The archipelago of Chiloé in the southern region of Chile known famously as Patagonia has been the site of the event called the “Regata de Chiloe” (Chiloe Regatta) that takes place every two years. The boats and crews all convene in Puerto Montt, then head south toward the archipelago. For a week, more than 800 sailors gather together for lots of sailing and socializing. There are more than 200 miles of racing in eight legs. This year, the regatta started in Castro, the main island in the Chiloe archipelago. Then, for seven days the sailing teams and their ‘mother ships’ meandered through the channels, straits and fiords that give form to the Chiloé Archipelago. The point-to-point coastal racing saw the boats visit anchorages and harbors in Dalcahue, Mechuque, Hornopirén and Calbuco and finished in Puerto Montt, where two windward-leeward buoy races where scheduled. Chiloé gave the fleet all the expected challenges. Crews had to deal with 90 degree wind shifts, calms, 30 knots gusts crossing the gulf, tide currents and shallow sea obstacles. The seven-boat J/70 fleet, Carlos Kuhlental’s CHUCRU aced the first three races and took home a 1-1-1-6-2 record for a mere 5 points net. However, behind them it was a battle all week long between four boats: Marcos Fuentes’ COMAU, Javier Melero’s PEGASUS, Vernon Robert’s MORENITA and Carlos Vergara’s COLUMBIA- SENSEI. At one point or another over the five races, each team held a podium position. In the end, Fuentes’ COMAU closed with a 2-1 to secure the silver with a record of 3-6-5-2-1 for 11 points net. A bad last race dropped Melero’s PEGASUS to third place, winning a tie-breaker, after posting a record of 2-7-3-1-6 for 12 points net. Losing that tie-breaker was Robert’s MORENITA with a 5-2-2-4-4 tally also sitting on 12 points net. Then, taking fifth place only one point back was Vergara’s COLUMBIA-SENSEI with a very steady record of 4-3-4-3-3 for 13 points net. For more Santander Bank Regatta Chiloe information, visit http://www.regatachiloe.cl/.