Second Day Racing

After a shaky start to this ISAF Grade 2 Olympic Classes regatta held from the legendary Port Olimpic in Barcelona, every class apart from the 49er’s got out for racing on the second scheduled day yesterday.

Fernando ECHÁVARRI and Antón PAZ (ESP) won the only race in the Tornado fleet were able to complete in the tough conditions. Ehey were followed closely by Andrey KIRILYK and Valery USHOV (RUS).

Spanish favourites, Monica AZON, Graciela PISONERO and Maria Sanchez FERRER have had a fantastic start to the regatta and currently lie second behind Great Britain’s Olympic representatives Shirley ROBERTSON Sarah AYTON and Sarah WEBB. Third place is occupied by Kristin WAGNER, Anna HOELL and Veronica LOCHBRUNNER (GER)

In the Finn class the Rafa TRUJILLO has begun the Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week with a third place in the first race. French sailor Florent GUILLAUME leads, followed by the Russian Evgeny CHERNOVin second.

In the Laser class there are two groups with which making a joint general classification, Mariano SARMIENTO is the best Spanish in seventh position in the Group A. Mathias RIECK (GER) and the Italian Diego NEGRI lead the respective groups.

In the 470 Men, Gustavo Martinez DORESTE and Dimas WOOD are seventh in the overall results at present, who is led by the Israelis Gideon KLIGER and Udi GAL. In 470 Women Natàlia Via-DUFRESNE and Sandra AZON (ESP) have had a tough start to the regatta and are currently in ninth. Vlada ILIENKO and Natalia GAPONOVICH (RUS) lead the classification.

It’s Polish dominance in the Europe class, with Katarzyna SZOTYNSKA leading, followed of Weronika GLIENKIEWICZ. Third is Maria COLEMAN (IRL).

The 20-knot breeze created a tough playing field and coupled with the 4-metre waves that come with the northeasterly led to the abandonment of some of the fleets, including the 49ers. Today is forecast a similar sea sstate, but with a slight drop in breeze and a shift in direction towards the east.

Racing continues until tomorrow at this high class European Regatta. Full results are on the event website at the address below.