Highlights from race 5 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

A thrilling race in Valencia for the final day of the 1st Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup in Valencia. Thermal breeze between 6 and 8 knots for the first race won once again by Argentinean Agustin Zabalua. The sixth and final race carrying double points was abandoned on the second beat due to the complete lack of wind. Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that in 2011 will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July. Thirty helmsmen from 14 nations entered the event.

Valencia, Spain October 3nd 2010- Argentinean Augustin Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that wrapped up with a nail-biting race in Valencia on Sunday. The fifth race was held with a 6 to 8 knot thermal breeze from the southeast and Zabalua cut the finishing line first, thereby scoring his third victory. Italian Andrea Gancia was second over the line and the Hungarian Olympic Laser sailor Zsombor Berecz came in third. Zabalua was in the lead with a 4-point margin on the Hungarian and 6 on Croatian Ivan Gaspic. Nothing was yet decided though. There still was time to fire the gun for the sixth and final race that carried double points and could still shape the final scoreboard. The fleet cut the starting line with a six-knot breeze from 115 that slowly died down to nothing at all while competitors were working their way up the second beat. The excellent Real Club Nautico de Valencia Race Committee rightfully decided to abandon the race and sailors returned to shore where an enormous and delicious paella was awaiting them.

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

Agustin Zabalua won with the excellent results 4-2-1-1-1, with a 4-point lead on Hungarian Zsombor Berecz (1-6-2-3-3) and a 6-point margin on Croatian Ivan Gaspic (3-1-5-2-8), first among the six Olympic Finn athletes who took part in the Championship. British Ed Wright, who recently won the Finn Gold Cup, finished fourth overall (6-3-6-4-12) while Alberto Ferrari, the best of the Italians, finished is fifth (2-11-7-12-5).

In commenting the Championship, Luca Devoti stated, “We had three fantastic days and I am very satisfied with the fleet’s performance and with the way the event turned out. The weight equalization system proved to be a great intuition and success: all the best sailors between 72 and 95 kilos were vying for the lead. Our goal is to see the class continue to grow by working with the five national associations and collaborating with the International Class we created here in Valencia that has Philippe Rogge as its President. The Real Club Nautico de Valencia was perfect both on the water and on shore. The next edition of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July 2011″

This concludes the first international event of the D-One Class that saw 30 helmsmen from 14 nations and 3 continents battle it out on Spanish waters.

The event is sponsored by Magic Marine and BetPro.it

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

Highlights from race 5 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

A thrilling race in Valencia for the final day of the 1st Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup in Valencia. Thermal breeze between 6 and 8 knots for the first race won once again by Argentinean Agustin Zabalua. The sixth and final race carrying double points was abandoned on the second beat due to the complete lack of wind. Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that in 2011 will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July. Thirty helmsmen from 14 nations entered the event.

Valencia, Spain October 3nd 2010- Argentinean Augustin Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that wrapped up with a nail-biting race in Valencia on Sunday. The fifth race was held with a 6 to 8 knot thermal breeze from the southeast and Zabalua cut the finishing line first, thereby scoring his third victory. Italian Andrea Gancia was second over the line and the Hungarian Olympic Laser sailor Zsombor Berecz came in third. Zabalua was in the lead with a 4-point margin on the Hungarian and 6 on Croatian Ivan Gaspic. Nothing was yet decided though. There still was time to fire the gun for the sixth and final race that carried double points and could still shape the final scoreboard. The fleet cut the starting line with a six-knot breeze from 115 that slowly died down to nothing at all while competitors were working their way up the second beat. The excellent Real Club Nautico de Valencia Race Committee rightfully decided to abandon the race and sailors returned to shore where an enormous and delicious paella was awaiting them.

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

Agustin Zabalua won with the excellent results 4-2-1-1-1, with a 4-point lead on Hungarian Zsombor Berecz (1-6-2-3-3) and a 6-point margin on Croatian Ivan Gaspic (3-1-5-2-8), first among the six Olympic Finn athletes who took part in the Championship. British Ed Wright, who recently won the Finn Gold Cup, finished fourth overall (6-3-6-4-12) while Alberto Ferrari, the best of the Italians, finished is fifth (2-11-7-12-5).

In commenting the Championship, Luca Devoti stated, “We had three fantastic days and I am very satisfied with the fleet’s performance and with the way the event turned out. The weight equalization system proved to be a great intuition and success: all the best sailors between 72 and 95 kilos were vying for the lead. Our goal is to see the class continue to grow by working with the five national associations and collaborating with the International Class we created here in Valencia that has Philippe Rogge as its President. The Real Club Nautico de Valencia was perfect both on the water and on shore. The next edition of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July 2011″

This concludes the first international event of the D-One Class that saw 30 helmsmen from 14 nations and 3 continents battle it out on Spanish waters.

The event is sponsored by Magic Marine and BetPro.it

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

Highlights from race 3 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Highlights from race 4 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Highlights from race 3 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Highlights from race 4 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

The moderate winds prevailed for a second day in Valencia but the 30 D-One’s battling it out for the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup had two very close races, especially among the top three sailors, Argentina’s Agustín Zabalúa, Croatia’s Ivan Gaspic and Zsombor Berecz from Hungary. Zabalúa scored two bullets but only after sweating hard and weaving his way through the fleet. The final stretch of the second race’s last run was truly nail-biting and Zabalúa snatched his victory right at the finish. Zabalúa, Gaspic and Berecz probably gybed 7-8 times in the last 20 meters. With another two races scheduled for Sunday everything is up for grabs.

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The moderate winds prevailed for a second day in Valencia but the 30 D-One’s battling it out for the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup had two very close races, especially among the top three sailors, Argentina’s Agustín Zabalúa, Croatia’s Ivan Gaspic and Zsombor Berecz from Hungary. Zabalúa scored two bullets but only after sweating hard and weaving his way through the fleet. The final stretch of the second race’s last run was truly nail-biting and Zabalúa snatched his victory right at the finish. Zabalúa, Gaspic and Berecz probably gybed 7-8 times in the last 20 meters. With another two races scheduled for Sunday everything is up for grabs.

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing