Latest News Items

Photos from Athens 
You will see that we use "Photo News" for any random pics we get around the event. Not too serious!

For larger numbers of photos - from the sailing and ceremonies etc. - we are using the Photo Gallery.

The Official Event Photographer is Dimitris Koumaras of www.sailingphoto.gr. Some of his photos will be featured on the Class Website (Gallery), but will also be posted on the Event Website. The Class also will have access to our own photographer and, perhaps, other supporters', although access to the race area is, of course, closely limited. Today, Dimitris has supplied some images from last night's opening ceremony.

Austrian Treasurer seeks confirmation of her investment 
Lisbeth Diem was in touch from Austria. She needed to know that all was well with her guys. We feature (Rolling Photos today; then Photo News) photographic evidence that all are smiling (and seem to get on well with the Swiss....in the boatpark anyway!).

We would like to hear from you (just click on “Submit News & Photos” or Send Email).

Advice to Teams Travelling to Zadar 
The attached advice has been received from Uskok Sailing club regarding teams travelling to Zada

Is anyone there? Please be in touch 
We know that there will be Worlds supporters watching. We would like to hear from you (just click on “Submit News & Photos” or Send Email). It is good to know if anyone is watching! But also, if we can pass on the news and information from Athens that you want, we will try – just tell us!

Meanwhile, we are getting some photos through. See Photo News

Athens 2008 – we’re here! 
More to follow soon.

Jim Saltonstall – 420 Coach Extraordinaire – honoured by ISAF 
420 sailors for generations have known Jim. In recent years, as well as running clinics at the ISAF Youths, Jim has been a frequent contributor to 420 International Championships, most recently at the 2007 Junior Europeans at Medemblik (if you were there, you will remember an intense discussion, using video, with Sherman Cheng (SIN), the eventual winning crew - see photo). Many sailors will know that Jim has been the leader of the 420 Class Coaching Seminars which we have been holding for 420 coaches worldwide – most recently in Rio de Janeiro last November (watch this space!). If you have not been one of Jim’s “ferrets” on the water, you will probably have read his books – which have strongly featured the 420.

So we are delighted that ISAF yesterday honoured Jim at his 30th ISAF Youth Worlds (click above for ISAF News).

420 sailors win four medals at ISAFs, even without 420s! 
Frances Peters & Claire Lasko and James Peters won Golds in the 29ers and Judge Ryan (USA) and James Ellis (GBR) (former 420 Junior Euros Bronze medallist) won Bronzes in the 29er and the Multihull respectively at the ISAF World Youth Championships at Aarhus, Denmark.

Other well-known 420 sailors we found on the water were: in the women’s: Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher 4th (2008 NZL Women’s 420 Champions), Martine Sofiate Grael & Daniela Adler Pimental Duarte (BRA) 7th (Daniela is the 2008 South American 420 Women’s Champion), Griselda Khng & Cecilia Low Rui Qi (SIN) 9th, Alyson Rumball & Niamh O’Connell (IRL) 12th, Fanny Lumeau & Erell Ranou (FRA) 14th; and among the men: Paul Snow-Hansen & Ben Goodwin (NZL) 4th, (2008 NZL 420 National Champions), Taariq Jacobs & Neil Malan (RSA) 7th, Ed Butler & Daniel McCarthy (IRL) 13th, Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng (SIN) 15th (last year’s open winners at the 420 Junior Euros at Medemblik, as well as reigning Asian & SEA Games 420 Champions), Final results: Double Hander - Women, Double Hander - Men and Multihull.

But maybe you recognise more 420 sailors at Aarhus - let us know! Meanwhile, at least nine of the above are signed up for the 420 Worlds in Athens at the next week. Good luck to all our (multi-skilled) sailors!

Meanwhile, which 420 sailors will be in Armação de Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2009, in 420s (or in any other boat, for that matter)?!

Skoczek & Soler win French Cup 
Bernard Skoczek & Thibaut Soler won YC Maugio Carnon the ten race series at the French Coupe Nationale at CN Ile-Tudy, near Quimper, Finistère (south east of Brest). With a 78 competitor field (the proximity of the Athens Worlds reduced the usual international interest this year, though the Scots team of Peter Irwin & David Kohler made the journey and achieved an 11th overall), Skoczek & Soler won with a convincing 11 point lead. Les Rochelaises, Kevin Peponnet & Loic Duchesne Ferchal were 2nd and Nemo Moinet & Julien Lebrun of CN La Tremblade / ASPTT La Rochelle 3rd. Cassandre Blandin & Marion Leprunier were the leading women, with Cecile Gutierrez & Jade Festino 2nd and Dorothea Aumont & Sophie Fremont 3rd. See you guys again in Brittany at the 2009 Coupe Nationale! Meanwhile, into action at the Worlds! Bonne Chance

1 Bernard Skoczek & Thibaut Soler (YC Maugio Carnon) 35 points
2 Kevin Peponnet & Loic Duchesne Ferchal (SR Rochelaises) 46pts
3 Nemo Moinet & Julien Lebrun (CN La Tremblade / ASPTT La Rochelle) 59 pts
4 Sebastien Simon & Avmeric Paruit (SNO Nantes) 64 pts
5 Vincent Geniteau & Zoe Poncelet (CV St Quentin / VGA St Maur Voile) 70 pts
6 Guillaume Lecointre & Cedric Mary (CV St Quentin) 70 pts
7 Cassandre Blandin & Marion Leprunier (SNO Nantes / NDCV Angers) 77 pts
14 Cecile Gutierrez & Jade Festino (CN Antibes / YC Villeneuve L)
15 Dorothea Aumont & Sophie Fremont (CV St Quentin)

Final day at the ISAFs tomorrow and 420 sailors poised! 
With fourteen races completed in the 29ers at Århus, the ISAFs moved into the final day with 420 sailors on top in both the girls & boys! Having dropped to 2nd last night, James Peters (GBR) is back there, after USA 420 helm Judge Ryan had problems in the last two races, and with ten points in hand. Paul Snow-Hansen & Ben Goodwin (NZL) (2008 NZL 420 National Champions) are 4th and Taariq Jacobs & Neil Malan (RSA), pioneer 420 sailors in South Africa, are 7th.

Although on top all week, James sister, Frances Peters and Claire Lasko (GBR), both experienced 420 helms, have been challenged along the way by the NED girls and have just a 4-point lead into the last day. Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (2008 NZL Women’s 420 Champions) are in 5th and Martine Sofiate Grael & Daniela Adler Pimental Duarte (BRA) (Daniela is the 2008 South American 420 Women’s Champion) are 8th,

Meanwhile, James Ellis, bronze helm at the 420 Junior Euros 2006, pulled up to 3rd yesterday and is hanging in there, in spite of discarding the last race, and has 4 points either side.

Pre-Worlds Training Camp 
The sailing instructions for the Pre-Worlds training have now been posted.

420 sailors take early lead at the ISAFs, in 29ers 
Experienced 420 helms, Frances Peters and Claire Lasko (GBR) lead in the women’s double-hander at Aarhus, Denmark in the ISAF World Youth Championships; Frances’ brother, James, also a former 420 sailor, is helming the leading men’s boat.

There is a galaxy of 420 talent in the line-up, Alexandra Maloney & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (2008 NZL Women’s 420 Champions), Martine Sofiate Grael & Daniela Adler Pimental Duarte (BRA) (Daniela is the 2008 South American 420 Women’s Champion), Alyson Rumball & Niamh O’Connell (IRL), Fanny Lumeau & Erell Ranou (FRA), Judge Ryan (USA), Paul Snow-Hansen & Ben Goodwin (NZL) (2008 NZL 420 National Champions), Taariq Jacobs & Neil Malan (RSA), Ed Butler & Daniel McCarthy (IRL), Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng (2007 open winners at 420 Junior Euros, as well as reigning Asian & SEA Games 420 Champions), And 420 Junior Euro Bronze medallist at Tavira 2006, James Ellis (GBR), is running 3rd in the multi-hull class.

Maybe you see more 420 sailors at Aarhus - let us know! Meanwhile, at least 9 of the above are entered for the 420 Worlds in Athens next week. Good luck to all our (multi-skilled) sailors!

The ISAF report says: 'The Brazilian Girl’s 29er duo of Martine Grael and Daniela Adler climbed four places up the overall leaderboard to seventh after scores of 3, 4, 5 today. “We’ve been sailing 29ers for three months and today was only the fourth day of strong winds in our lives. But we’re doing well so we’re really happy about it,” said Adler. It is no surprise the team are such quick learners when you consider their sailing backgrounds; Martine is the daughter of Volvo Ocean Race skipper and five-time Olympic medallist Torben Grael whilst Daniela’s uncle is Daniel Adler, also an Olympic medallist. The next generation are also clearly aware of the family traditions, “The first time they were together they were silver medallists in the Olympics [in the Soling at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles]. The second time maybe, gold!” said Daniela with a twinkle in her eye'.

French 420s gather for the Coupe Nationale 
Each summer French 420 sailors (and often a good many others) make for Brittany/Bretagne and/or the Atlantic coast for their National Cup. Right now some 160 sailors are busy getting measured and out practising at CN Ile-Tudy, near Quimper, Finistère (south east of Brest). Proximity to the Worlds in Athens may have diminished the numbers a bit, but in France they sail in big fleets! (and they have some selecting left to do!). Unusually, just one international entry this year, a Scots boat! This year racing will be in a single fleet format. Races will start tomorrow (Monday) at 11AM. Light winds are forecast for the event. Bonne chance!

Julian & Philipp Autenrieth win at Garda 
After 9 races and with a 13 point lead, Julian & Philipp Autenrieth of Germany have won the 58° Intervela at Fraglia Vela Riva on Lake Garda. Federico Cattaneo & Fabrizio Nardi (ITA) took 2nd (29pts) and Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT), were third on 33pts, 23 ahead of their next challengers, Davide Vignone & Matteo Ramian (ITA).

For the women, Roberta Caputo took first place (6th overall) – we still await confirmation of her crew! Gil Cohen & Adva Kremer (ISR) were 2nd (overall 9th) and Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger (SUI) were the third placed women’s team (12th overall).

[Our apologies to Max & Julian for earlier, compounded errors! Succesful application for redress in the last two races apparently led to correction of their final results. Well, its meant we have at least one photo from the event though! Has anyone else got any?]

Cattaneo & Nardi lead into the final day at Garda 
Federico Cattaneo & Fabrizio Nardi, after 8 Races, lead the 69-boat field at Fraglia Vela Riva on Lake Garda by four points into the final day of the 58° Intervela Regatta. Julian & Philipp Autenrieth (GER) also pulled their way up to finish on 33 points. Having to discard a DNF in race 8, Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) are 15 points behind, while Davide Vignone & Matteo Ramian (ITA) are on 60 pts and Sergio Racco & Antonio Spagnalo (ITA) are in 5th on 61 pts.

Roberta Caputo (ITA), another helm without a declared crew (!), is first woman in 8th overall, on 96 pts. Gil Cohen & Adva Kremer (ISR) are 1 point behind and Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger (SUI) are on 106 pts.

Pre-Worlds Training Camp 
Nick Drougas will be holding a pre-worlds training camp in Athens from 19th to 21st July. Full details can be found by following the link.

