From July 28-29, Juan Reid and crew onboard J/70 #1 WINDMADE won the first weekend of the Santander Bank Chilean J/70 Winter Series that is being held in Algarrobo Bay. With great winter conditions (sunny days, 16 degrees Celsius, 8-12 knots and flat seas), nine boats got together for a weekend of sailing. After the first two races on Saturday, the battle for the lead materialized between WINDMADE and MORENITA, with MORENITA leading after the first day. On Sunday, WINDMADE started off with two bullets. In the final race on Sunday, WINDMADE had an average start with MORENITA to leeward, forcing WINDMADE to tack clear. However, WINDMADE found better breeze and clear air in the middle of the course, rapidly closing the distance upwind, then closing to a half-boat length at the leeward gate after a smart downwind run. On the second beat, WINDMADE passed MORENITA on a wind shift. In the final approach to the windward mark, some boats didn’t notice the change of course, with WINDMADE taking advantage of the situation. In the final approach on the port tack layline, SENSEI overstood, but with full speed, established an inside overlap at the three-boat length zone over WINDMADE. At the mark, WINDMADE closed the gap too much, forcing SENSEI to touch the mark, so SENSEI screamed “protest.” With MORENITA farther down the standings, the WINDMADE crew made the decision to spin their circles, dropping from third to sixth in the race, just one place behind MORENITA. With one final leg to finish the race, WINDMADE managed to sail deeper than MORENITA and, with tactics from Rodrigo Amunátegui, managed to gybe at the right moment, getting the righty and better breeze on the center right of the course to get back to third at the finish line. In the final scoring, WINDMADE won the weekend with 9 points, Vernon Robert’s MORENITA was second with 11 points, and Víctor Lobos’ LEXUS was third with 13 points. The balance of the top five included the Doyle Sails team on PELIGRO skippered by Alejandro Pérez in fourth place, and Marcos Fuentes’ SENSEI in fifth. In the Corinthian Division, Diego Natho’s TRILOGIA won, sailing with his mom, dad and brother. Taking second was Cristián Pérez’s ELEANOR RIGBY.