J/24 Worlds at Cannigione, Sardinia - Day 1

Casale (Italy) and Campero (Argentina) win the first two races

With good weather and a wind from the north east at just over eight knots, the first races commenced in the J24 World Championships, held in the waters of the Gulf of Arzachena and based in Cannigione. The Championship features 76 boats from 17 countries competing in two-a-day races over 5 days from today through Friday.

The first day ended with the Argentine Francisco Campero in command of the standings with a 4 point lead over “Bruschetta” and two-time World Champion Mauricio Santa Cruz. In third place is Andrea Casale and “Fiamme Gialle,” fresh from winning the Italian title.

The first day saw Argentinia and Italy dramatically swapping first places. In the first race Camperio won in front of the Japanese “Dabohaze” and Andrea Casale. In the second race Casale utilized local knowledge and took first place, again ahead of an Argentine boat, but this time Matias Pereira of “Carrera Boucheron,” with third place taken by Italian Eugenio Trumpy of Miki II who finished 4th overal thanks to this strong showing.

In fifth place overall was the Peruvian Javier Arribas on “Volvo for Life,” then the British Milev Rossi on “Serco,” and in seventh place the Italian boat “J di F” of Pietro Dimanti.

After day one it is dificult to predict what will happen. Without a doubt this promises to be a duel between the Argentinian boats and Brazilian Santa Cruz who in the first two days has remained somewhat overshadowed, almost wanting to study the situation, opponents and the various strategies depending on wind conditions.

But at the end her day the world champion is in second place just four points from first, ready to pounce at any opportune situation.

A nice showing from the “financier,” Andrea Casale and a pleasant surprise for Trumpy, Diamnti, and Ravioli, who is in eighth position.

In the first race, surprising everyone, where the two boats of Circolo Nautico of Arzachena, Sardares and Nord Est, who have finished in the sixth and eighth position. But in the second race the fell back to earth and finished in the eighteenth and nineteenth position.

Argentine takes the lead (from Chris McLaughlin)

After two weeks of preparations in winds of up to 30 mph, the opening day of the J24 World Championship in Canningione , Sardinia, began with a one hour postponement ashore and an initial race in 5-7 mph winds from the East South East.

Race Officer, Peter Reggio , set a very long line and worked on a one minute warning then five minute starting sequence which precluded the chance for competitors to sail it then switch ends.

The opening beat of 1.6 miles in the hill-surrounded bay, initially paid to the right, but with some tidal flow and a convergent breeze on either side, it did not pay conservative sailing.

Francisco Campero, of Argentine, sailing Audi, led from start to finish, having worked the left of the beat to be lifted in to the weather mark. His lead extended from Pietro Diamanti of Italy. World Champion, Mauricio Santa Cruz, rounded in the teens, but worked the run and subsequent beat to get through to fourth place. Mark Hillman of USA had a similar recovery, turning the weather mark in the twenties and getting up to ninth by the finish. Top British boat was Bob Turner’s Headcase, steered by Canadian, Rossi Milev who finished 15th.

Race Two saw an increasing breeze to around 10-12 mph from the same direction. The initial gain was to the left and British sailors including Lucy McGregor and Ian Southworth led the push to the shore. But the wind had other ideas, shifting to the right hand shore by twenty degrees. Andrea Casale, in Fiamma Gialle had started to leeward of Southworth, winning the start and tacked hard right a third of the way up the beat. He led into the left shore and into the weather mark taking the fleet around the course from start to finish, retaining his lead from Matias Pereira of Argentine and Eugenio Trumpy of Italy. Bob Turner’s Headcase held 5th place whilst Santa Cruz picked up a useful 7th place. Ian Southworth, sailing Inmarsat Hedgehog finished 10th.

At the end of Day One, Francisco Campero of Argentine leads from Santa Cruz of Brazil and Andrea Casale of Italy. Britain’s top performer was Headcase currently in 6th place and Duncan McCarthy sailing Madeleine in 15th. Ian Southworth is 17th.

Further light winds are forecast for the second day.

Results after Day 1: (2 races)

More information on the event website.