Vogt & Bolliger lead at Garda after 5 races 
With a first discard kicking in, there have been some changes in the line-up at the Intervela on Garda today. Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger (SUI - YC Bielersee) take a 5-point lead into Day 3. Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) move up to 2nd and are on equal points (20) with Domonkos Rozswyay & Jonata Czeizel of Hungary in 3rd. According to the published results, Federico Cattaneo is sailing single-handed - which is impressive as he is in 4th tonight on 21 pts - but we are wondering if Fabrizio Nardi is on board too! Julian & Philipp Autenrieth appear to have had a tricky second day 5th on 23 pts), but their 3 bullets on Day 1 should keep them well in the running.

Julian & Philipp Autenrieth lead on day 1 at Riva del Garda 
The 58° Intervela opened for racing today with three races and an international field of 66 boats, including USA and NZL teams on their European tour toward Athens.

A clean sweep of three bullets for Julian & Philipp Autenrieth of Bayerischer YC, Germany (Julian was Optimist World Champion in 2006). Leonardo Dubbini & Federico Lovison of CV Toscolano Maderno (ITA) are in 2nd on 9 points, while Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) are 3rd on 19pts; Sarah & Emma Berry, well-known New Zealand 420 campaigners are 4th on 29pts and Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger (SUI), recently returned from the Flanders Regatta, are 5th on 32 pts.

Keijzer & van Veen: champions at Flanders 
Scoring another bullet in the last race, Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen were leaving nothing to chance! But, with a six point lead over their nearest rivals, they won Flanders 2008. Former winners of the Imperia Winter Regatta (2006) and Women’s Silver at the Junior Euros 2007 at Medemblik, this Dutch team are ones to watch at the forthcoming Worlds in Athens, as are the second-placed team, Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (ESP), from CN Salou, Cataluña, champions at the 2008 Campeonato de España and 3rd at the Copa de España. In third place were the Australian team of Morgan Skinner & James Omay.

The last race saw two of the women’s teams strengthen their positions with a 2nd and 3rd, Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger of Switzerland and Clara & Lucie Scheiwiller of France respectively.
The full line-up of the top fifteen is:
Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED) 23,0
Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (ESP) 29,0
Morgan Skinner & James Omay (AUS) 48,0
Nicola Lefebvre & Hubert Cothier (FRA) 53,0
Maxime Chaigneau & Chevet Henry (FRA) 58,0
Clara & Lucie Scheiwiller (FRA) 61,0
Guillem Vidiella Conchan & Óscar López Ravetllat (ESP) 62,0
Stern Marc & Meylan Stéphane (SUI) 70,0
Andrea Cornudella & Clara Dolz (ESP) 72,0
Charles Lassarat & Paul Dadvisard (FRA) 73,0
Sarah Hickman & Megan Fileman (GBR) 84,0
Meret Vogt & Nicole Bolliger (SUI) 87,0
Lys Moulaert & Sophie Audenaerdt (BEL) 89,0
Astrid Hansen & Evelyn Pettersson (AUS) 94,0
Barbara Cornudella & Sara López Ravetllat (ESP) 101,0

Viktor & Veronika Johannisson win Swedish JSM 
1 Viktor & Veronika Johannisson 13 points
3 Fredrik Gustafson & Magnus Castenfors 29pts
4 John Gustafson & Sofia Gustafson 32pts
5 Elin Ogeman & Kalle Mattsson 38pts
6 Martin Koch & Axel Benson 38pts
7 Maja Bärring & Linnéa Petersson 43pts
8 Veronica Fredriksson & Josefine Thorwaldson 46pts
9 Oliver Molse & Sir Jacob Palmquist 53pts
10 Linnéa Castenfors & Anna Rosén 75pts

CLI-CA 2008 Invitation 
The CLI-CA organisation have organised the first of their 2008-9 activities. This time it will take place in Mallorca, in the Club Nautico S'Arenal at the end of August. There will be a clinic followed by a regatta and all 420 sailors are invited to participate.

Keijzer & van Veen take over after 10 at Flanders 
On the penultimatre night of the Regatta and after 10 races, Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED) are in the lead by 3 points. Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (ESP) are in 2nd on 25 points, while the Australians, Morgan Skinner & James Omay are up to 3rd on 39 pts. Nicola Lefebvre & Hubert Cothier (FRA) are 4th (44 pts) and Guillem Vidiella Conchan & Óscar López Ravetllat (ESP) are on 50 pts. Clara & Lucie Scheiwiller (FRA) are 2nd women (58 pts) and Andrea Cornudella & Clara Dolz (ESP) 3rd (62 pts).

Tur Boned & Selles Vidal take the lead at Flanders 
Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal, Spanish champions, have taken the lead at the Flanders Youth Regatta after 8 races, with 19 points (discarding a 6). On their heels, and also discarding a 6 to be one point behind are the experienced Dutch team, Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen. Nicola Lefebvre & Hubert Cothier (FRA) are 3rd (32 pts), Morgan Skinner & James Omay (AUS) 4th on 39 and Guillem Vidiella Conchan & Óscar López Ravetllat 5th on 44 points

News at last from Flanders: France being chased by Spain & the Netherlands! 
Flanders Youth Regatta is well underway at Nieuwpoort in Belgium. After a little delay we now have results from five races. It looks as though it is just as well that aa discard has kicked in for those who did not make the first race! Quite a change in the entry this year, with a diminished GBR participation, but competitors from France, Switzerland, and Australia, a large team from Spain, and, of course, Belgium & the Netherlands.

Maxime Chaigneau & Henry Chevet (SR Havre/SNPH) are leading on 6 points, with Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (ESP - CN Salou, Cataluña - champions at the 2008 Campeonato de España and 3rd at the Copa de España) and Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED -Braassemermeer - winners of Imperia Winter Regatta 2006 and Women’s Silver at the 2007 Junior Euros) in 2nd & 3rd, both on 9 points. Nicola Lefebvre & Hubert Cothier (FRA) are 4th on 11 pts and Guillem Vidiella Conchan &Óscar López Ravetllat (ESP) 5th on 18 pts. Following the lead of Keijzer & van Veen among the women, are Astrid Hansen & Evelyn Pettersson (AUS) on32 pts and Sarah Hickman & Megan Fileman (GBR) on 36pts

Maccari & Vitali and Wetzl & Parladori win Kiel: an Italian double! 
1 Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali (ITA) 8 pts
2 Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) 11 pts
3 Edoardo Scotti & Lorenzo de Felice (ITA) 11 pts
4 Andreas & Alexandros Bakatsias (GRE) 17 pts
5 Julian & Philipp Autenrieth (GER) 20 pts
6 Ben Saxton & David de Boltz (GBR) 23 pts
7 Sotiris Tsamis & Iason Christoforidis (GRE) 7 pts
8 Antonius Tsiboukelis & Georgius Karonis (GRE)
9 Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett (GBR) 30 pts
10 Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton (GBR) 33 pts
11 Michalis Petrogonas & Faidon Kounas (GRE) 34 pts
12 Ben Palmer & Piers Strong (GBR) 35 pts
13 Federica Wetzl & Marta Parladori (ITA) 36 pts
14 Julian Stückl & Adrian Hoesch (GER) 39 pts
15 James Rusden & Joe Williams (GBR) 43 pts
Women:
1 Federica Wetzl & Marta Parladori (ITA) 36 pts
2 Karoline Pepin & Sabine Becker (GER)
3 Maria Voulgaraki & Danae-Dionisia Pascwou (GRE) 63 pts
4 Lisa Panuschka & Jacqueline Münks (GER) 66 pts
5 Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED) 80 pts
6 Imke Brockerhoff & Annika Storke (GER) 81 pts

Photos from Kiel 
With no sailing at Kiel on Monday, we managed to get some photos from the first day, currently featuring on the Rolling Photos on this page (we will get a Gallery up later). These have a certain Irish orientation, but we are pleased that Germany's leading ladies feature!

If you have access to photos, news, have a story to tell......just click on "Submit News / Photos"......please!

Maccari & Vitali hold on after Race 4 
Taking a 3rd in Race 4, Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali (ITA) hold the lead on 9 points, with Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) taking a 2nd and retaining 2nd overall on 13 pts. Andreas & Alexandros Bakatsias now lead the Greek challenge in 3rd overall (16 pts), having scored a bullet in Race. Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett (GBR) are on 19 and Antonius Tsiboukelis & Georgius Karonis (GRE) on 19 points.

Lisa Panuschka & Jacqueline Münks (GER) retain the women’s lead on 49 pts (15th overall), but Eleni Stamkov & Stamatia Fragkiadaki (GRE) are just 2 points and one place behind. Karoline Pepin & Sabine Becker (GER), continue their upward push, with a second 9th of the day, to put themselves 3rd women on 57 pts (18th overall).

Maccari & Vitali assume lead after Race 3 at Kiel 
Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali (ITA) take over the lead on 6 points with a further bullet in R3 (Sunday). Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) are in 2nd on 11 pts. Antonius Tsiboukelis & Georgius Karonis (GRE) drop to 3rd on equal 14 points with GBR teams Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton and Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett, while two further Greek boats, Andreas & Alexandros Bakatsias and Sotiris Tsamis & Iason Christoforidis are in 6th and 7th, both on 15 points.

Among the women, Lisa Panuschka & Jacqueline Münks (GER) take over the lead (with an 5th overall in R3) on 26 points. Eleni Stamkov & Stamatia Fragkiadaki (GRE) are on 31 pts and Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor (GBR) on 41 pts, 4 points ahead of Ewa Bartosiewicz & Katarzyna Ostrowska (POL), who, in turn, are 3 points ahead of Karoline Pepin & Sabine Becker (GER).

Tsiboukelis & Karonis take early lead at Kiel 
With some 190 420s registered, Kieler Woche got underway today. Nearly half the competitors come from outside Germany, including Australia (3), Austria (7), Czech Republic (4), Denmark (1), Spain (6), France (1), Britain (13), Greece (14), Hungary (6), Ireland (7), Italy (9), Netherlands (5), Poland (11) and Sweden (5). The first international event since the Izola Cup in March and CIMA in April, Kiel follows completion of team selections in most countries for the 420 Worlds in Athens and the Junior Europeans in Zadar. Many of these are competing at Kiel, so this should provide some indication of comparative form, among the competing countries.

Two races were sailed on the first day (Saturday) of the five day event. “Sunshine, westerly breeze reaching 8 to 10 knots, air and water temperature refreshing 17 degrees Celsius - just perfect conditions for the opening day of Kieler Woche 2008!”

Antonius Tsiboukelis & Georgius Karonis of Greece took an early lead. Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali of Italy (5th at the 2007 Junior Europeans) are 2nd, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton (GBR) 3rd, Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) (4th at the 2007 Europeans and leading German team in their recent selection series) 4th and Sotiris Tsamis & Iason Christoforidis (GRE) are 5th.

The Greek team have made an early impact among the wemen competitors also. Eleni Stamkov & Stamatia Fragkiadaki, from the Club where the Worlds will be held next month, are in 2nd, followed by Lisa Panuschka & Jacqueline Münks (GER), but the leaders are Martyna Walczyk & Monika Kondlewska of Poland..

