News

09

August 2018

Star Europeans 2018ONE BULLET TO DIAZ-PRADA AND ONE TO MELLEBY - DE ALMEIDA

The 2018 Star Europeans Championship officially started yesterday evening with theOpening Ceremony at Flensburger Segel-Club, but it was today that the battle on the water had its first go today.
 

Conditions on the first day of sailing were just right, with wind ranging between 8 and 12 knots, only a little shiftier than expected. With an unusual sun and clouds mix for this summer day, the 71 boats started together on one big start line. The unsettled wind direction made it difficult to decide the favorite side, and there were lots of positions’ changes in both races.

The first one was won by American skipper Augie Diaz with Brazilian crew Bruno Prada, followed by Russian Georgy Shadyuko and Aleksei Borisov, and Swiss Jean-Pascal Chatagny and Serge Pulfer. The second one went to Norwegian Star World ChampionEivind Melleby with Brazilian crew Guilherme de Almeida, second spot to SwedishErik Dahalen and David Nogén and third to another Swiss team, Urs Hunkeler withAlex Gouda.
 

At the end of the first day former World Champions Augie Diaz (USA) and Bruno Prada (BRA) are the provisional leaders, followed by Lars Grael and Samuel Gonçalves (BRA) and third is the German team skippered by Ulrich Vater with crewKarsten MorfRoberto Benamati from Italy is fourth and Irish Olympic Star sailorPeter O'Leary with Philipp Rotermund - who grew up in Flensburg - are fifth. 
 

From today to Sunday the 142 sailors will sail five more races under the strict command of Flensburger Segel-Club PRO, Claus Otto Hansen, who, alongside his Race Committee, decided that tomorrow’s first start will be at 14,30 local time (GMT+1), as some really strong winds are expected to hit the bay in the morning.

For full results here 

Rachele Vitello

SSL Press Officer since 2015