Joao Rodgriguez (POR 75) and Marina Alabau (ESP 5) Win Europeans
For the first time in eleven years Joao Rodrigues (POR75) has stepped onto the top step of the podium at an Olympic windsurfing class European Championship. He did so in 1996 and 1997 following up his World Championship Gold medal in Port Elizabeth in 1995.

By winning in Brest, he has clearly laid his marker down as a serious contender for the forthcoming Olympic Regatta in China.

2nd is Julien Bontemps (FRA 6) and Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL 126) who finally did not have to face the challenge of defending his third place against four contenders within striking distance of his 27 points. That would have been a tough ask for anyone!

Overall the championship was beautifully organized by Les Crocodiles de L’Elorn. The only club in France with two Olympic gold medallists among its alumni. With an entirely carpeted competitors village, giant screen showing streamed video from the water and an army of ever smiling and helpful volunteers, Franch Jaouen, the president of the club, has set a standard that other organizers will have a hard time topping.

From the class’s point of view, this championship has set the seal on an incredible four years. Back in 2004, it did not even exist. Now with the help of Les Crocos, it is well on the way to fully occupying the internet bandwidth with an on line scoring system which handles mark rounding’s and live tracking of the medal races; streamed commentary onto the web, video and daily reports. There is more to come!

Good luck to all those who will compete in QuingDao!

USE OUR NEW LIVE TRACKING SYSTEM AT http://www.rsxclass.com/euros2008/livescores.html It’s pretty basic but it will certainly tell you what you need to know

For photos and videos go to: http://www.rsxclass.com/euros2008/media.html

Men’s groups and results at: http://www.rsxclass.com/euros2008/livescores.html

Marina Alabau – Wins European Championships
Marina Alabau (ESP 5) has won the European Championship by a resounding 5 points. Conclusive evidence that she is fast in the light and in the medium winds. Watch out in Qingdao, she is hot.

Back in second place Charline Picon (FRA 4) has demonstrated she is a worthy understudy to third placed Faustine Merret (FRA 9). She may not be so self assured in front of the press pack but she certainly can race. Zofia Klepacka (POL made up the top four who would be head and shoulders above the rest. First of whom is yet another French women, Pauline Perrin (FRA 81), an incredible 17 points off the back of the front pack.

The only non European woman not to make it into the top 10 of the ‘Brest Open’ is Barabara Kendall (NZL 15) who finished 6th in those results and seemed to lack a bit of sparkle in her racing this week. Admittedly, having taken silver on her home waters at the RS:X World Championship in New Zealand last January, the brest Open was just another marker on the road to Quingdao. Next stop…. The Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, Holland which starts on May 21st.