2008 General Assembly 
The General Assembly of the International 420 Class will take place on the 27th July at 17.30 during the World Championships. The agenda has been published on the Documents page of this web site.

New 420 Fleet for Bulgaria 
This week a fleet of 6 new 420s arrived in Bulgaria (see Photo News ), bought by the Bulgarian Sailing Federation. BSAF President Stanislav Kassarov explained that this was the start of their programme to have a double-handed boat for the transition between Optimists and 470s. We hope to see some of the boats at our events this summer.

Нов клас яхти в България

На 14.05.2008 в България бяха доставени първите 6 лодки от клас 420.

Клас 420 е една от най-разпространените яхти по света за екипаж от двама души. По света се карат над 56 000 лодки в над 70 страни. 420 е клсът, който се използва за развитие на младежкото ветроходство в 43 стр

Agueda Suria & Sofía Basterra - Double Champs in a fortnight! 
Women’s Champions at the Coupe Internationale Méditerranéenne de l’Amitié (CIMA) 2008, Agueda Suria (RCN Valencia) and Sofía Basterra (CN El Balís) won the Copa de España 2008 overall at RCN de Dénia (between Alicante and València) at the weekend.

Clasificaciones
1 Agueda Suria & Sofía Basterra 22 points
2 Felipe Parejo & Pablo Fernández 23 pts
3 Toni Tur & Aleix Selles 30 pts
4 Bruno Gago & Ceasar Conde 53 pts
5 Diego Botin & Pablo Turrado 55 pts
6 Carlota Massana & Ana Lobo 55 pts
7 Hugo Fernandez & Sergio Crespo 56 pts
8 Santi & David Mas Depares 59 pts
9 Elia Borrego Arnau & Lourdes Sala Climent 59 pts
10 Carlos Cantero & Juan Curbelo 59 pts

Rusden & Williams win GBR Selection Series 
In a closely fought selection series of 11 races over two weekends and at different venues, GBR completed its Worlds and Junior Euros selection series on Monday. The points say it all! James Rusden & Joe Williams won by one point from Ben Saxton and David de Boltz, scoring bullets in the two races on the last day; the gap after the two leading boats was some 28 points. Ben Palmer & Piers Strong were 3rd, with Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett 4th and Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton 5th.

Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor, Bronze winners at last year’s Junior Europeans, led the women, in 7th overall. But Lucy de Boltz & Milly Parkin made a strong challenge in the second event, to pull up to 9th overall. Becca Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp were in 13th in a Series’ fleet of 32 boats.

A flotilla of Irish boats also sailed in for the two GBR events (at Bala SC in Wales and at Highcliffe SC on the south coast). Stephen Tiernan & Rob Lehane of Kinsale YC took 9th in the second open event, to build on 11th in the first. Jane Butler & Jennifer Andreasson of the Royal St George YC lead the Irish women at both.

Hondel & Kleijweg win Dutch Youths 
Bart van der Hondel & Jasper Kleijweg have won the Dutch Youth Regatta, with a 2 point lead over the Silver and Women’s winners, Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (14 points), after some very close sailing. Dirk Bennen & Christiaan van Garderen were 3rd (23 pts), Robert-Jan Kentgens & Perry Gebuijs 4th (34 pts) and Fleur van Erp & Charlotte Stumpel 4th (38 pts).

Federação Portuguesa de Vela declare 2008 Junior Champions 
The final results were published tonight (click above) for the XIX Campeonato de Portugal de Juniores – 2008. The 420 champions are: Campeão de Portugal Junior da Classe 420 (that’s the Open Champions): Gonçalo Santos & Lourenço Gonçalves of CN de Cascais and Campeã de Portugal Junior de Classe 420 Feminino (that’s the Women): Francisca & Filipa Barros of YC Porto. For further information go to Federação Portuguesa de Vela.

Santos & Gonçalves lead Campeonato de Portugal de Juniores 
Gonçalo Santos & Lourenço Gonçalves has a clear lead in the Portuguese 420 “Junior” Championship at CV Lagos with three bullets counting. Manuel Cunha & António Tinoco are 2nd on 10 pts and Frederico Gomes & Miguel Pinto 3rd on 12pts. Francisca & Filipa Barros are the first women’s team (5th overall), while Joana Azevedo & Adelaide Gouveia are 2nd (8th overall) and Francisca Martins & Inês Coelho 3rd (10th overall).

Pedro Rodriguez, General Secretary of the International 420 Class reports that, on day 2 (Friday) of the XIX Junior Championship in Lagos, Portugal, “the wind was blowing with the intensity that ranged between 15 and 20 knots, which gave the sailors a chance to make up for the lost time of the day before [no races on Day 1 apparently], with 4 races sailed”. In spite of an extra early start on Day 3 to catch the early wind forecast, the sailors were returned to the shore without racing. Fingers are crossed in Lagos for more on the final day (Sunday), though the forecast is not promising.

On-Line Entries Now Open 
On-line entries for both the World Championships and the Junior European Championships are now open on the racing pages of the web site.

Brenac & Lacaze win CIMA 2008 
Damien Brenac of YC Antibes & Julien Lacaze of SN Bandol won CIMA at YC Cavalaire on Monday. It seems the weather that caused much equipment breakage at the Semaine Olympique Française at Hyères on Sunday, affected CIMA too; the four-day event completed seven races. Gabriel Scoczek & Thibaut Soler (YC Mauguio-Carnon), who took 4th at last year’s 420 Junior Europeans at Medemblik, were 2nd on 18 pts and Yvan Beckius & Pierre Petetin (SN de Sanary) 3rd on 21 pts. Maxime Garbay & Achille Nebout Javal (YC Mauguio-Carnon) were 4th on 28 pts and David Omedes & Oscar Lopez from Spain (CV Palamos) were 5th on 31 pts

The Spanish women stormed the podium, with Agueda Suria & Sofia Basterra (RCN Valencia) leading (15th overall) [Agueda was 4th in the Women's World Championships at Istanbul last year]. Carlota Massana & Ana Lobo (CN Salou) were 2nd (16th) and Atlantic & Nora Brugman (CV Blanes), 3rd (18th).

Rest of top ten:
6 Vianney Guilbaud & Bastien Aumont (CV St Quentin) 37 pts
7 Paul Rossi & Marc Mallaret (YC Mauguio-Carnon) 39 pts
8 Nemo Moinet & Julien Lebrun (YC Mauguio-Carnon) 40 pts
9 Sacha Pelisson (YC Cavalaire) & Nicolas Rossi (YC Antibes) 40 pts
10 Baptiste Choquenet & Nicolas Kniebihli (EV Cherbourg) 46 pts

34 of the 116 boats came from outside France. Those who led for their teams were:
Max Trippolt & Julian Meister for Austria (YC Bregenz), 14th overall
Gonçalo Spintos & Laurenço Goncalues for Portugal (CN Cascais), 17th
Rita Leal Faria & Teresa Cunha for Portugal (CN Cascais), 20th
Marc Stern & Stéphane Meylan for Switzerland (CN Versoix), 26th
Roberta Caputo & Benedetta Barbiero for Italy (RYCC Savoia), 31st
Rozsnyay Domonkos & Czeizel Jonatan for Hungary (Spartacus Vitorlás Egylet), 34th
Meret Vogt & Nicole Bollinger for Switzerland (CV Béroche), 56th
YC Cavalaire

Brenac & Lacaze take early lead at CIMA 
Well, we are watching YC Cavalaire for news of CIMA, but by Sunday night we are only seeing the first five races, up to Saturday. Hopefully, more will be revealed tomorrow! Meanwhile, who are the early movers and shakers?

Locals, Damien Brenac (YC Antibes) & Julien Lacaze (SN Bandol) were leading on 5 points, with Yvan Beckius & Pierre Petetin (SN de Sanary) on 10 pts and Gabriel Scoczek & Thibaut Soler (YC Mauguio-Carnon) on 12 pts. Spanish sailors, David Omedes & Oscar Lopez (CV Palamos) were 4th (16 pts) and Maxime Garbay & Achille Nebout Javal (YC Mauguio-Carnon) 5th (19 pts).

For the women, Cassandra Blandin (SNO Nantes) & Marion Leprunier (NDCV Angers) were in 16th overall, with the Spanish team Carlota Massana & Ana Lobo (CN Sevilla) in 17th and Roberta Caputo & Benedeta Barbiero (ITA - RYCC Savoia) 21st.

If anyone has more up-to date news or images of this or any other 420 regatta, please click on Submit News / Photos

It’s CIMA again! 
The big French International 420 Championship, Coupe Internationale Méditerranéenne de l’Amitié (CIMA) is underway this weekend at Yacht Club de Cavalaire. We hope that there will be news soon; the link above takes you to the Event website. La bonne chance à tous les marins

Asenathi Jim & Marlon Jones double RSA National Champions 
Asenathi Jim from Red Hill & Marlon Jones from Ocean View, both of Izivunguvungu-MSC Foundation for Youth are National 420 Champions in South Africa for a second year running. The second National Championship for the brand new RSA 420 Class was held at the SAS Western Cape Championships 2008 at Hoedjiesbaai Beach, Saldanha Bay and was organised by Zeekoevlei YC.

Asenathi & Marlon completed the challenging 12 race series on 15 points, 13 ahead of their next rivals and 6 bullets to their names! But they did not have it totally their way. Ashwynn Daniels and Denzio Davids, fellow members of the Izivunguvungu Sailing School, took the silver step on the podium on 28 points and took a 1st in R10. Two points behind overall were father and son team, Paul and Jean Jacques Gorremans of Zeekoevlei YC, who had three bullets, but made the bronze slot on countback from Kenwyn Daniels & Joweal Klaase, again members of Team Izivunguvungu.

Fellow former Optimist sailors, who have recently teamed up and put in some competition practice at Hermanus in January, Brevan Thompson & Callum Kilpin of ZVYC took fifth in the Championships. We are pleased to see Michael Kellett & Gabriel Bhala take 6th, a great improvement on their 12th last year. Meanwhile, the first Women, Carla Dyer & Bridget Clayton of the University of Cape Town YC, improved on last year too! When are we going to see you guys at an international event? Alison Thompson’s Event Report is attached.

Saxton & de Boltz and Stanley & Macgregor win 420 titles at GBR Youths 
The GBR (RYA) Youth Championships & (ISAF) Trials concluded on Friday at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli SC in Wales. Ben Saxton & David de Boltz are GBR 420 Youth Champions and Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor are the Women’s Champions.

It was a close thing, with Owain Matthews and Ben’s brother, Tim a point behind after the final race. And strong challenges had been mounted throughout the week by Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, at their first Youth Championships, and by James Rusden & Joe Williams. Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor, bronze winners at last year’s Junior Europeans, had an enormous lead of 68 points over their next rivals in the women’s competition, helmed by Imogen’s younger sister. Karenza Morton’s Report on the whole event, which is the annual selection trial for the GBR team for the ISAF Youth Worlds is attached.

The GBR 420 Class was also celebrating the selections for the double-handed dinghy at the ISAF Youths. Of the 29er fleet of nearly 40 boats, the top four performing helms were all current or former 420 Class members. Both experienced 420 sailors, Frances Peters & Claire Lasko, who were 2nd overall, will be GBRs womens representatives at the ISAFs, and Frances’ younger brother, James. who helmed the winning boat at the Championships, will also be going to the ISAFs. Watch out in 420s in 2009!

