Kreye, a councilor from the Cascais Municipal Council and a key sponsor of the championship, expressed his views, stating, "The sea festivities and the events at the Cascais Naval Club, from the Bye Bye Summer party to the major Cascais Vela championship, highlight the end of August. They show that it’s possible to align our town’s celebrations with the club’s activities, adding dynamism and life to Cascais."

Support for the event came from Turismo de Portugal, the Federação Portuguesa de Vela, Marina de Cascais, Astara, NacionalGest, and Vista Alegre, which generously provided prizes for the top finishers.

For those interested in the competition results, a link to the full results can be found here.

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