Robert Eckstein leads 1720 Europeans

by Becci Eplett on 9 Sep 2005 The Race Committee of Fraglia Vela Riva got things started bang for day one of the Murphy & Nye 1720 Europeans - on time at one pm and so the men and the boys (plus a generous smattering of bikini clad racing ladies) were duly separated.

Race One was won by Conor Clarke in Wow, with Robert Eckstein (British born, but Italian resident) in second, and Darren Baker in Miele Mad Cow took third. Well… we did wonder what the ‘unknown’ Italians could do.

Race Two saw a return to form for the current 1720 UK National Champion, Ruairidh Scott in King Quick, back on his winning streak, with Eckstein second and Clarke taking a hard fought third place.

Tacktick Micronet, helmed by slippery racing snake Geoff Carveth, took a bullet in Race Three, Eckstein crossed the line in solid second and Maurice ‘Prof’ O’Connell was third in Aquatack.

At the end of Day 1, the leader board shows Robert Eckstein in first place on 8 points, Ruairidh Scott second with 10.8, and Conor Clarke third on 15.8. Our congratulations to Mrs Eckstein on her wedding anniversary today, for which her husband is absent: he’s busy giving the Brits and the Irish a good whipping on Lake Garda!

Racing continues tomorrow with races 4 to 7 scheduled.

Overall leaders after 3 races, 30 entries:
1 ITA 1720 ECKSTEIN ROBERT DRUID MAGIC 8,0pts
2 GBR 1777 SCOTT RUAIRIDH KING QUICK 10,8
3 IRL 1759 CLARKE CONOR WOW 15,8
4 GBR 1742 BAKER DARREN MAD COW 16,0
5 GBR 1741 BARBER SHAUN TWISTER 20,0
6 GBR 1743 CARVETH GEOFF TACKTICK 22,8
7 IRL 1843 MAGUIRE DAVID MARTIN REILLY MOTORS 27,0
8 GBR 1715 COOPER JOHN OI ! 30,0
9 GBR 1785 ATKINS IAN BOATS.COM 31,0
10 IRL 1804 O'CONNELL MAURICE AQUATACK 35,0