RS:X EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY TWO

YOUNG GUNS ON THE MOVE

Lighter winds made today’s racing a tight finish and led to many surprises in the fleet

Limassol, Cyprus- Day two of the RS:X European Championships, produced two splendid races that were extremely challenging for the athletes, as they had to work hard to keep their RS:X moving in the lighter winds. The women started first today after a short postponement while waiting for the building sea breeze to fill. Marina Alabau (ESP) decimated the fleet today winning both races, and moving her further ahead on an already a strong lead.  Sitting six points back is Barbara Kendall with a mixed bag today, she’s not as consistent in today’s condition scoring an eight and a four.  Making a big comeback from her disappointing day yesterday is reigning World Champion Alessandra Sensini (ITA). She clawed back with a second and a third, putting her in third overall.  Last years winner Blanca Manchon (ESP) is still within striking distance, but will have to improve on the two sevenths she posted today, where she sits fifth overall.
 
On the men’s side we have a new young gun that has clearly demonstrated he knows how to clean house.  Fabian Heidegger (ITA) posted two bullets today in the yellow fleet, and at only nineteen years of age, we are sure he has a solid career ahead of him. Fabian explained how he started on port at the pin end planning while the rest of the fleet was on starboard and mast track position forward.  He barely cleared the fleet but this set him up for the right shift that kept him planning all the way to the finish. Fabian moved up to an impressive third overall.
 
Another young gun that played high risk, but came out with two bullets in the yellow fleet was Le Gal (FRA).  While most of the fleet went on port to the shoreline, he decided to hit the left side of the course and it paid off big, he dusted the rest of the fleet on the second race to score his second bullet of the day. He took the overall lead as well with this shocking performance.  Many other surprises were also found in the men’s fleet, with FEDERICO ESPOSITO (ITA) who was top ten in Hyeres SOF during the light air, showed his form again in the last race to finish second place. Yesterday’s winner, PRZEMEK MIARCZYNSKI (POL) had a fair day to finish second and fourth, but lost the overall lead to Le Gal.
 
With one race scheduled for tomorrow, and Gold/silver fleet separation to follow, we’ll see people working extra hard to make the cut.  Light winds are in the forecast for tomorrow, and we’ll see if some light air specialists can turn the tables and position themselves for the win.
 
Stay tuned and look for continued reporting and pictures at www.rsxclass.com/europeans.html