Semana Olimpica Canaria de Vela

Racing in Gran Canaria at the ISAF Grade 3 Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela got underway on Sunday 5 December at 1130 hours in excellent conditions - a stiff breeze and blue sky.

A straight 1,2 was secured by reigning 470 European Champions Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE) to take an early lead in the 23 boat fleet. Team mates Panagiotis Kampouridis and Stathis Papadoulos (GRE) secured a 4,5 to finish day 1 in second overall. Claiming a bullet in race 2, kept Gabrio Zandona and Pietro Zucchetti (ITA) in the top three after their seventh place in the day's opening race.

No surprise in the 470 women's fleet to see Spanish young guns Tara Pacheco and Berta Bertanzos take an early lead with a 2,1 scoreline. Natala Ivanova and Diana Krutskikh (RUS) sit in second having opened their race series with a bullet, and followed up with a third. Sitting in third overall are Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth (GBR) with a 4,2. Eight nations are contesting the 470 women's event.

Racing in Gran Canaria is distinctly warmer than the conditions at the Imperia Regatta, with shorties and t-shirts compared to the full kit and hats which are are the order of the day in Italy as the teams race beneath the snow covered mountains.

Which event to attend during these first couple of weeks in December has been a decision in itself for many of the 470 fleet, with three concurrent ISAF Graded 470 events taking place around the world; the Semana Olímpica Canaria de Vela in Gran Canaria, Spain, the Imperia Winter Regatta which started on 5 December in Italy and Sail Sydney which starts on 6 December in Australia and precedes the ISAF Sailing World Cup event, Sail Melbourne.

For many of the teams this will be their final event before jetting off to Doha, Qatar for the 470 Junior World Championships, taking place from 16-22 December 2010.

More Information:
Event Website
470 Women Results
470 Men Results

Images: © Real Club Nautico de Gran Canaria