By Anton · July 18, 2016 – The Gazprom Dragon European Championship started today, 18th July in St.Petersburg YC with one race held in perfect 12-18 knots westerly wind. The race went to the crew of UAE7 Markus Wieser.
Originally, the day didn’t promise any racing due to dead calm. But the Committee took the bold decision to send the 45-strong fleet afloat immediately after the noon and the move paid off. With only first signs of the coming breeze the docks were emptied and the race course was set.
After two general recalls the race finally started under black flag that ended the day for Leonid Klepikov (RUS 81), 2015 Russian Champion Dmitry Samokhin (RUS 76,) Igor Goikhberg (RUS 98) and Karl-Gustaf Lohr (SWE 389).
“We were seeking for the first row start at the pin with full speed, unfortunately, it seems that we pushed too hard – says Dmitry Samokhin, – all in all this is the first day of the Championship and we have to relax and move on”.
Meanwhile the future winners appeared quickly. First on the rounding was four time European champion Markus Wieser (UAE7), followed by Jens Christensen (DEN410) and Anatoliy Loginov (RUS27) – fresh from winning Russian Dragon Open/Pre Europeans last week. The top three never looked back on the course and finished with comfortable lead, followed closely only by POR66 2013 European Champion Jose Matoso with four time Olympian Gustavo Lima as tactician.
Markus Wieser: “We were all surprised to start in that good breeze when a light wind day was forecasted, but when we went out the wind filled in and reached 15 knots eventually. We played middle-right, caught some nice shift first upwind from the left and went ahead. It is easier to stay ahead than to follow. We were quite fast – our new boat is going very well. Boats behind were struggling a bit and we just managed to stretch away – it made our life easier.
All in all, it’s a long week ahead, there’re lot of races to go, a lot of things will happen, and it’s a difficult venue – it will not be a very steady breeze next days – tomorrow breeze from the east is forecasted, it will be very shifty, and everything can happen. Good thing that we’ve won today and we’ll have less pressure than others”.
In the Corinthian division almost all female crew of Sami Salomaa (FIN 91) was first with top-20 overall standing. 2011 Worlds bronze medalist Frank Berg (DEN 408) was second and the third place was taken by Mike Hayles (GBR 764).
The Gazprom Dragon European Championship started today, 18th July in St.Petersburg YC with one race held in perfect 12-18 knots westerly wind. The race went to the crew of UAE7 Markus Wieser.
Originally, the day didn’t promise any racing due to dead calm. But the Committee took the bold decision to send the 45-strong fleet afloat immediately after the noon and the move paid off. With only first signs of the coming breeze the docks were emptied and the race course was set.
After two general recalls the race finally started under black flag that ended the day for Leonid Klepikov (RUS 81), 2015 Russian Champion Dmitry Samokhin (RUS 76,) Igor Goikhberg (RUS 98) and Karl-Gustaf Lohr (SWE 389).
“We were seeking for the first row start at the pin with full speed, unfortunately, it seems that we pushed too hard – says Dmitry Samokhin, – all in all this is the first day of the Championship and we have to relax and move on”.
Meanwhile the future winners appeared quickly. First on the rounding was four time European champion Markus Wieser (UAE7), followed by Jens Christensen (DEN410) and Anatoliy Loginov (RUS27) – fresh from winning Russian Dragon Open/Pre Europeans last week. The top three never looked back on the course and finished with comfortable lead, followed closely only by POR66 2013 European Champion Jose Matoso with four time Olympian Gustavo Lima as tactician.
Markus Wieser: “We were all surprised to start in that good breeze when a light wind day was forecasted, but when we went out the wind filled in and reached 15 knots eventually. We played middle-right, caught some nice shift first upwind from the left and went ahead. It is easier to stay ahead than to follow. We were quite fast – our new boat is going very well. Boats behind were struggling a bit and we just managed to stretch away – it made our life easier.
All in all, it’s a long week ahead, there’re lot of races to go, a lot of things will happen, and it’s a difficult venue – it will not be a very steady breeze next days – tomorrow breeze from the east is forecasted, it will be very shifty, and everything can happen. Good thing that we’ve won today and we’ll have less pressure than others”.
In the Corinthian division almost all female crew of Sami Salomaa (FIN 91) was first with top-20 overall standing. 2011 Worlds bronze medalist Frank Berg (DEN 408) was second and the third place was taken by Mike Hayles (GBR 764).
Tomorrow, the first race is scheduled for 12:00 pm
Full results http://dragoneuro2016.ru/results/
Here is the detailed schedule: http://dragoneuro2016.ru/schedule
You can track this race following the link: http://dragon.regatav6.ru
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