It was quite an adventure for Guardamago III, an IY 11.98, in its debut at the Copa del Rey, the famed regatta organized every summer by the Real Club Nautico in Palma de Mallorca. “Impeccable organization,” says owner Massimo Romeo Piparo, “perhaps it’s because the King himself participates, but the professionalism is truly top-notch.” He’s obviously pleased with his second-place finish in their first outing. It’s no small feat, given the high level of competition, both in terms of numbers and the skill of the participants. The competitiveness reached a peak, causing a major ‘bang’ among many boats on the second day of racing. In the midst of the chaos, Guardamago III found itself ‘bottled up’, sustaining a hole in the bow and losing its bowsprit.
The Guardamago team knew that giving up was not an option and continued racing to avoid disqualification. They worked through the night, repairing the bowsprit and patching up the hole, making the incident a distant memory. Ready to face new challenges, they pushed on and ended up on the second step of the podium. What more could you ask for a debut?
