First part of Imperia Winter Regatta completed
by Laura Jelmini on 7 Dec 2007
Emmanuel Taine SW
Light winds dominated on the final day of racing for the Laser and RS:X fleets at the ISAF Grade 3 Imperia Winter Regatta in Italy.
A high pressure area over the northern Tirreno prevented the wind from blowing and forced the Race Committee to delay the first start until the early afternoon.
No races had been sailed for RS:X so there no change in the final results. The winner is Lithuanian Juozas Bernotas, who scored first bullets in four races sailed. Austrian Kfir Duldner came in second, with Sweden’s Johan Ekstedt third.
The Laser fleet squeezed in one more race in a westerly wind up to 6-7 knots. Thanks to another first place, French Emmanuel Taine from Hyères took overall victory, winning on countback from Italian Giacomo Bottoli. Another Italian sailor, Marco Gallo finished in third place overall, thanks to the last race OCS scored by Max Bulley (SUI).
While Lasers and RS:Xs are leaving Imperia, the new fleet of double handed 420 and 470 teams are arriving at Oneglia harbour, where from 7-9 December the IWR continue. Many teams coming from Austria, Croatia, Finland (they got to Imperia several weeks ago for training), France, Germany, Greece (ten crews), Monaco, Slovenia, Spain (three female 420 teams) are already rigging their boats.
Main sponsor of the IWR is the famous hat company Borsalino: a special Borsalino prize will be awarded to the winners of 470 class, in both men's and women's fleets.
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