The second registration day here at the Formula Europeans, has seen a record fleet registered for the regatta, over 160 competitors are ready for action in Lake Garda and hopefully the Lake will produce the famous winds which we all expect this time of year.
Seniors, juniors, Women, Masters and Men’s Open all have stacked fleets with the very best sailors from Europe and other parts of the world ready to take on each other and the elements of this famous European windsurfing Mecca, Lake Garda.
The skippers meeting took place today at 1pm to inform sailors about the practice race schedule for 2pm. The men’s fleet was split in two, with Blue and yellow coding to indicate which fleet you had to compete in. With 21 women competitors and a separate start, they will be on their own to battle it out for the top positions.
By 2.30pm the Men’s blue fleet got away clean in a fresh 15 to 18 knots typical Garda breeze, Gonzalo Costa Hoeuvel took on the fleet on port tack and headed straight to the famous WALL. Antione Albeau and Ross Williams go away clean at the boat end of the line and soon after the start tacked onto port and headed into the Wall with Gonzalo. Albeau lead around the weather mark followed by Williams. Being a practice race a lot of sailors pulled out but Albeau and Williams sustained momentum to finish first and second.
The Yellow fleet started 5 minutes after the Blue and had to sail on the inside course for a windward, leeward and back up wind. Buzianis, McGain and Cucci all got away clean down the line, with McGain heading into the Wall first after just a short time on starboard tack, after crossing tacks with Cucci and Buzianis up the weather Mark, Cucci rounded a few meters in front of McGain with Buzianis breathing down there necks in third. Downwind looked very even, but Cucci made the first mistake by heading to the wrong bottom mark, Buzianis got in front of McGain on the downwind and rounded the bottom mark in first. Upwind McGain was able to pull in Micah to round the weather mark in first, but Buzianis stayed in stronger breeze on the left side of the course and finished in first place with McGain in second.
In the women’s fleet, which is as hot as the men’s fleet. Current World Champion Christine Johnson, 3 time World Champion Dorota Staszewska, runner up at Draske Worlds Lucy Horwood, local favorites Verena Fauster and Karin Jaggi. The dark horse of the fleet is recent convert from IMCO Allison Shreeve who recently placed 5th at the Mistral world Championships in Turkey.
The women all got away clean with Dorota taking command immediately by tacking to the wall; Lucy also picked to tack inshore, followed by Verena. Dorota rounded the weather mark well ahead of the pack, with Lucy and Verena rounding out the top 3. With such a long race most of the girls decided to stop after one lap, saving themselves for the real deal tomorrow.
Official races start tomorrow around noon, stay tuned for short reports during the day.
Phil McGain
