Four bullets from nine races was enough to secure Team Nika victory in the 44Cup Calero Marinas, opening event of the 2024 44Cup.
All four days of racing in the Canary Islands were in maximum conditions for the high performance owner-driver one design – in fact no one can remember an event requiring their smallest headsail, the J3, to be used in every race. Even for the final day (forecast to be the lightest), teams were still subjected to gusts into the high 20s blowing from the north, over Lanzarote’s barren lunar landscape.
The day began with Team Nika first, three points clear of Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref Vaider. However initially both teams made a meal of it: In the first race Team Nika was second at the first top mark rounding, had dropped to fourth by the second but went the wrong side of the course on the last run to finish sixth place – her worst result. Fortunately her principal rival had fared even worse being OCS and then suffering spinnaker damage. She finished last.
“We finished the previous one second and this one first – I hope we can stay consistent. We have two new crew – they smile, are full of energy and very strong.”
