Italian Monday

6 knots of breeze greeted sailors yesterday morning in Medemblick as they were sent out for the first day of racing. It was not to last however, and the fickle breeze died almost instantly.

After about an hour and a half (around midday) waiting for the wind the race committee decided to send the sailors back to the shore to await further instructions, and the waiting game for the west-wind was started.

The J/24 Sailors had to wait until 16.30 local time before they were sent back on the water.

Once on the water a 10 knot westerly had filled in and soon the IJsselmeer-chop was making its appearance. The Ijsselmeer is relative shallow so a steep short pattern of waves soon appears when the wind starts to blow.

It took four starts to get the fleet of to the first windward mark. Seven boats were OCS. At the first mark it was the Italian boat of Lorenzo CHIARUGI who led the fleet. The first four boats were Italian boats.

Leif Tom LOOSE of Germany was the first non-Italian boat to round the first mark, in fifth place. About half way Gabriele BENUSSI (ITA) had taken the lead, a lead that they were to hold onto until the finish of the race.

So at the finish it was Gabriele BENUSSI who has Paulo BOIDO, builder of European J/24’s, as one of his crew who took the gun.

Shortly after Benussi it was Fabio NOCERA of italy who took second to make the Italian party complete. Third place was taken by Brasilian Mauricio Santa Cruz whilst the new Class president Rudi WOLFS who is sailing with Andy HORTON took a fourth place.

Full results are available on the event website at the address bellow.

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