Instanbul Europa Race - Estrella Damm claims first leg victory

by Event Media on 6 Sep 2009
Instanbul Europa Race - His first race since taking charge of 1876 Estrella Damm (the former Gitana 80 of Loick Peyron) is a maiden victory for the vastly experienced Guillermo Altadil and the crew of Pachi Riveiro, Antonion Cuervas-Mons, Antione Mermod and navigator Wouter Verbraak.

1876 crossed the finish line in to Nice at 04h 25m 45s (UTC) (02h 25m 45s GMT) to eclipse Michel Desjoyeaux and his team on Foncia who finished second, 1 hour 05 minutes 39 seconds behind while Kito de Pavant and the crew of Groupe Bel arrived in third, only 2 hours 05 minutes and 04 seconds after the Spanish flagged stage winners.

For the three teams who all lead at different times during the 1830 miles first leg from Istanbul there is the honour of securing the first podium finishes on this inaugural Istanbul Europa Race, but even after more than seven days of intense racing there was tension virtually until the finish line was broken by 1876.

The Spanish team had lead more or less since Saturday evening profited from being able to sniff out extra breeze in the latter stages while Foncia was finally snared by a zone of very light airs near the finish.

But while the teams will de-brief, regroup and enjoy Nice, come Tuesday's re-start it will be all on again. Catalan skipper Altadill, whose first race in the IMOCA Open 60 class this is since the 2007 Barcelona World Race, is visibly delighted at his early success in this race, beating Desjoyeaux-the only skipper to have won the Vendée Globe twice-but he will heap further pressure on himself as he seeks to win also into the Catalunyan capital, Barcelona on the next stage.

What Guillermo Altadill said: 'It was a complex race. I am delighted to be at the top when it finished as there were so many changes in the order and it was always close. And we have always had to work hard. It's the first time I've been to Nice, but even in the dark I can enjoy it as a winner. Between Michel Desjoyeaux and ourselves there was very little in the plays, but my decision to play the oscillation of the winds I think was key. That's a decision we made in the north of Sardinia and we stuck with it when we had a deficit of 15 miles on Foncia. We passed them when we profited from a line of breeze which he did not get. That's all that's in it since we passed them with less than four miles in hand since 20:00hrs.

He is a sailing legend and it is huge to beat a legend. It's the first race I've had with this boat which is very well prepared. The first race and the first win. I've not sailed in the class crewed since the Barcelona World Race and I have not had much time to experiment in the class. I am very happy to win but it puts the pressure on for the second leg. Into Barcelona I absolutely must make a good performance.'