PENINSULA Wins 2026 Alcaidesa Marina J/80 Circuit
(La Línea de la Concepción, Spain)- The Alcaidesa Marina J/80 Circuit concluded another edition this weekend in the waters off La Línea de la Concepción. This was the third and final event of the Spring Series. The regatta brought the curtain down on a season calendar that included the Autumn, Winter, and Spring Series.
The J/80 one-design fleet once again demonstrated a high level of competitiveness during a weekend marked by highly changeable conditions. On Saturday, two races were contested in light winds of 5-6 knots, blowing from 125º to 110º. On Sunday, however, the wind shifted to the south, stabilizing between 180º and 190º and increasing to 8 or 9 knots, allowing for the completion of four additional races.
Consequently, the Spring Series concluded with a total of 16 races completed, bringing the season’s cumulative race count to 44.
The standout performer once again proved to be PENINSULA, skippered by John Bassadone and sailing under the burgees of the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club and CN Bevelle. The team successfully defended its overall circuit title after a season marked by particularly tight competition among several teams of very similar caliber.
Bassadone’s team finished the season strongly, winning four of six weekend races and clinching the Spring Series.
Second place in the final regatta went to TEAM KOUKO (skippered by Pedro Butrón and Dani Cuevas of the RC Marítimo de Marbella), which claimed victory in the other two races contested during the weekend. Finishing close behind was GVS PAS (skippered by Nacho Cifuentes and Rafael Díaz of the CN Bevelle and RC Mediterráneo), which rounded out the podium just one point behind the runner-up.
This close level of competition was also reflected in the standings across the remaining positions. Horacio Cardarelli’s TACUARITA and María Fiestas’s TEAM FIESTA finished tied for fourth and fifth place, respectively. Following them by just one point was AQUAHOLIC, owned by José Couret and Álvaro Arias.
Also finishing tied were AVIADOR (owned by Gabriel Medem with skipper Pablo Villar of the RC Marítimo de Sotogrande) and ALCAIDESA MARINA (owned by Alex Dobbs of the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club). Rounding out the standings was Amy Pretty’s PRETTY SAILING.
SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP
In the overall general classification— compiled from the aggregate results of the 44 races contested across the autumn, winter, and spring seasons— PENINSULA once again claimed victory in the circuit, joined on the final podium by TEAM KOUKO and GVS PAS.
The circuit was organized by the Club Náutico Bevelle and the Real Club Náutico de La Línea de la Concepción, with the collaboration of the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club and the sponsorship of Alcaidesa Marina. The three-season J/80 championship circuit cemented its status for yet another season as one of the premier events for one-design sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Interview with Nacho Cifuentes in the latest edition of StraitMagazine:
https://publuu.com/flip-book/735273/2443576/page/14
J/80 Reports/ Straits Magazine
https://www.straitmagazine.com/tag/j80/