Stanley & Macgregor lead GBRs 420 Youth(ful) Women 
Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor have built a pretty massive lead in the women’s competition at the GBR (RYA) Youth Championships at Pwllheli Sailing Club in Wales – what we might expect from the bronze winners at last year’s Junior Europeans. Meanwhile, there is a tussle among the men, with Ben Saxton & David de Boltz leading over the first two days of racing and Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton just 4 points behind. Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, James Rusden & Joe Williams, Stanley & Macgregor and Peter Irwin & David Kohler (Scotland) are all within 2 points of each other and in contention. Two more days’ sailing if the wind behaves better than it did on Tuesday!

We have received photographs from Richard Langdon of Ocean Images to join those from the Izola Cup, the South Americans and Ireland on our Rolling Photos on the News page.

Do you have news & images from other 420 events? Let us know by clicking on “Submit News / Photos” on the Navigation menu.

Tiernan & Lehane 2008 Irish (ISA) National Youth Champions 
Stephen Tiernan of Poole YC & Rob Lehane of the Royal Cork and Kinsale Yacht Clubs won the 2008 ISA National Youth Championships in Schull, South West Ireland. Tim Ó Laoire & Brian Kelleher of Howth and the Royal St George Yacht Clubs were 2nd and Jane Butler & Jenny Andreasson were 3rd and are Women’s National Youth Champions.

New Builder Licensed in Mexico 
The Mexican company of Veleros Nautica a Punto have been granted a licence to build the International 420. This is a significant step in the growth of the International 420 in Central America, and we wish them well.

Snow Hansen & Goodwin win NZL Nationals 
Monday saw the 420s complete their final 2 races. Conditions were NE 4-6 knots for the first race. The second race was shorted at mark 3 after 55 minutes sailing when the wind dropped to under 3 knots.

Winners were:
1 Paul Snow Hansen and Ben Goodwin, Wakatere BC, on 22 points
2 Simon Cooke and Scott Illingsworth, Kohimaramara BC on 31 points
3 Alexandria Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, Murrays Bay/KeriKeri SCs 49 points

Maccari & Vitali lead at Marsala 
Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali (CV Bellano) lead after 6 races at the Regate Nationale at Marsala on 7 points. Edoardo Mancinelli Scotti & Sara Zribi of CV Roma are in 2nd on 8 pts and Lorenzo Gemini & Francesco Chessa Orro of YC Cagliari are 3rd on 14. The regatta, which finishes tomorrow, is a selector for the Italian Worlds and Junior Europeans teams.

No racing on last day of Izola Cup 
"After a rough night with rain and snow even on the Slovenian Coast, where we rarely see it, Izola awoke to a cloudless day, with a light Bora (NW). Just a few hours later, with the first cloud, all hopes died. Nearly! After a few hours both Race Committees invited the competitors onto the water, but rain and hale 'killed' the wind, so the RC's sent the boats ashore". We guess the final results are those we published below (from the third day).

A cold Bora (NE) on third racing day in Izola 
Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) lead at the Izola Spring Cup in Slovenia on 15 points after 9 races. But Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) are on their heels with 19 points, with both teams pulling well ahead of the rest of the fleet. Reka Vigh & Zora Kiss (HUN) and Magdalena & Sophia Hubert-Reh (GER) look as tghough they are having their own close tussle in the women’s.

The excellent Izola website gives us some information on day 3: Snow inland made a great difference, according to the forecasts. Instead of lighter Southern winds, the Bora (NE) reappeared the Gulf of Trieste. Racing was delayed until noon. After that there was a fine and stable NE wind (17 to 22 knots), but quite some degrees C lower than most have expected. “There were some more problems on the second racing field for non-olympic classes. It seems that most of the crews of the 420 class haven't rounded the right mark. There is a hearing held after the protest placed by the RC”.

1 Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) (15)
2 Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) (19)
3 Walter Bajons & Rudi Weiss (AUT) (43 pts)
4 Florian Felzmann & Martin Lux (AUT) (52)
5 Maximilian Hubert-Reh & Sebastian Ziegler (GER) (54)
6 Domonkos Rozsnyay & Jonatan Czeizel (HUN) (55)
7 Reka Vigh & Zora Kiss (HUN) (62)
8 Magdalena & Sophia Hubert-Reh (GER) (63)
9 Vali Richter & Simon Bildstein (AUT) (87)
10 Jiri Dymak & Michal Steiner (CZE) (90)

Snow Hansen & Goodwin maintain lead in NZL Nationals 
Paul Snow Hansen and Ben Goodwin of Wakatere BC completed the 3rd day and 9 races on 20 points. Simon Cooke and Scott Illingsworth of Kohimaramara BC remained in contention on 28. Alexandria Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher of Murrays Bay and KeriKeri SCs moved up the fleet to 3rd on 51, but only 8 ahead of the next team.

News of the racing from the New Plymouth website: “Conditions for day 1 were light. Racing was delayed until 11.30 until the wind settled. The first race started with a 6-7 knot NE wind. A significant shift to the NW favoured boats that had worked the left hand side of the course. Race 2 was sailed in a 6 -7 knot NW wind. The 420's sailed a third race in a 8-9 knot NW wind. Three races were sailed for each class on Saturday. The wind strength increased from 10 knots to 16- 18 knots. Discards are now in play for each fleet. Sunday races were sailed in 7-9 knot SE winds. The 420's have now completed 9 races. A number of 420 crews now have 2 OCS's. The second discard kicks in after 11 races have been sailed”.

Sucari & Renna – 2006 South American 420 Champions 
Francsico Sucari & Francisco Renna of Argentina won the Championship in Rio de Janeiro with a race to spare Andrés Ducasse Soruco & Fernando Andrés Gwozdz of Chile took the Silver on the podium, while Martine Soffiatti Grael & Daniela Adler Pimentel Duarte of Brazil took the Bronze and became Women’s Champions – ahead of fellow country-women, Ana J. Jungen & Kahena Kunze and Manuela Busaro Barbachan & Ana Luiza Busato Barbachan. Fábio Galvanese Melchert & Fernando Cardial (BRA) were 4th overall and Benjamin Grez Ahrens & Carlos Vergara Infante (CHI).

If we hear more about the event….or even the gossip from the boatpark, we will bring this to you! Meanwhile, sounds like a great event, with strong participation from Chile and Argentina, as well as this year’s host, Brazil. Meanwhile, here are the top ten; for the full results published by Iate Clube de Janeiro click on the title above.
1 Francsico Sucari & Francisco Renna (ARG) 19,0
2 Andrés Ducasse Soruco & Fernando Andrés Gwozdz (CHI) 36,0
3 Martine Soffiatti Grael & Daniela Adler Pimentel Duarte (BRA) 44,0
4 Fábio Galvanese Melchert & Fernando Cardial (BRA) 49,0
5 Benjamin Grez Ahrens & Carlos Vergara Infante (CHI) 50,0
6 Bruno Verdino & Tirso Sanchez Brizuela (ARG) 65,0
7 Ana J. Jungen & Kahena Kunze (BRA) 67,0
8 Manuela Busaro Barbachan & Ana Luiza Busato Barbachan (BRA) 68,0
9 Juliana Siqueira Senfft & Gabriela Nocolio de Sá (BRA) 74.0
10 Felipe Haddad & Nicolas Castro (BRA) 81,0

Tur & Selles crowned Spanish National Champions 2008 
Toni Tur & Aleix Selles of Cataluña (CN Salou) took the closely contested Championships at Mar Menor, with a 1 pint lead over Silver winners, Hugo Fernandez & Sergio Cresp of Galicia (LC de Villagarcia) on 41, with Felipe Pare Jo & Pablo Fernandez of Andalucia (CN Sevilla) in 3rd on 48 pts.

Carlota Masana & Ana Lobo of Cataluña (CN Vilassar de Mar / CN Sevilla) won the Women’s, with Maria Grobas & Sonia Villar of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) 2nd and Agueda Suria & Sofia Basterra of Comunidad Valenciana (RCN Valencia / CN El Balis) in 3rd.

Carlos Serrano & Javier Hernan of the Canarias (RCN Bran Canaria) won the Silver Fleet.

Top ten below, with full Gold and Silver results attached.:
1 Toni Tur & Aleix Selles of Cataluña (CN Salou) (40 points)
2 Hugo Fernandez & Sergio Cresp of Galicia (LC de Villagarcia) (41)
3 Felipe Pare Jo & Pablo Fernandez of Andalucia (CN Sevilla) (46)
4 Nicolas Rodriguez & Ricardo Lor of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) (50)
5 David Omedes & Carles Gallart of Cataluña (CN Palamos & CN Prema) (50)
6 Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde of Galicia (LC de Villagarcia) (56)
7 Carlota Masana & Ana Lobo of Cataluña (CN Vilassar de Mar / CN Sevilla) (57)
8 Jorge Martinez & Tomas Ugalde of Canarias (RCN Gran Canaria) (58
9 Marc Pallicer & Joris Menno of the Baleares (CN S´Arenal) (73)
10 Maria Grobas & Sonia Villar of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) (73)

New Zealand National Championships underway at New Plymouth YC 
We are picking up results from New Plymouth (follow link above) and some information from the NZL Class Association , but, so far the first names of the sailors are (officially at least) elluding us. But some names do rather stand out in the mind, and the first two boats competing in their own special competition at this early stage are familiar! Racing continues to Monday.
1 Snow-Hansen & Goodwin (5 points)
2 Cooke & Illingworth (8)
3 Hansen & Drummond (19)
4 Lee & Bettle (21)
5 Snow-Hansen/Francis (21)

Top three runners still ARG, CHI, BRA in Rio 
After three days of very thorough races nine races, and with only one to go, Sucari & Renna are keeping their grip on the South American Championships 2008 in Rio de Janeiro. In second place, winning 3 of the last 4 races, the Chilean Andres Ducasse Soruco & the Argentinean (ex 470 campaigner) Fernando Gwozdz are fighting for that Gold Medal 14 points behind. A reservation on a podium place is being made by the Brazilians girls Martine Grael & Daniela Adler Pimentel Duarte, in 3rd with 40 pts. [Thanks to our man at the Buenos Aires 420 News Desk, Agustin Zappacosta, for special reporting]. Top ten results to date:
1 Francsico Sucari & Francisco Renna (ARG) 12,0
2 Andrés Ducasse Soruco & Fernando Andrés Gwozdz (CHI) 26,0
3 Martine Soffiatti Grael & Daniela Adler Pimentel Duarte (BRA) 40,0
4 Fábio Galvanese Melchert & Fernando Cardial (VRA) 42,0
5 Benjamin Grez Ahrens & Carlos Vergara Infante (CHI) 44,0
6 Bruno Verdino & Tirso Sanchez Brizuela (ARG) 50,0
7 Pedro Pablo Salzmann Mai & Miguel Ignacio Pérez Raby (CHI) 50,0
8 Nicolás Valdivieso Manubens & Benjamin Valdivieso Manubens (CHI) 61,0
9 Ana J. Jungen & Kahena Kunze (BRA) 66,0
10 Manuela Busaro Barbachan & Ana Luiza Busato Barbachan (BRA) 67,0

Tur & Selles regain the lead for Cataluña 
Toni Tur & Aleix Selles of Cataluña (CN Salou) lead on 29 points on Thursday night at the Campeonato de España 420 at Mar Menor. Evidently some close sailing and the championship will be decided on the fimal day.
2 Hugo Fernandez & Sergio Cresp of Galicia (LC de Villagarcia) (30)
3 Nicolas Rodriguez & Ricardo Lor of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) (33)
4 Felipe Pare Jo & Pablo Fernandez of Andalucia (CN Sevilla) (35)
5 Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde of Galicia (LC de Villagarcia) (38)
6 David Omedes & Carles Gallart of Cataluña (CN Palamos & CN Prema) (38)
7 Maria Grobas & Sonia Villar of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) (46)

Sucari & Renna lead at South Americans 
4 bullets in 6 races give the Franciscos, Sucari & Renna from YC Argentino an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, tied on 22 points each, Andrés Ducasse Soruco & Fernando Andrés Gwozdz of Chile and leading women’s team, Martine Soffiatti Grael & Daniela Adler Pimentel Duarte of Brazil. Hot competition in Rio!

