First racing day: French boats at the lead

Today saw the start of the 2008 European Championship and the 10th Mats Nyberg Trophy.

The Mats Nyberg Trophy is open to all competitors around the world whilst the European Championship is closed to Europeans only.

The regattas are being organised and hosted from the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki and so far the organisation and hospitality has been second to none.

The day of the championship got underway in perfect conditions with a ideal seabreeze building from 8 knots to 12 knots through out the first race.

It was the German team of Polgar/Spalteholz that picked the shift seconds before the start and crossed the fleet for a perfect port start. The German team lead for one lap until they found themselves too far on the right hand side of the course when the seabreeze strengthened from the left.

This left the door open for the French team Guichard/Guyader to snatch the lead and take the first heat win. Second was the Italians Marcollini/Bianchi, third French Morvan/Vandame, fourth Australians Bundock/Ashby and the local Greek team of Pashalidis/Trigonis to round out the top five.

Race 2 started in 12 knots and looked as though it was going to kick and build, the fleet was deceived as the breeze dropped back to 8 knots on the second lap.

It was Yann Guichard and Alexander Guyader that took control of the second race coming out of the left hand side of the course on the first upwind leg. It was only the Australians Bundock/Ashby that challenged the French for the lead with the Australians leading at the start of the final lap.

The French took a dig out to the right hand side of the course on the final upwind and found better pressure to lead the Australians to the finish. French Team of Besson/Jarlegan defended off the Greeks for 3rd position.

Bundock Said "Its days like this that you realise why still after 17 years I love sailing these boats. It was perfect sailing conditions in 30 degrees and warm water, most of the day we were fully stretch on the trapeze, it does not get much better that this"