| FOLLONICA, ITALY-(25-5-2005) The World Soling Championship continues in Castiglione della Pescaia, that one again confirms itself to be an ideal race course. Excellent visibility allowed the 43 competing teams to race while admiring the Argentario peninsula, Giglio, Montecristo and Elba Islands. Winner of the first race SLO 1 with Antoncic, Strakh, Hmeljak, followed by Koch, Koch, e Jornenann (GER 300) and in third position GER 304 (Maschkiwitz, Oehler, Saurbier). Wonderful duel between the two local Tognozzi brothers for the tenth place.
Alessandra Sensini, windsurf Olympic gold medal, commented the race form the press boat ?A dream of a world championship. Castiglione?s race course confirms itself to be one of the most technical and every day competitors measure themselves against very diverse weather conditions. This allows athletes to express their capabilities fully; these are the conditions I dreamt of in Athens??
At the start of the first race given at 12.45 p.m., all 43 teams from 13 competing nations squared off under a summer sky with winds from the north east between 8 ? 10 knots. After a nail biting start teams started beating towards the pristine dunes of Le Marze, while on the horizon Mount Amiata dominated the landscape. GER 300 rounded the upwind mark first, closely followed by HUN 77 and NED 25. In tenth position the local Gianni Tognozzi?s crew of ITA 243 (Tognozzi, Seri, Soffici) closely followed by his brother Michele on ITA 194 (Tognozzi, Buglielli, Carotti) During the race a dramatic wind shift (more than 180
degrees) forced the Race Committee to alter the race course, positioning the upwind mark towards Punt?Ala. A change that forced crews to alter their tactics completely and split the fleet into two separate groups.
Antoncic, Strakh, Hmeljak (SLO 1), cut the finish line first, followed by GER 300 (Koch, Koch, e Jornenann) and Maschkiwitz, Oehler, Saurbier (GER
304) . The ?Maremma Boys? did well ending up in tenth position with ITA 243 (G. Tognozzi, Seri, Soffici) and in eleventh with ITA 194 (M. Tognozzi , Buglielli, Carotti).
Tomorrow the first start is scheduled for 12 p.m. In the evening the Club Velico Castiglione della Pescaia will offer a Gala Dinner sponsored by the Florence Hotel Association and by Banfi wines.
The Soling World Championship has been organized by the Club Velico Castiglione della Pescaia, in collaboration with the International Soling Association, the International Sailing Federation, the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) and the committee Circoli Velici della Costa Etrusca. The Race committee is chaired by Sandro Gherarducci, Councilman of the Italian National Sailing Federation (F.I.V.). The International Jury is formed by Tullio Girali, Italian; Kostas Tsantilis, Greek and Judge at the past Olympics in Athens; Christian Pupien, Belgian; Ilker Bayindir, Turkish; e Henri Peronneaut, French.
The event has the patronage and support of the Province of Grosseto and the Municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. It has been made possible thanks to the contribution of Consorzio Albergatori Firenze Hotel de la Pace, SLAM, Banca della Maremma Credito Cooperativo di Grosseto, BMW Concessionaria Auto Fratelli Gori di Grosseto, the Chamber of Commerce of Grosseto, Banfi, Ristorante Pierbacco, C.O.A.R.O, Scalambra Service, Casa Vacanze, Acot Castiglione della Pescaia, Studio Trend, La Gardenia Profumerie.
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