Nine Farr40's participated today on the opening day  of the Farr40 European Championship now in its fifth edition held this year for the first time in  the  Spanish  Island of Menorca organized by Rolex in collaboration with the Club Maritime de Mahòn
The  Race Committee was able to fire the start  of the day in schedule as  a light North - North-easterly breeze ranging into 8/10 knots of wind accompanied the nine boats throughout the day.  
Italian team TWT shot up the rankings in the opening day of Farr40 European Championship  with victories in two out of three races today putting behind the two favourites of the class, Alinghi in Race 1 and Mascalzone Latino in Race 2.
Mascalzone Latino is on top of the leaderboard after three victories in the first three events of Farr 40 European Circuit, Mahòn being the fouth and last series in circuit. Instead  his America's Cup rival Bertarelli last time he has set foot on this class was two years ago when he finished the fouth on the Worlds, disputed in Porto Cervo, Italy. "It has been a while since we've last been in this fleet. We'll really  enjoy racing on this highly competitive  one design class"
In the  third and the last race of day 1 was Enfant Terrible's turn to take the winner's gun, with Paolo Cian calling the tactics, the America's Cup helmsman, part of the South African team Shosoloza.
Fiamma of Alessandro Barnaba had a good day too, scoring a double four in the first two races, having another America's Cup sailor, Tommaso Chieffi calling the tactics.
Calvi of Carlo Alberini this season president of the class (will be substituted by Wolfgang Schaefer) also  is presenting for the first time in Spain the project Lightbay Sails for Life, a long waiting fundraising for the cistic fibrosis, a serious genetic disease.
Racing resumes tomorrow at noon for the second day of the Farr40 European Championship. The weather conditions should be similar to today's, with a moderate northwesterly  breeze.

    Provisional overall Day 1:

1. TWT - Marco Rodolfi - 6
2. Mascalzone Latino - Vincenzo Onorato - 7
3  Alinghi - Ernesto Bertarelli - 8
4. Enfant Terribile - Gianluigi Serena - 11
5. Fiamma - Alessadro Barnaba - 13
6. Calvi - Carlo Alberini - 21
7. La Marachella - Sandro Pantaleo - 22
8. Cannonbal - Dario Ferrari - 22
9. Mukka Express - Manfredo Toninelli - 25

Mahon - 13 July 2006 20:52