Gago & Conde just ahead of Tur & Selles on Day 2 in Spain 
Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde of Galicia (LC de Viilagarcia), with two bullets and a 3rd on day 2 (and after 6 races) have taken over the lead in the Spanish National Championships by I point over day 1 leaders, Toni Tur & Aleix Selles, of Cataluña (CN Salou) on 13 pts. Nicolas Rodriguez & Ricardo Lor of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) dropped to 3rd on 19 pts and David Omedes & Carles Gallart of Cataluña (CN Palamos & CN Prema) are 4th on 22 pts. Maria Grobas & Sonia Villar of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) continue to lead the women and are in 10th overall in the fleet of 95 boats.

Mr "No! That centreboard is still too thick" rules in Rio 
Francisco Sucari’s Tuesday report from Rio de Janeiro, as Measurement finally concluded: “After the second day of measurement control, all the boats met with the regulations in order to beginning racing on Wednesday. Throughout the day the voice of the rigorous measurer, Alexander Finsterbusch, was heard repeating over and over again, ‘No! That centreboard is still too thick’. More than half of the sailors were spotted ruthlessly sandpapering their centerboards for long hours under the sun. One of the many was Tirso Sanchez who, once their boat was fully approved said, "We are relieved that our centerboard finally met the maximum thickness. Now we only need to concentrate on sailing fast tomorrow and be careful with the currents."

Elsewhere, more relaxed. Francisco Sucari, coommented, "Luckily for us, we didn't have any troubles with our centerboard, so we could concentrate 100% on our boat. The key for tomorrow is to have a good night's rest and maintain the concentration throughout the day." The Chilean fleet were also present during the day as they waited long hours with their boats before they got the last "OK" from the Measurer.

The forecast for tomorrow is of light winds and lots of sun as the 2008 420 South American Championship gets under way.

Tur & Selles head up Day 1 at Mar Menor 
Toni Tur & Aleix Selles of Cataluña (CN Salou) lead on 7 points after 3 races at the end of Day 1 at the Campeonato de España 420. Nicolas Rodriguez & Ricardo Lor of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) are running 2nd on 9 pts, While David Omedes & Carles Gallart of Cataluña (CN Palamos & CN Prema) are 3rd on 14 pts. Maria Grobas & Sonia Villar of Galicia (RCN de Vigo) lead the women and are in 4th overall (17 pts)

Spanish National Championships start today 
....well, you can see the poster! We think the sailors in the poster are F Ayuso & M S«nchez of RCN Sant Ribera in the Murciana region of Spain.

Team Argentina reaches Rio for the South American Championship 
Our news team from Argentina are busy again! Our man-on-the-water, Francisco Sucari, has filed the following report on the intrepid team’s journey and arrival for the South American Championship: “After 3000 km of dangerous roads and heavy rains, the Argentine team arrived at Iate Clube Rio de Janeiro on Saturday afternoon. The only two boats from Argentina travelled in a trailer all the way from Buenos Aires!!! Again, Verdino-Sanchez Brizuela and Sucari-Renna will be the ones in charge of representing our country”. And on Sunday, Agustin Zappacosta, who they have left i/c of the news desk back home in Buenos Aires, says “they told me they were looking forward to sailing in the difficult currents of Rio. As Verdino said, ‘We are anxious to start the championship here, we hope the winds pick up and the rain stops!’. And Francisco Renna commented on the venue, ‘The Guanabara Bay is a very difficult racing area, with lots of different currents and changing tides. Luckily the winds will pick up and make a great four days of racing’. Also travelling with the team, Genaro Maggi, their ever-present coach [we hear he graduated since he led his team to Istanbul at last year’s Europeans (ed)] said, ‘There is a competitive field, with a couple of Chilean boats and the local Brazilians. With only one discard in 10 races the margins for error will be very small, so it will probably be a very close competition".

We would very much like to hear from Brazil and Chile too! Meanwhile, racing starts on Wednesday, 19 March and news will surely first be found on the Iate Clube de Janeiro website (go to Vela > Calendário 2008 > Campeonato Sul Americano)

The women rule the waves at the Campeonato Sudeste Brasileiro! 
The Campeonato Sudeste Brasileiro held at the Iate Clube de Janeiro this last weekend is an indicator for the South American 420 Championship that starts on Wednesday. And who leads? Juliana Senfft & Gabriela Sá on countback from Manuela Busaro & Ana Luiza Busaro Barbachan (both 17 points) with Geórgia Rodrigues & Amanda Rodrigues da Silva in 3rd (23 pts). And the honour of the men was in the hands of the Chilean team, Pedro Pablo Salzmann Mai & Miguel Ignacio Pérez Raby, who took 4th on 25 points, followed by mixed team, Letícia Nicolino de Sá & Eduardo Castro Bigno in 5th on 27. But what will happen in the Campeonato Sul Americano later this week? (we carry news from the Argentinean team elsewhere).

Hansen & Drummond take Sail Auckland 
Christine Hansen writes: “Great to see twenty 420's racing in this year's Sail Auckland off Kohimarama Beach. Typically, the conditions were shifty, pretty fresh and featured lots of extra traffic - ferries, keelers, motor boats, even a 100 ft plus super yacht, going around and through the course.... not to mention the class photographer dropping the old boat's sails a bit close to the finish (sorry James and George, you really didn't need that). Newcomers to the class, Marcus Hansen and Finn Drummond have been rewarded for their consistently good results including four 1st placings over four days of racing coming first overall (28pts), followed by Napier pair Wade Tresadern and Ben Goodwin (27pts) who had a great last day with two bullets, with heavy weather experts Emma and Sarah Berry one point behind in third (38pts) and first girl crew”.

Thanks to Christine Hansen of the NZL 420 Class for bringing us the story and for her photos of the fray (even if she was helping to create it!). The Final Results are here.

Jodie Bakewell-White has filed her press report on Day 2 of the Sail Auckland Olympic Classes event. Continuing information on the Event Website.

Hansen & Drummond lead at Auckland 
We now have the results of Day 3 of the 420 series (Day 1 of senior Sail Auckland). Marcus Hansen & Finn Drummond have pulled up from 5th to take a 6 point lead (26 pts). Thomas Saunders & Chris Steele are 2nd and Frankie Lardies and David Hazard are 3rd (on countback), tying on 32 points. Sarah & Emma Berry are 4th on 34 pts, as are Wade Tresadern & Ben Goodwin in 5th, while those ladies who did the grand tour of 420 Europe last year, Susannah Pyatt & Danielle Bowater are in 7th on 36 pts and Alex Maloney & Bianca Bacher are 7th on 41 pts

Sail Auckland have issued their Day 1 Press Release on the Olympic Classes event. There seems to be a problem reading some of the results that have been posted on the Event Website, as at 10.15 GMT on 16/02/07. Hopefully, this will soon be sorted, but, meanwhile, our magician (aka webmaster), Jamie has solved the problem for us - click on the header.

420 action hots up at Sail Auckland 
It is all happening in the Southern Hemisphere right now! Argentina…now New Zealand. We have news of 420 racing at Sail Auckland. Last weekend the 420s had two days of a four day series of racing and a further two will be held this weekend as part of the Sail Auckland 2008 Olympic Classes event.

The results from the first weekend are attached. Wade Tresadern & Ben Goodwin have the lead on 19 points, with Frankie Lardies & David Hazard on 21 and, leading women, Sarah & Emma Berry on 31 points.

A scan of the results so far shows that the youth sailors of NZL are very much in business after their across the board podium wins at last year’s Takapuna Worlds and the subsequent migration of many of their most experienced sailors to (or back to) the Olympic Classes since. There is new talent joining some more seasoned 420 teams. We have a short review of developments in New Zealand.

.....and Christine Hansen has filed her first week's photos (see Photo Gallery)

Sucari & Renna won by one from Verdino & Sanchez 
Really exciting sailing at the Semana de Mar del Plata 2008 by the look of the awesome photos from Matias Capizzano of www.capizzano.com. Many of us will remember Francisco Sucari & Francisco Renna and Bruno Verdino & Tirso Sanchez Brizuela at the Europeans in Istanbul. Their competition continued through the seventeen races last week on the seas of the Puerto de Mar del Plata in Argentina. Looks like they are shaping up for another competitive year in 2008, with the South American Championship coming up and then the Worlds in Athens. Although these two teams evidently revelled in the very demanding conditions last week, it is really pleasing to see all the sailors who competed (well, at least the spray they made anyway!) in Matias Capizzano’s photos, many of which appear in our latest Photo Gallery.

Semana de Mar del Plata 
Se dió por finalizada la Semana de Mar del Plata!
Después de 17 regatas, terminó el Campeonato Selectivo para el Mundial de la Clase que se llevará a cabo en Grecia en Julio próximo.
El viento y una ola profunda se hicieron presentes en el Campeonato.

Las principales posiciones quedaron de la siguiente manera:
1° Sucari-Renna 26 Ptos.
2° Verdino-Sanchez Brizuela 27 Ptos.
3° Volker-Cunill Martinez 40 Ptos.
Excelente organización del Yacht Club Argentino y el Club Náutico Mar del Plata.

Argentina complete 2008 Worlds trials at Mar del Plata 
Agustin Zappacosta writes: “After eight intense days of sailing, the Semana de Yachting came to an end in Mar del Plata. With winds ranging from 20 to 30+ knots throughout the whole week, the 420's were treated to extreme conditions and very rough seas. After 17 races the top position was heavily contested, as the crew of Sucari-Renna took first place on a one point margin from fellow competitors Verdino-Sanchez Brizuela. As the Championship came to an end, all the competitors were glad to have taken part in the event. As Sucari said, 'It was a great week with pretty consistent heavy winds. Luckily these conditions helped us improve our level in sight of the Worlds in Athens later this year'. Meanwhile, Tirso Sanchez said when asked about the heavy conditions on the last day; 'It was great fun out there, the adrenaline levels were very high, and the 30+ knots were a massacre!', he joked. The Argentine 420 fleet will now look forward to taking part in this year's South American Championship to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil”.

Where in Athens are the Worlds? 
The Worlds 2008 Championship website went live at the beginning of January.

