Tuesday 8 June 2010

Star Europeans 2010: A big number of Star boats of all nationalities in front in Viareggio, a unique spectacle

The first regatta of the Star Class European Championship was held yesterday, Monday, 7 June, starting at 14.00 in the sea in front of the port of Viareggio. A unique spectacle for the world of sailing that had never seen so big number of Star boats sailing for a championship: 149 members registered, 132 actual crews


Launch of Torben Grael's new Star boat. Supplied image.

by Star Europeans media

Saturday 5 June the Championship officially began with the Opening Ceremony in front of the headquarters of the Coast Guard of Viareggio with the Navy band concert, then the crews have completed the registration and thier logistical operations at Sunday, 6 June.


Launch of Torben Grael's new Star boat. Supplied image.

In front of the port of Viareggio has also played the launch of the new Star boat created for the occasion by Lillia Boatyard of Como for Torben Grael, Brazilian sailor that won two gold medals with Star Class at Savannah's Games in 1996 , Athens in 2004, and a bronze at Sydney in 2000 and the World Championship in 1990, in addition to winning the Louis Vuitton Cup with Luna Rossa at Auckland in 2000. Torben is the current Rolex Sailor of the Year. Grael, partners with Marcelo Ferreira, launched his boat at 15:49 to Sunday 6 June with Italian champagne. This is a boat owned Acta - Callegari, the latest version of the stars Lillia just produced. Grael, very superstitious, said he was happy to compete with the number 90 since the Italian saying "fear is 90" representing the moment of greatest tension and grit.


Launch of Torben Grael's new Star boat. Supplied image.

The competition at the European of Viareggio is much higher because all sailors focus thier attention to the preparation and selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games and this appointment in Viareggio, decided by the International Star Class, according to the World Federvela ISAF and FIV, it is critical for crews. There are in fact the most highly decorated sailors in the world from 27 countries and 4 continents. Among all, Robert Scheidt, Brazilian partners with Bruno Prada, Olympic podium in 2008; Fredrik Loof, Sweden, two bronze medals partners with Johan Tillander, Lars Grael, brother of Torben, partners with Ronald Seifert; Gustavo Lima, Brazilian, Laser world champion in 2003, then moved to the Star in Viareggio partners with Rubro Basil.


Stars in the first race. Supplied image.

Among the Italians Diego Negri, Vice world champion in 1998, 10th in the Olympics and 6th in the 2010 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Enrico Chieffi, world champion in 1996; Nicola Celon, former Olympic, Nando Colaninno helmsman with Guido Antar Vigna.


Stars in the first race. Supplied image.

Wind conditions in Viareggio are similar to those of the World Cup in Rio de Janer, where many crew members at the European were present, including Torben Grael: light winds and short wave, with a beautiful blue sky that is frame the races.

Each day will open the "Star Sail Village" in front of Club Nautico Versilia in the Viareggio dock, where the public can spend between stands and informative areas. The program includes the start of the event at 13.00 every day until Sunday 13.


Stars in the first race. Supplied image.

The European Championship has been organized by Società Velica Viareggina, that represents the oldest association in the promotion of sailing sport of the city, organizing since almost 50 years importants International races in the ambit Star; from Club Nautico Versilia, the most important nautical club created for sailing and speedboat in the porto of Viareggio, protagonist and maker of some historical and prestigious competitions; from Lega Navale Italiana, that promotes and supports the practice of pleasure crafts and other activities about the sea, through training, organization of competitions, promotional and cultural initiatives; from the Comune di Viareggio in the ambit of the Tourism and Sports Department; from the Port Authorities - Coast Guard of Viareggio that ensure safety at sea and the maximum support on land and sea at the event, allowing proper execution of the Championship that otherwise would not have been possible.


Stars in the first race. Supplied image.

The event enjoys the active participation of the Viareggio Porto Spa, the Comitato Circoli Velici Versiliesi and Panathlon International Versilia.

Star Europeans first race provisional results (top 25)

Sailed: 1, Discards: 0, To count: 1, Entries: 132, Scoring system: Appendix A
Rank BowNumber Nat SailNo Fleet HelmName CrewName R1 Total Nett Notes weight
1st 109 GER 8414 Essener Polgar Johannes Koy Markus 1.0 1.0 1.0
2nd 33 POL 8412 Isolated Grabowski Maciej Lesinski Lukasz 2.0 2.0 2.0
3rd 90 BRA 8397 Guanabara Bay Grael Torben Ferreira Marcelo 3.0 3.0 3.0
4th 92 POL 8417 Isolated Kusznierewicz Mateusz Zycli Dominik 4.0 4.0 4.0
5th 68 GER 8154 Chiemsee-Bayrisches Schott Tobias Linke Peter 5.0 5.0 5.0
6th 11 USA 8423 San Diego Bay Campbell Andrew Nichol Brad 6.0 6.0 6.0
7th 106 CAN 8401 Vancouver Island Clarke Richard Bjorn Tyler 7.0 7.0 7.0
8th 107 CRO 8339 Kvarner Lovrovic Jr Marin Mikulicic Sinisa 8.0 8.0 8.0
9th 26 ESP 7384 Laredo Garcia-Lago Soler Fernando Toro Pietro-Puga Jano 9.0 9.0 9.0
10th 22 FRA 8270 Villefranche Florent Guillaume Rambeau Pascal 10.0 10.0 10.0
11th 93 SWE 8387 Birka Loof Fredrik Tillander Johan 11.0 11.0 11.0
12th 01 CRO 7287 Dalmatian Arapov Mate Sitic Ante 12.0 12.0 12.0
13th 83 DEN 8380 Danish Andersen Benny Just Mogen 13.0 13.0 13.0
14th 80 BRA 8392 Paranoa Grael Lars Schmidt Seifert Ronald 14.0 14.0 14.0
15th 36 CAN 8427 Biscayne Bay Hebb Stuart Wolfs Mike 15.0 15.0 15.0
16th 100 AUT 8368 Attersee Spitzauer Hans Luezlbauer Adi 16.0 16.0 16.0
17th 101 USA 8273 San Diego Bay Szabo George Strube mark 17.0 17.0 17.0
18th 44 SUI 8364 Thuner-Bielersee Marazzi Flavio De Maria Enrico 18.0 18.0 18.0
19th 99 BRA 8255 Guarapiranga Scheidt Robert Prada Bruno 19.0 19.0 19.0
20th 88 POR 8309 Cascais Domingos Afonsos Melo Federico 20.0 20.0 20.0
21st 95 ITA 8266 Verbano Negri Diego Voltolini Enrico 21.0 21.0 21.0
22nd 122 BRA 8283 Rio de Janeiro Brun Gastao Kunze Gustavo 22.0 22.0 22.0
23rd 96 NZL 8187 Isolated Pepper Hamish Monk Craig 23.0 23.0 23.0
24th 119 ITA 8421 Lecco Locatelli Vincenzo Oggioni Giuseppe 24.0 24.0 24.0
25th 111 BRA 8282 Guarapiranga Pascolato Alessandro Boening Henry Raul 25.0 25.0 25.0

Star Europeans 2010