The final day of the Euro Grand Prix dawned with a flat calm and the crews waited patiently for the breeze to fill in from the south west. After an hour delay a lovely force 3 filled in and the fleets were underway. Cunningham caught the breeze on the right side of the course and held the lead throughout whilst Cotgrove went ashore after breaking his pole line and Claudius held on to second and Brioschi third.
The final race got underway with Hall needing to beat Cunningham by three places. Cunningham took a penalty turn after touching the start mark and incurring the wrath of the jury boat. Hall and Dullia were looking good two thirds up the first beat but Claudius came from the port lay line in new wind and held his lead throughout. Hall held on nervously to second place with Cunningham down the fleet in sixth. Down the last beat Mario Dullia went inshore whilst the remainder remained offshore and he was duly rewarded finishing second just ahead of Hall with Cunningham finishing sixth. On final analysis the points were even and Cunningham was overall winner on count back, Hall runner up and Michel Rotach third.
On returning to the beach the sea was up and each boat was lifted in turn by eight willing volunteers as the potential for damage was getting significant. So ended the Italian job, very well organised and some excellent racing. Roll on the next European adventure........
Results:
1st Chris Cunningham
2nd Al Hall
3rd Michel Rotach
4th Mark Cotgrove
5th Mario Dullia
6th Marcello Brioschi
7th Tobias Claudius
8th Oscar Quarenghi
9th Fabrizio Zarantonello
10th Paolo Testolin
RS100 website
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