Sporting September in Sotogrande
From Sarah’s Blog
Let us start with the battle of the flying boats!
Sotogrande has been witness to four days of fantastic sailing as the European GC32 Racing Tour came to its shores. The brain child of French businessman Laurent Lenne and Dr Martin Fischer, the GC32 is a 10m long catamaran that boasts the title of one of the world’s fastest racing yachts. It aims to provide a level of sailing technology, normally only available to America’s Cup teams and this September, the GC32’s did not disappoint.
The final race came to its conclusion on Sunday 25th after four days of thrilling fights to the finish with a La Reserva de Sotogrande Cup victory for team NORAUTO. Their third win of the season, which places them at the top of the leader board. In second place was Team Tilt and in third was Team Engie.
Sotogrande’s seas and a strong wind proved the perfect conditions as the catamaran lifted their foils out of the water to reach speeds as fast as 40 knots/ 70 km per hour. Hopefully good conditions will continue as the next stage sees the end of the competition at the One Design. Only a few weeks apart from the next GC32 competition in Marbella from the 13th to 16th October, with nine GC32 teams fighting it out for the 2016 Championship trophy.
Polo & Dressage Competitions
From seawater to sand, locals and visitors alike had the chance to visit the beautiful facility of Dos Lunas Polo & Dressage for the Dressage Competition CDN Cup held on the weekend of the 10th and 11th September and notably, one of the best equestrian events of the season. Highly competitive, the event invited renowned horsemen and women from all over Spain to compete at several different levels, showcasing horsemanship at its highest standards.
For those of a more competitive nature, a trip to Los Lances in Tarifa on the 17th and 18th September would have taken you to the Beach Polo Tournament III-World Cup 2016, where Hotel Club Marítimo de Sotogrande became champions. Visitors from Marbella and Sotogrande descended on the caster sugar sands to watch a highly enjoyable and different style of Polo fought out between the local teams.
Lawyers Polo Competition
There was also plenty of Polo back on Sotogrande’s green fields as both the Lawyers Polo Competition 2016 and the XVII Andalusian Polo Championship graced our famous pitches with frantic chukkas and high-scoring games.
Ryder Cup & Rolex Golf tournament
Then there was the Golf. Sotogrande got itself in the mood for the Ryder Cup with several significant golfing tournaments, held on its internationally-renowned golf courses. The month kicked off with the prestigious Rolex Golf tournament, held at the newly refurbished Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, sponsored by “The Red House” (Gibraltar). After a qualifying day, which invited over 150, including 60 club members to participate, the sporting day was a great success. The tournament itself will conclude in Sotogrande at the Real Club Valderrama on 15th October.
The Real Club de Golf Sotogrande also played host to the Grand Final of the Fourth Circuit Sotogrande Golf Magazine on the 15th September with a final play to remember. For the rest of the family, there was also fantastic cocktails, drinks tasting, prizes and raffle gifts for all to enjoy. A truly lovely day out.
I wonder what October will bring..
