Istanbul Europa Race - Estrella Damm Sailing Team tacitcs important

by Estrella Damm Sailing Team on 31 Aug 2009
Istanbul Europa Race - Only 24 hours after the start of the race and tactical options are proving decisive for 1876 Estrella Damm Sailing Team and the rest of the fleet.

At the 10.00 CET position report, the Spanish boat with skippers Guillermo Altadill and Pachi Rivero, were in fourth place only 2.3 miles from the provisional leader, Kito de Pavant’s Groupe Bel, whose choice of tactics after leaving the Dardanelles seems to have proven fruitful.

Estrella Damm chose to sail to the north of the Island of Bozcaada in a close battle with Michel Desjoyeaux’s Foncia further out to sea, whilst Groupe Bel was the only boat to opt for passage between the island and the peninsular; an option that for the time being seems to have paid off.

Estrella Damm is currently sailing with a south-westerly, very light breeze of about five knots, which is causing the fleet serious difficulties. As the six boats approach the islands in the Aegean Sea, they will be faced with a whole number of options.

The current leaders Groupe Bel will sail the closest to the coast of Lesbos, with Estrella Damm situated between Kito de Pavant’s team and Foncia further west. Jean-Pierre Dick seems to have decided to keep Paprec Virbac 2 further out in open water.

Barcelona-born skipper Guillermo Altadill spoke today of the fatigue on board with present conditions not allowing for much rest, 'We are quite tired, as we have all been up on deck since we left. We have been working hard, crossing with our rivals in the Dardanelles at times ahead, and others behind, it is a continuous battle,' explained Altadill.

Moreover there has been an additional element of ‘stress’ for all the fleet in the Dardanelles Strait, 'During the night we all had to sail through the Strait with a number of cargo ships. It was incredibly complicated, with one ship passing just under a boat length in front of the bow,' stressed the Estrella Damm skipper, 'Things have calmed down a little now, and in the next few hours we are likely to be sailing downwind towards the south of Greece.

A great deal will now depend on the decision to sail further east or west in the Aegean Sea, and who best utilises the wind pressure along different areas of the coast. 'Foncia and Paprec seem to be heading further west', said Altadill.

There are still 1200 miles to sail to Nice on the French Côte d’Azur, and the great similarity between Estrella Damm Sailing Team and their rivals at the front of the fleet is already evident. Every mile is proving an intense battle to gain any additional element of speed.

The Spanish skipper is satisfied with their performance over the first few hours, 'We are in a good situation among the pack, but there is still a lot to be decided,' he concluded.