As well as the Notice of Race and information about transportation, accommodation and charter boats, it has a couple of aerial photographs of the venue - at the Marina Delta Falirou in the Faliron Olympic 2004 Coastal Zone Complex. The one to be found in “Photos” shows the site of the event (Nautical Club of Tzitzifies - Kallithea) in relation to Athens, Piraeus and Paleo Faliro. The event website also has a helpful link to instructions on driving to the venue from the ferry port of Patra (see link at bottom of home page).

We asked Niki Anastasiou of the Worlds Organising Committee for some more information about where the venue is situated and some hints on how to get around - see attached Information Note. We also found lots of useful information and photos by googling the Olympic sites, and the Athens Tourism website is helpful (with a useful description of the tram stops).

Καλή ναυσιπλοϊ'α στην Αθήνα! Good sailing in Athens! In the meantime, all coaches will be testing their sailors on their knowledge of the Greek alphabet.

Junior Euros - Final NoR 
Final Notice of Race for the Junior 420 and 470 European Championships to be held in Zadar, Croatia from 7 to 15 August has been published. Event information may be found in the Racing Event Calendar.

Gilmour & Noe and Koelemij & Vos win Australian Youths 
It looks as though there was no race on the last day as the Final Fresults (after 9 races) are published - click above. Lara Watts has filed her report.

420 - Boys
1. David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA) - Gold
2. Edlad Campbell & James Omay (WA) - Silver
3. Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC) - Bronze

420 – Girls
1. Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA) - Gold
2. Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby (SA) - Silver
3. Ashley Carney & Claire Bryan (NSW) - Bronze

Koelemij & Vos take lead for Aus women 
After 9 races, two discards and a 1st and a 2nd to their names in the overall racing, Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos (WA) have jumped into the lead in the Women’s competition at the Australian Youths by 4 points. Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby (SA) are in 2nd and Ashley Carney (NSW)\, with her crew still a mystery, in spite of our enquiries!

David Gilmour & Andres Noe (WA) now have a lead of 8 points in the men’s, bringing their score of bullets to 5 on the third day of the Championships. Edward Campbell & James Omay (WA have a 13 point lead over Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (VIC).

Lara Watts’ Day 3 Report on the Championship includes comments from David Gilmour, son of Peter Gilmour, \the Match Racing Champion. The event concludes on Thursday.
STOP PRESS: mystery solved. Claire Bryan.is Ashley's crew...Crews Rule, OK?!, Clare. Thanks Natalie at Yachting Australia!

Gilmour & Noe hold lead, just 
With two bullets on Day 2 at the Australian Youth Championships, but a 9th in Race 6, David Gilmour & Andres Noe will be looking forward to a discard. One point behind them into day 3, Edward Campbell & James Omay are on 18, 19 points ahead of Henry Say & James Owen-Smith and Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos, both on 37 pts.

Lauren Thregold & Megan Soulsby lead the women by 19 points from Ashley Carney & her crew, currently known at “TBA”! Sanne Koelemij & Breanna Vos are on their tails, 4 points behind.

See Yachting Australia’s Day 2 report.

David Gilmour & Andres Noe ahead at Aus Youths 
We have Monday’s Day 1 results from the Australian Youth Champs after 3 races (follow link) - curiously single-handed though! Leaders so far (we do it with crews!):
1 David Gilmour & Andres Noe (7 points)
2 Edward Campbell & James Omay (10 pts)
3 Henry Say & James Owen-Smith (12 pts)
4 Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos (21 pts)
5 Lauren Thredgold & & Megan Soulsby (24 pts)
6 Luke Stephens & Rhys Collins (24 pts)

World Championships 2008 
A new web site for the 2008 World Championships in Athens, Greece has been launched, including useful information on accommodation and reduced price transportation.

Australian Youth Champs get underway 
OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship 2008 is scheduled to kick off at Frankston Yacht Club today with a practice race, but the main action will be from Monday to Thursday.

On the basis of their performance at the recent Australian Nationals, we can expect some hot competition involving at least David Gilmour & Andres Noe, Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe, Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos, Edward Campbell & James Omay and Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby (those Psycho Chicks)!

Liu & Cheng in Photo News 
Sherman Cheng and Justin Liu - winners at the Junior Europeans 2007 and South East Asia Games in Thailand and, now, winners of the Australian National 29er Championships - have just got their own Photo News - click on navigation menu

Garbay & Nebout Javal win at Blanes 
Early confirmation of the results from the 2008 Grand Prix Vila de Blanes arrived photographically - posted on the CV Blanes' website with the podium line-up! This appears on this page on our Rolling Photos.

1. Maxime Garbay & Achille Nebout Javal of YC Mauguio Carnon, France
2. Gabriel Skoczek & Thibaut Soler (YC Mauguio Carnon) - 1st Youth
3. Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED) - 1st Women

For the full story see Noticias on EsportCatala.com and for photographs go to CV Blanes

Cli-Ca 420 Clinic 2007 in Tarragona 
We attach a brief pictorial report on the first 420 Training Clinic held in Tarragona, near Barcelona from 27 - 30 December. More on Cli-Ca. More inmages on our Photo Gallery.

Garbay/Nebout Javal & Skoczek/Soler lead at Blanes in Cataluña 
News of the Intl Grand Prix Vila de Blanes regatta is just coming through after three days and three races – looks like light winds on the Catalan coast. The French YC Mauguio Carnon teams, Maxime Garbay & Achille Nebout Javal and Gabriel Skoczek & Thibaut Soler are in 1st and 2nd, both on 6 points. Nina Keijzer & Anneloes van Veen (NED) are 3rd (10 pts), Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (AUT) 4th (13 pts), Walter B & Rudi Weiss (AUT) 5th (15 pts), S.Pelisson & N.Rossi of YC CAVALAIRE (FRA) 6th (20 pts) and A Brugarolas & J Pibernat, YC Blanes (ESP) 7th (21 pts). One day left….we wish them wind!

Later: So lights were the winds that they had none for two days, apparently; but finally they got underway on Saturday. “At last the wind has appeared in the Bay of Blanes: the conditions have not been the best but thanks to the dexterity and hard work of the Race Committee, three races have been completed. Northerly winds increased their intensity through the day, building to 21 knots at the last” – CV Blanes

Kivell & Taylor retain Australian National title 
With one further race on the last day, Sam Kivell & Max Taylor held their overnight lead to take the Australian National Championship at Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne by 5 points from David Gilmour & Andres Noe, With a gap of 28 points over the following pack, this had been a hard fought duel.

Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe took 3rd (49 points), followed closely by Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos (51) and Edward Campbell & James Omay (59). Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby took 6th and won the Women’s competition with a 9 point lead over their nearest rivals, Jacqueline Gurr & Emma Flukes.

Liu & Cheng triumph in Australia 
Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng of Singapore, have won the Australian National Championship by 12 points (3 days, 9 races). Winners of the 420 Junior Europeans 2007 in Medemblik, the 2008 Asian Games in Dohar and, just a few weeks ago, the South East Asian Games in the 420, these guys had four days turnaround after their return from Pattaya, Thailand to set off to Melbourne. They certainly seem to have made the switch again and set out their stall for the forthcoming 29er Worlds in Melbourne.

Kivell &Taylor have the lead, just, at Melbourne 
After a further two races and into the final day of the Australian 420 Nationals, Sam Kivell & Max Taylor have a small 5 point lead over their rivals, David Gilmour & Andres Noe, in spite of the latter’s 2 + 1 scores today. These two boats have a thwacking 22 point lead over the rest of the pack, where Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe are in 2rd (39 points), followed closely by Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos (40) – so another close fight for a podium place. Edward Campbell & James Omay are also in with a shout on 46 points. Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby have an 8 point lead lead in the women’s competition.

Kivell/Taylor & Gilmour/Noe dual is on! 
After three days and eight races at the Australian Nationals in Melbourne, last year's top competitors Sam Kivell & Max Taylor and David Gilmour & Andres Noe are locked in a dual. Both on 15 points, some 19 ahead of the next group, Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos (34), Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe (35) and Edward Campbell & James Omay (38). Leading women, Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby (the “Psycho Chickens) are in 6th and Jacqueline Gurr & Emma Flukes (aboard “Morning Mist”) are but five points behind them.

Meanwhile, our men in the 29ers, Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng of Singapore, have won the Australian National Championship by 12 points (3 days, 9 races). Winners of the 420 Junior Europeans 2007 in Medemblik and just a few weeks ago the South East Asian Games in the 420, these guys had four days turnaround after their return from Pattaya, Thailand to set off to Melbourne. They certainly seem to have made the switch and set out their stall for the forthcoming 29er Worlds in Melbourne.

Wielu sukcesów w Nowym Roku : All success for the New Year 
“Wszystkim zawodnikom, trenerom i sympatykom klasy 420 składamy najserdeczniejsze życzenia szczęśliwych Świąt i wielu sukcesów w Nowym Roku” - Zarząd Stowarzyszenia Klasy 420 & Administracja strony

The Polish 420 Class send: “all sailors, coaches and supporters of the 420 Class, most cordial wishes for happy holidays and every success in the new year” [roughly translated, that is!]

Meilleurs Voeux 2008 
Hey, we just received a New Year, Best Wishes for 2008, card from Christian Berhault, on behalf of the French 420 Class!

Une très bonne année à tout français 420 marins !

[Our initial (poor) translation of "Meilleurs Voeux" was 'Better Vows' - the winning sort, perhaps?!]

Women & Youth coming through in R4&5 at Melbourne 
Youth team, Matthew Jerwood & Patrick Vos took Sunday’s first race (R4), from women’s youth team, Lauren Thredgold & Megan Soulsby, with Whittington & Sharpe in 3rd. In Race 5, Samuel Kivell & Max Taylor were back on top with Edward Campbell & James Omay in 2nd and Henry Say & James Owen-Smith in 3rd, but with three women’s teams close on their heals.

No cumulative results to the end of Sunday’s racing yet posted, but it looks like lots of open competition! But, with a 5th in R4, Kivel & Taylor have probably held their own, and Whittington & Sharpe’s 7th in R5 will have also kept them in the running.

Oh, by the way, winners of the 420 Junior Europeans 2007 and the SEA Games 2007 in the 420, Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng of Singapore are leading the Australian 29er Nationals after 6 races!

Gilmour & Noe lead AUS Nats on 1st Day 
After three races and a “hard slog”, David Gilmour & Andres Noe of Royal Freshwater Bay, Silver winners last year, took the lead at the Australian National Championships at Sandringham Bay YC in Melbourne. Sam Kivell & Max Taylor, current National Champions, are in 2nd on 9 points, with Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe, following their triumph at SIRs in Sydney before Christmas, in close contention on 10 points.

The “wind was a hot Northerly land breeze, 10-13 knots for Race 1. Dave Gilmour took the race. Race 2 was again a mixed bag with a very shifty race. Race 3 was started in 5-6 knts, hot, and the wind gradiating to the south until the second work when a Southerly front came through, 18-28knts catching a good portion of the fleet wrong footed. There were capsizes, broken forestays and a few shredded sails”, says our man on the spot, Allan Carney. Sounds like a good 420 event!

Results are posted on the regatta website on Sail Melbourne and daily reports from Allan Carney appear on the Australian 420 Class website.

