Practice Races and Opening Ceremony

Yesterday saw the competitors at the 2004 Soling World Championship have a taster of what is to come on the waters of Veleiros do Sul, with a day of practice races.

Three practice races were held in total, with the winner of race 1 being Gyenese BALAZS, Gyula MONUS e Karoly VEZER from Hungary, the second race saw Argentineans Gustavo WARBURG, Hernan CELEDONI and Maximo SMITH take the gun and on the third, Fernando CAVALLI, Carlos TREIN and Roger LAMB from Brazil crossed first.

Racing opened in 12 knots of wind from the south and by the end of the day it had fallen to 7 knots on the Guaiba Lake.

In sailing they use to say that ‘who wins a practice race won’t win the Championship’ but not all competitors believe in that.

Some competitors decided not to race the practice race preferring to spend more time preparing their boats.

The Soling World Championships Opening Ceremony was at 1130 yesterday with the presence of ISAF Vice-President Goran Petersson.

Racing at the Soling Worlds will start this afternoon, Monday 26 January through until 31 January with seven races scheduled.