Farr 40s Head to Cagliari for 2009 European Championships

by Bunny Wayt

The Farr 40 Class Association is delighted to announce details of its 2009 European Championship, which will be held at the end of busy summer season from 27 July to 1 August in Cagliari.

Driving forces behind the Championship location are the Farr 40 Class Association, Luciano Randaccio, President of Sandalion Mare Club and Great Events Commission President of Associazione Industriali della Provincia di Cagliari, and, Vincenzo Onorato, three-time Class World Champion.

The Organising Authority for the racing will be the Farr 40 Class Association in conjunction with the Circolo Canottieri Ichnusa Cagliari. Whilst the Associazione Industriali Provincia della Provincia di Cagliari in conjunction with the Sandalion Mare Club will look after logistics, shore side events and publicity in Sardinia.

One of the prime movers behind the decision to hold the event in Cagliari is Luciano Randaccio, who is quick to acknowledge the various local bodies that will bring the regatta to fruition. "We are particularly indebted to the Associazione Industriali Provincia di Cagliari for its willingness to cooperate with the Sandalion Mare Club and the Circolo Canottieri Ichnusa in hosting and organizing this event, which will be known as "Regione Sardegna Campionato Europeo FARR 40", says Randaccio, who continues, "we are sure that Cagliari with its climate, its conditions, its historical and natural beauty will be able to put on a great Championship and great welcome for all the crews and owners during their stay."

This will be the first time that the Farr 40 Class has held an event in Cagliari, but the decision is a natural one according to European Class President, Wolfgang Schaefer, "Cagliari is a great place for holding races at a grand prix level. It is well known for its fantastic sailing conditions and excellent hospitality. We are very happy to be holding the 2009 Farr 40 Class European Championship there and thank everyone who has helped to make it happen."

The Championship will offer Farr 40 owners the opportunity to get together one final time at the end of a busy European season, which will also see the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds competed for in Sardinia waters - albeit at the opposite end of the island. Current world champion, Vincenzo Onorato, will be one of many competing owners sampling the hospitality of Cagliari and is extremely happy that the city has been given the chance to host the Class, commenting, "I am happy to have been able to contribute to Cagliari's successful bid to host this year's European Championship. I love Cagliari and I think it's one of the most beautiful racing areas in the world!"

Over the past weekend, the first event in the 2009 Farr 40 European Circuit took place in yet another legendary Sardinian regatta venue, Porto Rotundo. With racing abandoned on Sunday due to lack of wind, Saturday's scores held and Alessandro Barnaba's Fiamma (ITA) won the event on a tiebreaker from Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone (ITA). Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino (ITA) had been leading the fleet after two wins on Friday and despite another win on Saturday could only finish third. Helmut Jahn's Flash Gordon (USA) came fourth followed by Alberto Rossi's Enfant Terrible (ITA) in fifth. The second event of the European Circuit will be Rolex Capri Sailing Week where additional entrants include Class President Jim Richardson's Barking Mad (USA) and William Douglass' Goombay Smash (USA).

Racing for the Regione Sardegna Campionato Europeo FARR 40 takes place from 29 July to 1 August, with registration and measurement on 27 & 28 July. A press conference will be organised in due course and, in the meantime, full entry details of the event including the Notice of Race will soon be available on the Class and event websites.

Farr 40
2009 Farr 40 Europeans