J/70 European Championship at Mount Argentario, Italy - Day 1
by Julie & Christopher Howell 22 May 2024 07:49 BST
The first day of the J/70 European Championship, hosted in Italy in the wonderful location of Mount Argentario, kicked off with two exhilarating races under light breeze conditions, creating a dynamic and unpredictable day of racing. Almost 90 crews from more than 20 countries worldwide demonstrated exceptional skills as they navigated the challenging light winds, leading to continuous shifts in the standings.
The day saw remarkable performances from several teams: Jellyfish clinched victory in the first race, characterized by very light wind conditions. The second race was dominated by Noticia, whose crew capitalized on the changing wind conditions to secure their win over Petite Terrible who was leading the first half of the race and finished in second place.
Despite the fierce competition, it was Wanderlust by Sofia Gondi who emerged as the overall leader after the first day, with consistent finishes of 4th and 8th places, demonstrating their ability to stay ahead in the fluctuating conditions. Close on their heels, Petite Terrible by the three times European Champion Claudia Rossi holds the second position, trailing by just one point and tied with Algarete, both teams showing exceptional promise as the Championship progresses.
"We are thrilled with the high level of competition and the sportsmanship displayed on the water today," said Federico Siragna, President of J/70 Italian Class, organizers of the event with the support of the J/70 International Class Association: "The conditions tested our sailors' skills, and they responded to the challenge brilliantly. Let's see what is going to happen in the next four days."
Racing is set to resume Wednesday at 12:30 PM CEST. With up to 12 more races to be completed before the Championship concludes on Saturday, the competition remains wide open, promising more thrilling action and dramatic turns in the standings.
All information on the event is available at: https://linktr.ee/j70europeans.