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13 Jun 2009

470 European Championship - Early Start For Medal Race

Racing © Organizing Committee

2009 Open 470 Class European Championships for Men/Mixed and Women
5-14 June, Lake Traunsee - Austria

470's to hit the water at sunrise to finalize European Championships

The rankings in the Open 470 European Championship Men/Mixed and Women, taking place until tomorrow at Lake Traunsee in Austria, remain unchanged after another day without racing. According to the race schedule, today should have ended with the elite top 10 selected for the final medal race, to take place tomorrow. There were hopes to have three races in both the men’s and women’s events, as predictions for a steady thermal wind were there. Unfortunately, the wind didn’t come, and pressure on both Championships rise.

One starting attempt was made in the men’s gold fleet, and was abandoned on the first leg. Shifty winds made it impossible to continue racing, and boats were sent back ashore, and asked to be prepared to get back onto the water. As the results, where still Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) lead the men’s event and Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol the women’s, the wind conditions remained unchanged, in a situation where the requirements for a valid Championship are not settled for yet. One more race is required in each event, men/mixed and women, to reach the requirements of a valid European Championship. This one more race cannot be the medal race.

Kevin Burnham, whose successful sailing career in 470’s goes back a long way, including a silver medal in 470’s at the Olympic Sailing Regatta of Barcelona 1992 and a gold medal in Athens 2004, is on location coaching the US 470 team, and he is as amazed as are the sailors.

I never had this situation in my over 30 years professional sailing career. The 470 class has always been very careful selecting the venues for it’s Championships, including this one. Fact that this is the first time that I’ve been involved in such a situation in 30 years, says enough that this is very rare situation. A 470 can be sailed in almost every wind condition, from very light, to heavy winds. The race committee has done everything in it’s power, and made every effort to deal with the situation sofar. In mind that we have a last chance tomorrow to have a valid race, I am happy that it is this race committee responsible for the race management tomorrow, because if there will be any condition at al that makes sailing somehow possible, they will be able to finish the job, and make sure that the winners return home with their deserved medals.” Burnham said.

To make maximum efforts, the first starting signal for tomorrow’s racing is scheduled at sunrise at 7:00 to take benefit of a possible SW breeze to have one race.Two races are scheduled in the afternoon in an expected NE thermal breeze.

More information, visit www.traunseewoche.at

For more information and media enquiries, please contact the International 470 Class Association: office@470.org or visit the official International 470 Class web site at: www.470.org

Photos are available online at: www.470.org/gallery

Full results Men and Women