Etchells World Championships at Cala DeMedici Yacht Club - Day 1
by Laura Jelmini 10 Jun 2013 14:38 PDT
10 June 2013
Day 1 of the Etchells World Championships © Giulia Cimarosti
On the first racing day of Etchells World Championship two races have been run on the sail area of Yacht Club Cala de Medici, Rosignano Marittimo, Italy.
Due to the crazy weather conditions of this year's Italian spring – completely cloudy in the morning, warm sun a clear sky in the afternoon - the race committee had to postpone the first starting gun scheduled for noon: the start of the first race of the day was at about 3pm with a very light northwesterly wind, not more than 3 knots. Then later in the afternoon the wind increased up to 10/12 knots and it was possible to start a second race.
In the first race since the start the American team headed by Marvin Beckman (who last week won the Italian Championship on the same venue) stayed ahead of the fleet until the finishing line.
In the second race the wind freshened over the race area: The Hong Kong helmsman Ante Razmilovich (winner of the European Championship sailed at the beginning of May in Cowes, UK) won the start on port at the pin end, but could keep the lead only until the first mark rounding. At this time the British team headed by James Howells (European deputy champion) got the head of the fleet until he crossed the finishing line.
Tomorrow some more races starting from midday.