J/70 Europeans - Spain's Hugo Rocha fast out of the starting blocks

by Stuart Johnstone on 16 Oct 2015 At the J/70 Europeans sixty teams representing 11 nationalities were champing at the bit on the starting block this morning waiting for the P-flag to drop. Within minutes a brisk easterly filled in steadying at 13 knots to give ideal conditions for the Race Committee headed by John Coveney assisted by PRO Thierry Leret to complete two races today.

It was no surprise to see so many general recalls, obliging the Race Committee to bring out the Black Flag for both races, disqualifying several that were over the line. It’s a classic scenario in regattas of such a high level with competitors jostling for position determined not to give way to their opponents, and even more so in these one-design events. A configuration that is likely to be repeated throughout the week, given the length of the starting line and number of participants.

For the second race, the Race Committee had to adapt to a wind shift at the start to give all competitors the most suitable course.

The German Max Rieger (Led Zeppelin), one of the favourites, paid a high price for the over-eagerness of his young team at the start of the second race as they were declared BFD, meaning they cannot afford to make another mistake, as was the Mexican Fernandez Neckelmann Julian (Flojito y cooperando), current World Champion who lies 28th in the overall provisional ranking this evening, and Key West title holder, Carlo Alberini (Calvi Network) who is currently 24th.

After Wednesday’s racing, it’s the Spaniard Hugo Rocha (New Territories), winner of Kiel Week, who leads the provisional ranking with a 3rd and a win ahead of German Moritz Bohnenberger (Touring Junior) and Swede Oscar Lundqvist (Fanny), equal on points with Monegasque Jacopo Carrain (Carpe Diem).

The racing is close and it’s notable that three Spanish teams are in the top ten along with two German teams.

“Seeing today’s weather conditions we worked on strategy and stayed totally focused for the starts to avoid a BFD,” said President of the Monaco Class Association Jacopo Carrain.

Provisional Top 10 results- Day 01
1. New Territories- Hugo Rocha- Spain- 3-1- 4 pts
2. Touring Junior- Mortiz Bohnenberger- Germany- 12-4- 16 pts
3. Fanny- Oscar Lundqvist- Sweden- 15-2- 17 pts
4. Carpe Diem- Jacopo Carrain- Monaco- 11-6- 17 pts
5. Outsider- Bo Teichmann- Germany- 7-11- 18 pts
6. L’Elagain- Franco Solerio- France- 10-8- 18 pts
7. Marnatura- Luis Bugallo Ariolla- Spain- 9-15- 24 pts
8. Notaro Team- Luca Domenici- Italy- 20-5- 25 pts
9. Teo- Michel Glaus- Switzerland- 16-10- 26 pts
10. Abril Verde- Luis Perez Canal- Spain- 14-RDG- 28 pts

Racing continues on Thursday at 10.00am

For more J/70 European Championship sailing information here