Race 5 – European Championship
It was a long wait. The Yellow Group finally started at 1846 hrs; the Blue at 1854hrs; and the women at 1919hrs. Finally the wind filled in to 8 – 10 knots

In the Yellow Group Joao Rodrigues (POR 75) was first out of the trap, never to be headed. Behind him, Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL 126) and Nicholas Le Gal (FRA 115) locked horns trading 2nd and 3rd places right through to the finish. Pont (POL 126) finally came out on top of this encounter to finish 2nd. Dorian Van Rijsselberge (NED took 4th to hang onto 10th overall.

At the start, Nick Demsey (GBR 1), Nikos Kaklamanakis (GRE) and Aron Gadorfalvi (HUN 12) were together. One of them went a fraction early. The other two immediately responded. All three were called OCS. That is effectively the end of Nick’s medal hopes. There is no way back for him. He is already carrying a BFD so will have to eat the points and try and somehow get back from 29th to something more respectable.

Over in the Blue Group, Henry Quentin (FRA 17) who like Faustine is racing on his home water took a well deserved 2nd and having taken his discard has jumped up to share 3rd equal overall with Nikos but he cannot afford another slip.

Despite the weed in the water, the top four women maintained their dominating position at the top of the leader board. An incredible 22 points in front of the next active sailor, Pauline Perrin (FRA 81).

However Zofia Klepacka (POL jumps to the top of the leader overtaking Marina Alabau (ESP 5) and Faustine Meret (FRA 9) who are now tied 2 points behind. Charline Picon (FRA 4) finished 2nd on the water today and is just one ranking point behind FoFo her training partner.

There is a rest day tomorrow so no racing till Thursday when the first warning signal will be for either the Gold Fleet Men or the women’s fleet. The men’ Silver fleet will have their warning signal at 1300hrs

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

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

Alessandra retires…
Alessandra Sensini (ITA 25) has retired from the European Championship.

In a short conversation with her this morning she expressed her regrets at having to pull out but she has not recovered after feeling distinctly ‘under the weather’ for the last couple of days. So she has made the sensible decision to go home and get well ready for the Olympic Regatta.

The majority of racers, feeling 100% well, would only be too happy to be standing 4th at this stage in an important championship. It is a measure of Alessandra’s competitiveness than she can achieve it whilst feeling unwell.