Australian 420 Nationals have bumper entry 
Australia has 43 boats for the 420 Nationals 2008 in Melbourne – and that’s without overseas entries. To quote Allan Carney: “the amazing thing here is that at an Australian Nationals, we have 45 Intenational 420's and this is on top of the 29er Worlds and the selected youth boat being the 29er on the same waters with almost equal number of boats! What a great start to the next 3 years of 420 domination down under”. All sounds good for the event that runs to Thursday, 3rd January

Whittington & Sharpe win at Sydney 
Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe (Western Australia) took the 420 competition by one point from Amy Kivell & Kate Aulich (Victoria) who had led the event until the final day and are the leading women. Brothers, Matthew & Benjamin Taylor (New South Wales) were 3rd, Karl Bromfield & Marcus Conway (NSW) 4th and Lucinda Whitty & Kimberley Wilmot (NSW) 5th and 2nd women’s boat.

Di Pearson of SIRs reports: “A West Australian pair made the podium....when Mark Whittington/Scott Sharpe won gold in the 420 class. The West Australian Youth Development program is coming along well, with many great 420 and 470 sailors making a name for themselves. Kivell is another name we're used to seeing on trophies, and it was no different at SIRs today when Amy Kivell/Kate Aulich (Vic) overcame 16 other female and male crews to grab silver in the 420 double-handed class” [see Sail-world.com]

Kivell & Aulich hold on in stiff winds at Sydney 
After the light winds on Sunday at the Sydney International Regatta, Day 3 saw stronger winds at Woollahra SC, several injuries in other fleets and the abandonment of racing for the 4.7s. “The day started well enough with a steady southerly breeze, but winds coming from the south and south-west increased once racing was under way, with strong winds in the 25 knot range and big gusts hitting the various Olympic and Youth classes sailing at the Yachting NSW organised event”, says sail-world.com. See also Di Pearson’s report on Yachts & Yachting.

With one race for the 420s today, Amy Kivell & Kate Aulich, having discarded a 12th and having top 4 results across the board to count, retained the lead on 12 points. But, with a further bullet and a strengthened performance after Day 1, Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe took over the 2nd slot with 17 points. Matthew & Benjamin Taylor go into the final day on 19 points.

The SIR is being used by several countries as a key event in the Olympic Classes calendar in preparation for Beijing 2008. Among them are many ex-420 sailors, and the experience here must be great for the Australian youth sailors participating in the 420 fleet.

Kivell & Aulich maintain lead at Sydney 
Amy Kivell & Kate Aulich held their position on 9 points after race 5 at the Sydney International Regatta. But Matthew & Benjamin Taylor moved up from 4th to 2nd on 11 points, while Mark Whittington & Scott Sharpe moved up to 3rd on 16 points, two ahead of Alexander Bromfield & Patrick Conway.

SIN 420 (& ex-420) sailors hit Gold 
Junior Europeans winners Justin Liu & Sherman Cheng returned to Changi International from the SEA Games in Pattaya, Thailand triumphant again. Raffles Institution student Justin, was accompanied homeward by an equally triumphant big sister, Dawn Liu. The previous 420 Women’s Champion helm from the last SEA Games in Manila in 2005 , Dawn was celebrating again this week. With her crew, former hurdler, Elizabeth Tan, they took the Women’s 470 Gold in Thailand, an important step in their Olympic journey. And Elizabeth’s sister, Sara, featured on the wire in our Rolling Photos over the last week or so, took Silver in the Women’s 420, with her helm, Jovina Chew. 420 sailing seems to be flourishing in Singapore….and a largely family affair! For much coverage and welcome-home photos see SingaporeSailing's website (linked above).

Thai women and Singaporean men win Golds 
Justin Liou & Sherman Cheng won the 420 Men's Gold medal for Singapore at the bi-annual SEA Games today in Pattaya, Thailand. Villena & Lester Troy Tayong of the Philipines, following their win at the Hong Kong International Regattta in September, took the Silver, while Ku Anas Ku Kamil & Amir Muizz Djamaludin of Malaysia, the Bronze. Justin & Sherman won the open competition at the 420 Junior Europeans in August and have amply demonstrated their skills in the different challenges of large and small fleet competition.

Meanwhile, Booncherd Duanghathai & Poonsirikot Angkana of Thailand have won the Gold medals in the Women's 420 competition. Jovina Choo & Sara Tan of Singapore took Silver and Sandar Wai Su & Nyo Lin Knin of Myanmar, Bronze; both teams having also campaigned the 420 Junior Europeans this year.

420 Results are on our Results page (linked above) and the full Sailing Results are on the SEA Games website.

Mahjong & Japanese lunch for SIN team, while CEO worries about lottery 
News filtered through from the lay day at the SEA Games in Pattaya, Thailand via The Straits Times – we only have Singaporean news, how about you? Anyway news sleuth, Jeanette Wang, writes: “It was a busy day for Singapore's 25-strong sailing team in Pattaya yesterday. Mahjong, online gaming, shopping, getting temporary tattoos by the beach and a scrumptious Japanese lunch. Chatter and laughter filled up most of their hours. The mood among the tightly bonded team was relaxed and upbeat. No one could have guessed that this was a group of athletes in the midst of competition at the 24th South-east Asia Games” (we could, sound just like thos laid back guys when they came to Medemblik in August [ed]). Apparently, SingaporeSailing President and chef de mission, Low Teo Ping upped the gold-medal target , but even this failed to twitch any nerves! The usual daily 7.45am physical training went ahead, but sounds pretty much games on the lay day, when the team's burly, strength and conditioning coach, Quintin Roman, got rugby-tackled by his charges and thrown into the swimming pool.

Team manager (& SingaporeSailing CEO) Andrew Sanders remained cautious: “It’s still early to talk about medals. Conditions over the past few days have been very tricky, with predominantly light winds suddenly dying down. It’s like a lottery out there. There isn’t one race where the points’ margin is very wide. All the teams are still very close to each other, and with the tricky conditions, just a single bad day is enough to turn the tide against us.”

Suria & Basterra (ESP), Stavrou & Orfanos (GRE) win Imperia 
The Greek armada sailed into Imperia (see Fabio Taccola’s photo) and Vasilis Tsokaras & Alexandros Mogadam looked strong last night, but with a black flag today in this one-race-a-day Imperia Winter Regatta, that was not to be. But the Greek team was there with back-up!

Michalis Stavrou & Ioannis Orfanos (YC Rufina) won the event. GBRs Ben Saxton & David de Boltz (Grafham Water SC) pulled it back today and took the silver slot to split the Greek team on the podium tonight. Marios Petrogonas & Faidon Kounas (YC of Greece) were 3rd, Agostino Amoretti & Edoardo Raimondo and Giovanni Meloni & Alessandro Gemini 4th and 5th.

Agueda Suria & Sofia Basterra from Valencia, Spain, scoring consistently well throughout the four Women’s races, took first place! Barbera & Bocca Giulia of SC Garda Salò also demonstrated the benefits of consistency and moved up the steps of the podium to the silver slot on the final day. Giuditta Di Laghi & Elena Gandolfo of CN Albenga took the 3rd place. Katerina & Sofia Kaitatsidou and Afroditi Kiranakou & Elena Nikiforidi, both of Greece, took 4th and 5th.

Fernandez & Crespo win the 57* Trofeo Ciutat de Palma 
Hugo Fernandez & Sergi Crespo took top podium slot at Palma today. Fellow Galicians, Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde were 2nd and, one point behind, local sailors, Xavier Torrens & Xisco Socias (CN Arenal) were 3rd. María Canovas Gonzalez & Ana Lobo Ramirez (F.A.C.) were the leading women’s team.

1. Hugo Fernandez & Sergi Crespo (LC Vilagarcia) 20 pts
2. Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde (LC Vilagarcia) 26 pts
3. Xavier Torrens & Xisco Socias (CN Arenal) 27 pts
4. David Omedes (CVP) & Carles Gallart (CNP) 30 pts
5. Adolfo Berrocal Ferrer & Allain Herman (CN Sant Antoni de Portmany) 40 pts
6. Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (CN Salou) 45 pts
7. Macià Alemany Porcel (RCN Palma) & Joan Fullana (CV Andraitx) 46 pts
8. María Canovas Gonzalez & Ana Lobo Ramirez (F.A.C.) 49 pts
9. Felipe Parejo Herrera & Pablo Fernandez Palacio (CN Sevilla) 57 pts
10. Santi & David Mas Depares (CN El Masnou) 71 pts

Thai women take the lead...in style! 
After three races on Sunday at the SEA Games, the Thai team, Booncherd Duanghathai & Poonsirikot Angkana, have taken the lead, with three bullets! Jovina Choo & Sara Tan (SIN) are 2nd and Sandar Wai Su & Nyo Lin Knin (Myanmar) 3rd.

In the men’s, Justin Liou & Sherman Cheng (Singapore) retain their lead. Ku Anas Ku Kamil & Amir Muizz Djamaludin (Malaysia) are 2nd and Emerson Villena & Lester Troy Tayong (Philipines) 3rd. ….but there are five more days’ racing to go!

Great images from Imperia & Palma, plus Imperia results 
We are getting great photos tonight - some already on the Rolling Photos and more to come, with some also posted on the Photo Gallery - from both Fabio Taccolo in Imperia and Nico Martinez in Palma..

Following a bit of a bottleneck in accessing the results from Imperia for Saturday (Popular website!), we have caught up. Some strong gusts over 20 knots of wind were reported by PR supremo, Laura Jelmini, who had first-hand experience having sailed the course with the Minister of Tourism!
Agueda Suria & Sofia Basterra of Spain held their first place after Saturday’s one race, but shared 4 points with Federica Wetzl & Marta Parladori, so the pressure is on for the last day’s racing! Barbera & Bocca Giulia were in 3rd overnight on 12 points.
In the Open competition, the Greek team, Vasilis Tsokaras & Alexandros Mogadam took the lead on 3 points. In 2nd their team-mates, Marios Petrogonas & Faidon Kounas and in third, leading Italian team, Lorenzo Gemini & Francesco Chessa Orru' were both on 9 pts. More close competition to be resolved on Sunday.

Fernandez & Crespo back on top at Palma 
Hugo Fernandez & Sergi Crespo pulled it back today in the Bay of Palma. Going into Sunday with a 10 point lead over Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde, who had to count an earlier 13 th after finishing the last race in 16th. Local boys, Xavier Torrens & Xisco Socias (CN Arenal) are on 24 pts in 3rd and David Omedes (CVP) & Carles Gallart (CNP) on 25 pts in 4th, while Macià Alemany Porcel (RCN Palma) & Joan Fullana (CV Andraitx) are in 5th (28 pts). Adolfo Berrocal Ferrer & Allain Herman (CN Sant Antoni de Portmany) and Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (CN Salou) are both on 38 points. María Canovas Gonzalez & Ana Lobo Ramirez (F.A.C.) are the leading women in 8th place.

Exciting competition into the last day of the event!

