Star European Championship in Split, Croatia starts tomorrow
by Rachele Vitello 25 May 14:04 PDT
24-29 May 2021
International racing for the Star Class unveils its come back tomorrow from Split, Croatia, where the 2021 Star Europeans will take place with 35 boats on the starting line representing 20 countries, from Europe and overseas. After a Western Hemisphere in April in Miami, with mostly all-American competitors, it is relief to see all the different flags, and hearing different languages on the docks of JK Mornar, the yacht club hosting the event, with travel bans slowly being lifted around the world.
Three Gold Stars will be on the race course; Enrico Chieffi with Ferdinando Colaninno (ITA), Xavier Rohart with Antony Munos (FRA) and Augie Diaz (USA), sailing in Split with European Class Vice President Christian Nehammer. One more Star World Champion is in Split this week, world champion crew Frithjof Kleen from Germany sailing with Italian skipper Giovanni Coppo. Former European Champion, and Class President Hubert Merkelbach is sailing with Kilian Weise (GER), and the current European title holder Piet Eckert (SUI), has changed crew and will defend the title with Edoardo Natucci (ITA).
Local Laser silver Olympic meadalist, Tonci Stipanovic, will also join the fleet, and it won't be his first time on a Star. He has attended various SSL Finals, the Europeans in Riva del Garda six month ago and the Eastern Hemisphere that was held here in 2016.
"Today's practice race was brilliant, my crew and I are ready and cannot wait to get out there on the water and give our best in this incredible fleet. I hope everybody feels the same and it'll be a great Championship", Stipanovic commented after the practice race.
Racing starts tomorrow, May 26th at 13.00 local time (12 GMT) and ends on Saturday May 29th, seven races are scheduled, with four required to constitute a series. The weather forecast is positive with a gentle sea breeze that has been blowing consistently these past days, allowing a perfect practice race today with the forecast the same for the rest of the week.
The event will be streamed live on the Class' website thanks to the local authorities and Croatel, sponsor of the event, where you can also find news, pictures and video highlights, also uploaded on the official social media channels.
For more information, visit the event website.