Overview

• Racing starts today at 17:35 in Bermeo and concludes Sunday at 12:00 in Portugalete in a time-trial format, with a northwest swell near half a meter and gusts above 25 km/h forecast.
• Five men’s crews—Santurtzi, Arkote, Kaiku, Chapela, and Tirán—are vying for two places that confer promotion or survival in the top tier.
• Santurtzi enters as the favorite after a summer of ten banderas under coach Alexander Esteban, targeting a return to the elite two seasons after relegation.
• Arkote approaches the test without pressure, as coach Gorka Etxeberria says they will fight to the last stroke, while Kaiku faces a do-or-die bid to avoid relegation, according to coach Jon Elortegi.
• The women’s playoff fields Zarautz and San Juan from Liga ETE alongside Donostiarra from Euskotren, with Galician contenders Chapela and Tirán also in the mix.