| HELSINKI, FINLAND-(4-8-2003) The opening day of the Jacob's Creek Melges 24 European Championship in Helsinki was an absolute corker. The wind varied from 15 to 20 knots, swinging from SE to SW as the day worn on with a moderate chop and partially sunny conditions. After the first three races three boats are tied on 16 points for the overall lead, Christophe Barrue helming Denis Infante's `Eurovoiles`, Silvio Santoni helming Franco Maria Rao's `Devotissimo` and Luca Santella helming Giovanni Maspero's `Joe Fly`.
The fleet was a little over eager on the first start resulting in an individual recall. Although a number of boats went back Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin, Keith Musto, Gustaf Ohrn and Claes Rojning failed to return and were scored OCS. At the first mark it was Finland's Antti Niiniranta in `Marinel Patu` who lead the fleet ahead of Santoni, Flavio Favini helming Franco Rossini's `Blu Moon`, Barrue, Luca Valerio helming `Alina` for Maurizio Abba and Rob Smith aboard Stuart Simpson's `Barbarians`. An error down the first run saw Niiniranta drop back to fourth whilst Santoni took the lead from Valerio with Barrue in third, Kenneth Thelen sailing `Suunto` fifth, Favini sixth and Smith seventh. Up the second beat Santoni, Valerio and Barrue held the top slots whilst Favini pulled up to fourth. Having rounded the first mark in 14th place Morgan Reeser, helming Philippe Ligot's `Partner & Partner`, was delighted to have pulled up to fifth place by the final weather mark just in front of Smith and Niiniranta. On the final leg the top five held their slots whilst Ninniranta and Smith slogged it out for sixth with Ninniranta coming out on top.
In the second race it was Andrea Racchelli in `Altea` who showed a clean pair of heels leading by several boat lengths at the windward mark. Behind him Kristoffer Spone, helming `Fruen Maren` for Nils Hauff led Jean-Francoise Cruette aboard Cedric de Kervenoael's `Scutum`, Peter Von Koskell helming `Chiquita` for Jesse Aarnio, Santella, Ninniranta and Thelen. Down the first run Racchelli opened up his lead with Spone remaining in second. Behind him Babbi pulled up to third in front of Santella, Ninniranta, Cruetta and Von Koskull. Racchelli executed a text book cover on the final lap to take race two comfortably from Spone, Babbi, Santella, Ninniranta and Thelen.
In race three it was Barrue who got the bit between his teeth leading from start to finish. Behind him Kari Heikkila helming Ari Blom’s “Marinel Mastervolt” held second for the first lap, but dropped back to forth by the finish having been passed by both Santella and Valerio. Santoni took fifth from Favini with Nigel Grogan helming “Helmut Rises” in seventh. Behind the leaders race three saw some nasty incidents at the first mark with a number of quite serious collisions, several of which resulted in major damage. Amongst others involved was Cruette who was attempting to complete a 360 turn on the spreader leg when he had a second collision with Babbi causing very serious damage to both boats. Cruette retired from the race whilst Babbi and his crew limped home and as we go to press both crews are hard at work hoping to repair the boats in time for tomorrows race.
Special mention must go to the Proctor Masts team who completed all three races today with their starboard lifeline jury rigged after the shackle broke on the way to the race course dumping owner Quentin Struass, tactician Chips Howarth and crew Ian Mitchell into the water,. Helm Mark Rushall retrieved them and a running repair allowed them to continue although unable to hike properly on starboard.
Overall Favini trails the joint leaders, Barrue, Santoni and Santella, by just one point with Valerio one point behind him, Spone sixth. After his fifth in the first race Reeser went on to score 8, 12 leaving him in seventh overall ahead of Racchelli, whilst Jamie Lea in Richard Thompson’s “Black Seal” scored 8, 18, 8 to finish up ninth ahead of Thelen.
Special thanks to regatta sponsors Jacob's Creek, 3M and Scandic Hotels for their support
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