Spain, Hungary, France and New Zealand, and Brazil, Italy, Great Britain and the Netherlands, for the SSL Gold Cup semi-finals

Group 4: Spain tops the group

Another victory for Spain. A close win and arguably the most important in this last quarter-final Test, it was a double score. Luis Dorest’s team boarded the SSL47 to compete in the fourth round today knowing that it would not be easy for them to play for the qualification of Vasco Vascotto’s Italy and Eric Mon’s Switzerland.

It was like that. “The Navy” started with strength up their sleeves and were on Italy’s heels at all times. The two teams exchanged the leadership of the fleet on several occasions, and finally Spain was able to certify the victory and the first place in the general standings, eight seconds ahead of the Italians, who confirmed their presence in the semi-finals in second place.

As it is, Spain continue their battle for the Gran Canaria SSL Gold Cup title, with everything at stake in Saturday’s one-off matches against Hungary, France and New Zealand.

Group 1: Great Britain go unbeaten

There were no surprises in the last Test of Group 1 and Ian Williams’ Great Britain won again. Today was their fourth win out of a possible four in the quarter-finals, and the results made the British team the strongest of the round and the most points among the sixteen nations: 20.

Megad Daniel Najmuddin’s Malaysia, who finished second overall, finished third today, falling to Loch Peyron’s France, who finished second with second place, thus advancing to Saturday’s semi-finals.

Accordingly, two teams, Malaysia and Jonas Hoek-Christensen’s Denmark, are eliminated from Group 1 in the quarter-finals.

Group 2: Hungary and Netherlands, semi-finals

Group 2 with Hungary, Netherlands, Germany and Chile is the first match today. He made it on the second attempt, and although the team gave the first start at about 11:15 local time with winds over 15 knots, a 150º roll forced the test to be stopped while Elo waited to re-engage.

Finally, at 1:00 p.m. and with a slightly lighter wind, the fleet was able to start a regatta in which leading team Zsombor Berecz’s Hungary won again, gaining access to the semi-finals as first in the group.

Then, second place was a battle between Frithjof “Frida” Kleen’s Germany and Roy Heiner’s Netherlands, who started tied on eight points in the table. The Germans held the lead, but a penalty settled in the Netherlands’ favor and ended with Klein’s team risking everything in a tight battle.

Germany and Pablo Lorca’s Chile team are the two teams that will end their participation in the Canarian event today.

Group 3: Brazil and New Zealand advance to the stage

Group 3 boss Robert Scheid’s Brazil will also have no problem certifying their passage to the final stage. Second place was enough for Brazil to top the group and advance to the Gran Canaria SSL Gold Cup.

Just three points separated John Bertrand’s Australia, Joao Rodriguez’s Portugal and Leslie Eknot’s New Zealand, with the New Zealanders winning the three-way battle on the day, a result that allowed Eknot’s team to convert. Depending on the circumstances, they could go from fourth to second in the group and reach the semi-finals. Portugal and Australia were eliminated.

Saturday, semifinals

With the field of eight teams advancing to the semi-finals complete, the Gran Canaria SSL Gold Cup will once again welcome the fleet to the regatta on Saturday, November 2. The remaining nations in the event will be divided into two groups of four teams each and will compete in a single Test to qualify for the Grand Final. The top two nations across the finish line in their respective groups could battle it out for the coveted title on Sunday.

The teams in Group 1 will take to the water first: Brazil, Italy, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Group 2 will continue with Spain, Hungary, France and New Zealand. Undoubtedly two clashes at the highest level with eight nations that have already shown they are ready for the task of competing for a title for the first time in history: the FIFA World Cup under sail.

The dream ended for Chile and Lithuania, two of the 16 nations that started the championship on November 10, still in the competition. This first edition of the Gran Canaria SSL Gold Cup left a great taste in the mouth, as did Portugal and Malaysia (sixteenth) who entered the second round and Chile and Lithuania. Australia and Denmark were the two newcomers who were eliminated. , as they are part of a group that entered the quarterfinals directly through ranking.