Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

Istanbul Europa Race - Estrella Damm Sailing Team tacitcs important

by Estrella Damm Sailing Team on 31 Aug 2009
Estrella Damm - Istanbul Europea Race Copyright - Jorge Andreu/ Estrella Damm Sailing Team http://www.estrelladammsailingteam.es

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.
C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Team Be Water Positive The Ocean Race Europe crew
Scott Shawyer will skipper Team Be Water Positive in the fully crewed offshore challenge this summer Canada Ocean Racing - Team Be Water Positive today announces its 2025 The Ocean Race Europe crew led by Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer and featuring five other accomplished names in offshore sailing.
Posted today at 11:54 am
18ft Skiff European Championships
Germany's Black Knight takes the title by a single point The International 18 Footer League - European Championship 2025, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco, concluded on Thursday, after five days of spectacular racing featuring some of the fastest and most exciting skiffs in the sailing world.
Posted today at 9:25 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 4
Round The Island Race on Mount Gay Rum Race Day Mount Gay Rum Race Day featured everyone's favorite race of Block Island Race Week: the Regatta Craft Mixers Round The Island Race. The breaking of the recent heatwave made for a fast and furious counter-clockwise lap.
Posted on 26 Jun
SailGP's return to Auckland for Season 6 confirmed
ITM is the NZ's Grand Prix's Title Partner, marking a fourth year supporting Black Foils. After a record breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland has been confirmed to be returning in 2026 and is set to be bigger than ever.
Posted on 26 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike.
Posted on 26 Jun
OK Dinghy class at Kieler Woche Day 1
Niklas Edler leads the fleet after two races On the first day of Kieler Woche for the OK Dinghy class, Sweden's Niklas Edler began his defence for the OK Dinghy with a solid 2, 1 on the day that started with light winds and which increased through the second race.
Posted on 26 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 2
Aleph Racing takes the lead after glorious four race day The 44Cup is nothing but surprises. Day two of competition for the one-design owner-driver RC44s at the 44Cup Marstrand was forecast to be light but in fact provided further magnificent conditions, with sunshine and flatter seas than yesterday.
Posted on 26 Jun
Pip Hare Announced as Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026
A meaningful return to her roots with the Royal Western Yacht Club of England The Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) is absolutely delighted to welcome solo ocean racing legend Pip Hare as the Patron of WORLDSTAR 2026—our flagship round-the-world sailing event. This is more than a title; it's a homecoming.
Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 7
British mixed dominance in dinghy and catamaran After the second day of the Sailing Grand Slam in the Olympic mixed classes, Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are leading the 470 class even more dominantly than John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17 on Thursday (June 26).
Posted on 26 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 1
Cervo and Open Season take opening day honours The Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 swung into action today, with captains and crews across the varied and inspiring fleet seizing the opportunity to take the measure of the competition out on the racecourse.
Posted on 26 Jun