Brazil Dominate Opening Day Of 2011 ISAF South American Nations Cup Regional Final

ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final - South America -- Porto Alegre, Brazil

The first ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final started yesterday at Veleiros do Sul, Brazil.

Despite rain and wind hanging around Porto Alegre a full compliment of 12 match races between Brazil, Argentina and Peru was completed.

In the Open division, the Brazilian team headed by Henrique Haddad won three matches with their only loss to Juan Grimaldi (ARG). In the first clash between the two the victory went the way of the Brazilian after Grimaldi led for the majority of the race. But the Argentine hit back in their second meeting to claim victory.

The Brazilian women’s team headed by Juliana Senfft outlined their stance as favourites of the regatta after they won all four of their matches.

"The first day was great despite the bad weather," said Senfft. "The championship is far from over. We have two more round robins but the beginning of the championships has been very satisfying for us."

For the Peruvian team it is their first time in the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Final. The women’s team, lead by Tania Zimmermann, have shown great technique and grasped the lessons of a match racing clinic they attended before the regatta. She took second place on the opening day defeating Argentina’s Martina Silva twice.

Zimmermann said, "We had a great day and we are so glad that we are able to fight for the overall lead."

In the open division, Peru’s Daniel Mendoza failed to score in the first day. He said, "It is our first championship and we are better than we thought. Although, it was very difficult because we are used to the different conditions that we have in Peru."

The Regional Final of the ISAF Nations Cup continues today with two more round robins. The winner of each division will go straight to the final with second and third to contest a semi-final.

From the ISAF website: www.sailing.org