First races Soling World Championship

by Sail-World on 15 Sep 2008
First day of racing at the Soling World Championship in Scarlino in Tuscany where forty teams from 17 nations faced off in trying conditions with a southerly wind of 14 knots gusting to 25, rough seas with waves up to two meters and squalls mixing with partially sunny skies.

The fleet put on an unforgettable show with some of the Solings surfing or broaching on the run as the squall line crossed the race course with the Island of Elba and Montecristo serving as a backdrop.

At the end of the first day after two races German Roman Koch (GER300) is at the top of the leaderboard (1-4) - followed by the Swiss team led by Erik Dannesboe (5-1) and Hungarian Wossala in third position (3-3).

The Race Committee fired the start gun a little after 1pm and race 1 was won by German Roman Koch (GER300) World Champion in Castiglione della Pescaia in 2005. Slovenian Bostian Antoncic (SLO1) came in second and Hungarian Georgy Wossala third (HUN77).

The second race got underway shortly after 3pm with the wind having gained in strength. Under a stormy and thunder filled sky Swiss Henrick Dannesboe (SUI 277) cut the finish line, followed by Argentinean Gustavo Warburg (ARG32) and Hungarian Georgy Wossala (HUN77) in third position.

Back on the docks the weary sailors found red wine, beer and pasta awaiting.

Tomorrow two more races are scheduled and in the evening the Club Nautico Scarlino is offering an informal dinner.

The Soling World Championship has been organized by the Club Nautico Scarlino, in collaboration with the International Soling Association, the International Sailing Federation, the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) and the committee Circoli Velici della Costa Etrusca.