| CASCAIS, PORTUGAL-(10-9-2003) Fulfilled mission. That was the organization state of mind, the jury and Portugal Telecom, the sponsor of 2003 Star European Championship, by the end of yesterday's afternoon, with the six scheduled races completed. «We were able to sail all the races, always very challenged, even until the end of the last upwind leg! This shows the quality of the sailors who took part in this event», said Miguel Magalhães, chairman of Clube Naval de Cascais. And the balance could only be «clearly positive».
Yesterday morning, in the skippers meeting, they didn't forget those who are behind the scene of this European success and «have even gave an enthusiastic applause to the organization». Later, during the prize giving, Riccardo Simoneschi, international president of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA), and Claude Bonanni, international secretary of the same entity, seized the opportunity to congratulate Clube Naval de Cascais with a symbolic prize for the quality of the organization.
Also in a pleasant talk with Ralph Roberts, jury chairman, the `shower` of praises didn't stop. In his opinion, «both Clube Naval de Cascais, the Race Committee and all the volunteers involved in this championship must be congratulated for the shown high level». Talking specifically about the Race Committee, Roberts referred their work as «very good job, but difficult». As an example, he mentioned yesterday's situation, when the sea and wind conditions exceeded the limit for sailing, but the Race Committee «was wise and patient enough send the sailors on shore, analyse the conditions and then sail a great race».
This is the opinion of Ralph Roberts, from New Zealand, who was in Portugal for the first time. And he was «very impressed with the organization, both on shore and in the sea», emphasizing that he knows that «many people say that, but i've been in lots of regattas, as a competitor and as jury, and i know the difference».
About the jury work, presided by Roberts, he classifies it as «strict, but fair to everybody and the sailors enjoyed it».
And before saying goodbye he made one more praise, this time to the sponsor of 2003 Star European Championship: Portugal Telecom. However, it wasn't only words, seeing that, as Miguel Horta e Costa, the group chairman, informed, Portugal Telecom received «a letter from the international jury making a great praise». So, in the end, he had «all the reasons to feel satisfied, also referring «the right moment Portugal Telecom sponsored the Star European Championship, in a moment when all the country lives enthusiastically the possibility of becoming the venue of America's Cup». Therefore, «if we wanted an opportunity, I believe we've shown our potential. It was a good show of Cascais can be in America's Cup».
This issue was also mentioned by Ralph Roberts, as he believes that «the best venue to America's Cup in Europe is Cascais. It has all the ingredients: weak and strong winds, smooth and rough sea, everything». And, besides that, the portuguese application is headed by a man who is not only «a good sailor, but also a good business man and always fair». Ralph Roberts was talking, obviously, about his friend Patrick Monteiro de Barros who has been doing a work that Roberts «wouldn't say great, rather fantastic».
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