Euro-Cup Portimão – Kick-off event for the EC season 2005

Portimão (Portugal), Kiel (Germany), April 04th 2005.

The kick-off event of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup 2005 takes place in
Portimão/Algarve (Portugal) from May 4th to 8th. The regatta has both
disciplines Racing and Slalom and EUR 20.000,00 prize money. Several of the
Worlds best windsurfers are expected at the first major international racing
and slalom event of the season.

It is the first time for Portimão to host a Windsurfing Euro-Cup regatta.
The experienced organization team of Clube Overpower who have already
organized several Euro-Cups and other international events will ensure a
perfect event. “We are truly happy that the Euro-Cup Office trusted us with
the organization of one of its biggest events. We promise to do everything
that we can to guarantee the total success of the Event.” states José
Guimarães, the local organizer.

Portimão offers excellent conditions for practising all types of nautical
sports. In addition, the visitors will also find excellent conditions for
golf, horse riding, swimming, extreme sports, as well as a wide variety of
beach games available on the beach Praia da Rocha. The priviliged weather,
the warm water, the white and soft sand, which contrast with the blue of the
ocean and the red colour of the cliffs, make the beaches in Portimão
important spots of attraction. Praia da Rocha is one of the most well known
beaches in Europe and its average water temperature is of 22 Celsius
degrees.

Miguel Martinho (POR-5), Portuguese FW National Champion knows the venue
very well: “The Nortada enters offshore, but 50 meters away from the sand
you can, easily, find 10 to 25 knots of wind. This spot is spectacular for
racing and slalom and I am sure that we will have in Portimão a memorable
Event. This is the place where I test my equipment and intensively practice
with my friends, almost all year around.”

The Windsurfing Euro-Cup Portimão will call the best Windsurfers to the
Algarve. They will present their performance in five action packed days. The
event is featured with the two disciplines Racing (Formula Windsurfing) and
Slalom (IFCA). Formula Windsurfing is currently the biggest competition
format with hundreds of competitors worldwide. Slalom is the new spectacular
discipline that is taking of right now. For the first time this spectacular
format will be presented in Portugal.

The Windsurfing Euro-Cup Portimão offers EUR 20.000,00 prize money, split in
equal parts between the two disciplines Racing and Slalom. But the money and
the trophies are only one factor for top racers. For most of them, the
honour to win a Windsurfing Euro-Cup and the points for the Windsurfing
Euro-Cup ranking list are the key factors, as the Windsurfing Euro-Cup is
the most important Racing and Slalom series in the World.