The strong Mistral winds which blew across the coast of north-eastern Sardinia late on Friday night brought a welcome respite from the stifling heat of the past weeks but arrived with too much force for the 24 Farr 40 yachts moored in Porto Cervo for the start of the Audi Invitational. Racing in the event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and valid as the third leg of the European Circuit for the Farr 40 class, was scheduled to start at 11 am but with 25 knots of north-westerly wind and gusts of 28 the YCCS Race Committee postponed racing for two hours. The Mistral continued to gather force however and racing was postponed  for a further two hours before finally being abandoned at 3 pm.

“There was simply too much wind”, commented Principal Race Officer Peter “Luigi” Reggio. “ It was blowing  from 30 to 40 between Sardinia and Corsica, Bomb Alley was completely white  and just before 3pm we were registering 32 to 35 knots on the mark boat.”

The participating teams will be anxious to get out on the water tomorrow, not least in order to complete the minimum two races in order  for the series to be valid but also in preparation for next week’s Rolex Farr 40 World Championship (June 22^nd to 27^th), also organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo.

Current leader in the Farr 40 European Circuit 2009, after legs held in Capri and Porto Rotondo, is Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino with tactician Adrian Stead. Mascalzone Latino, which is flies the YCCS burgee, sits seven points ahead of Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics and Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma with tactician Tommaso Chieffi.

Racing is scheduled to start tomorrow 21st June at 11 am. Northerly winds of 16 to knots are predicted.

For further information on this regatta and the entire Yacht Club Costa Smeralda season please visit  www.yccs.it or contact the press office.

YCCS Press Office
Jill Campbell
Tel   +39 0789 902 200 
Fax +39 0789 91213      
Mobile  +39 340 167 4755      

Email  pressoffice@yccs.it
www.yccs.it

Porto Cervo - 20 June 2009 17:26