SEA Games get underway 
In the first races of the event at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Pattaya in Thailand, Singapore took the lead in the men’s and women’s fleets, with Myanmar 2nd in the women’s and Malaysia 2nd in the men’s. Women: 1. Jovina Bei Fen Choo & Sara Li Ching Tan (SIN); 2. Sandar Wai Su & Nyo Lin Knin (MYA); 3. Booncherd Duanghathai & Poonsirikot Angkana (THA). Men: 1. Justin Yinman Liou & Sherman Feng Yuan Cheng (SIN); 2. Min Min & La Kyaw Nay (MYA); 3. Emerson Villena & Lester Troy Tayong (PHI).

Singaporeans reject Thai iceberg theory & deep-fried grub 
Apparently the practice races at Pattaya for the SEA Games went ahead satisfactorily in 15 – 18 knots of breeze yesterday and a short, sharp opening ceremony (just what sailors like, we believe!), at which everyone had a good time. The SIN Coach was not so good in the morning when he found his fibreglass and, supposedly, unsinkable Boston Whaler mysteriously submerged (foul play was ruled out, but the sailors wondered if it was a cunning coach's ruse to get closer to the race course under the water!). SingaporeSailing is evidently keen on nutrition as they had to reject food provided by the organisers - “We couldn’t accept the food because it was deep fried,” said team manager Andrew Sanders, who is also SingaporeSailing’s chief executive officer. We were not surprised to learn that the SINs main competition in the 420s is anticipated from Myanmar (who also sent a team to Europe this year). “Unlike international regattas where the fleets are much larger, the fleets in the SEA Games are much smaller, around six per class. So the points will be far closer and tighter and the sailors must adapt to this……although it may not be as big as some other international regattas, the SEA Games is special, and with it comes a lot of expectation and pressure on the sailors to deliver”, Sanders told Tan Yo-Hinn of Singapore’s “Today”. Full stories available on the SingaporeSailing website.

Suria & Basterra and Gemini & Chessa Orru' start first at Imperia 
Agueda Suria Palop of RCN Valencia & Sofia Basterra Moyua of CN El Balis took the first race of the 2007 Imperia Winter Regatta fopr Spain in the Women’s Fleet of 41 entries. Federica Wetzl & Marta Parladori of SV Barcola Grignano took 2nd, while Federica Sciuto & ViolaMonaci of CDV Roma 3rd.

In an Open Fleet of 52 entries, Lorenzo Gemini & Francesco Chessa Orru' of Ass Sport Dil YC won the only race of the day. Vasilis Tsokaras & Alexandros Mogadam of YC Rafina, Greece were 2nd and Ben Saxton & David de Boltz of Grafham Water SC, UK were 3rd.

Gago & Conde challenge Fernandez & Crespo at Palma 
Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde, with the first discard kicking in and another bullet in today’s three races, take the lead, but on countback on equal points with yesterday’s leaders Hugo Fernandez & Sergi Crespo. Both teams are Atlantic sailors from LC Vilagarcía. But will the Galicians be able to resist the challenge from the Balears in home waters? Macià Alemany Porcel (RCN Palma) & Joan Fullana (CV Andraitx), who led for Spain at the 2007 Europeans in Istanbul (6th in the Gold Fleet), also had a good day. They discarded 18 points from the first race yesterday to bring them from 8th overnight to 3rd tonight, but still have an 11 points gap from the leaders. María Canovas Gonzalez & Ana Lobo Ramirez (F.A.C.) still lead for the women and move up to 6th overall.

Images of 420 sailors in action 
We have three major international events running at once and at least three crack photographers on the job!

Nico Martinez - prolific, professional dinghy racing and yachting photographer - is busy at the 57* Trofeo Ciutat de Palma in Mallorca - and images are coming in daily!

At Imperia Winter Regatta, author of the "Sea Book" and marine photographer, Fabio Taccola has already caught the 420 arrivals in the boatpark (while featuring the Lasers on the water at the beginning of the week). We anticipate bringing some of the images of 420s on the water that will be featured in high resolution in the IWR Sea Book 2007 edition.

The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) sailing events are also about to start. We are not sure whether there will be a photographer on the water, but the Singaporean team have had a skilful (but, so far, anonymous) cameraman on their coach boat at Pattaya in Thailand, reporting back to the SingaporeSailing very informative website, so we hope to be able to "borrow" a few from them too! (thanks, Shu Fen!)

As there are so many Rolling through on the News page at the moment (just keep clicking and coming back!), we will create Photo Galleries as and when we can find the time.

Meanwhile, if you have 420 news, photos or gossip, click on "Submit News / Photos".

Ferrnandez & Crespo lead at Palma 
Hugo Fernandez & Sergi Crespo (LC Vilagarcia) have 4 points after two races on the first day’s racing in the Bay of Palma. Toni Tur Boned & Aleix Selles Vidal (CN Salou) are 2nd on 6 pts, Santi & David Mas Depares (CN El Masnou) 3rd on 9 pts, Xavier Torrens & Xisco Socias (CN Arenal) 4th on 13 pts and Bruno Gago & Cesar Conde (LC Vilagarcia) are 5th on 14 pts.

María Canovas Gonzalez & Ana Lobo Ramirez (F.A.C.) lead the women in 9th overall, on 23 pts!

Kevin Peponnet of France, with a mystery crew (!), is the first “visitor” in 6th place on 15 points.

Ciutat de Palma Day 1 Results

Trofeo Ciutat de Palma declared open 

420s from far and wide roll up in Imperia 
Ciao sailors! Dare il benvenuto alla terra di Olio d'oliva, alla Pasta e alla grande navigazione! (Welcome to the land of Olive Oil, Pasta and great sailing!)

Fabio Taccola has been around the old Port of Oneglia and we will feature some of his images on the Rolling Photos (they will find their way to the Photo Gallery in due course). Anyone with news and gossip is very welcome to "Submit News / Photos" (for any 420 stuff!).

SEA Games: who sails? 
The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) are a biannual, multi-sport event involving the 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The 24th SEA Games are in Thailand, starting in Saturday. The sailing will be from 6 – 14 December at Ocean Marina YC, Pattaya.

The SEA Games are along ISAF Youth/Olympic lines, with one boat from each country in each Class (although some may not participate in all events), so the points can be tight! We have not found an entry list yet (anyone able to help?). But there is full info. about Singapore's team on SingaporeSailing. So the rest is guesswork for now.

We feel sure that Nay La Kyaw & Min Min and Su Sandar Wai & Khin Nyo Lin of Myanmar will be there. Both were at the Junior Europeans at Medemblik and at the GBR Nationals at Hayling Island in August, with their coach. The men and Su Sandar Wai competed in the 2006 ISAF Youth World Championships; Su Sandar Wai took 7th and Nay La Kyaw & Min Min 15th in their respective fleets. Su Sandar and her crew took 11/77 at the GBR Nationals, and Nay La Kyaw & Min Min, 12th. We hope Emerson Villena & Lester Tayong of the Phillipines, the leading 420 (overall 2nd) at the Hong Kong International Regatta in September, will be there. We also hear that Malaysia have 420 teams entering the event.

But there's a powerful entry from Singapore. Justin Liu & Sherman Chang must be strong favourites in the Men’s. They are the reigning Asian Champions from Doha last year, represented SIN at the 2006 ISAF Youth World Championships (where they conceded a few places to their Myanmar rivals though!). Many 420 sailors worldwide will know these successful 420 sailors from their triumph at the Jnr Euros. Jovina Choo & Sara Tan also competed there, finishing one place ahead of the Myanmar women’s team.

Imperia promises serious competition for sailors preparing for 2008! 
At the Imperia Winter Regatta, we are promised some challenging competition too.

In the women’s competition, top Spanish team, Agueda Suria & Sofia Basterra, in a new partnership, recently took the Women’s top podium place at the French ‘national d’automne’ at Maubuisson (12/121 overall); Agueda is a seasoned helm: Silver at the 2006 ISAF Youths and 4th at this year’s Europeans in Istanbul. But there will be close competition from Tina Lutz & Susann Beucke (GER) who won the Women’s at the Junior Europeans and were 2nd at Imperia in 2006. Home team, Camilla Marino & Claudia Sopricelli were 12th in Istanbul and 10th women in Medemblik. But the substantial Greek entry includes Katerina & Sofia Kaitatsidou who took Silver in Istanbul and Afroditi Kiranakou who helmed the 7th boat at the Women’s Europeans.

The Open competition at Imperia will be hard fought too! Max Trippolt & Julian Meister (Austria) have just taken 3rd place (of the 121 entry) at Maubuisson. The French entry includes the Porez, Louis & Charles, who won Maubuisson, a couple of places ahead of Trippolt/Meister both there and in Medemblik at the Junior Euros. Giovanni Meloni & Alessandro Gemini were 12th at the Junior Euros and 17th at the Europeans, so they should lead the large Italian entry. Again in the Open, the Greeks are coming to Imperia with a large team, and helm, Michalis Stavrou, with a 20th in the Gold Fleet at Medemblik, will surely put up a challenge. We are delighted to see that Lovro Ivanov, who had his 14th birthday at Medemblik, will, with Marko Caric, be representing Croatia at this event

Who will be sailing at Palma? 
The Trofeo Ciutat de Palma - Regata Nova Nou next week has over 50 boats already entered, including three French boats. These include Kevin Pepponnet (YC Basque) & Loic Duchesne (CV Cazaux), who recently took 7th out of an entry of 121 at the French “National d'automne” at Maubuisson (Bordeaux), as well as two boats from the SR Rochelaises – Atlantic challenge to the Med?

The usual large turnout of Spanish boats include Aina Jordi & Marina Bonet from CN S’Arenal, across the Bay of Palma, who were second women in the Spanish Nationals at CV Blanes this year. The Brugman team, Atlantic and Nora (of CV Blanes), who campaigned the Junior Europeans and the GBR Nationals this year, have just finished 2nd women’s team at the French Maubuisson (21/121 overall).

But there will be serious competition amongst the men too – focussing on the Baleares. Macià Alemany & Joan Duran (CV Puerto d'Andratx/CN Porto Cristo), Xavier Torrens & Xisco Socias (CN S'Arenal) and Pedro Marí & Xim Benjumeda (RCN Palma) finished Gold, Silver, Bronze in this year’s Copa de España de la Clase 420 at CN S'Arenal, so these look like favourites. But Adolfo Berrocal Ferrer & Allain Herman (S’Antoni de Portmany) won the Silver Fleet at the Junior Europeans in Medemblik - will these be the rising stars in the Balearics?

Catch up with last year's images from the camera of Nico Martinez in the Photo Gallery: "Ciutat de Palma 2006"

Chile builds its 420 fleet 
Starting out with five old 420s in 2006, the Chile Class Association is expanding big time! José Massapina writes: “they have just bought ten new boats, with the support of the Chile Sailing Federation. And their lead coach, Damian Saponara has just attended the first South American 420 Coaches’ Clinic, led by ISAF Youth Coach, Jim Saltonstall, in Rio de Janeiro”.

Soledad Manubens, Secretary of the Chile 420 Class Association, has been in touch with the website to say: “It`s real, we now have 8 boats in the water and soon there will be 10 sailing. Para el próximo Sudamericano de la Clase 420 el año 2008 pensamos que estaremos presente con al menos 6 barcos de Chile …[we think that we will have about six boats at the South American 420 Championships 2008]….”. They hope to compete in the 2008 ISAF Youths and in Europe next year. We expect to hear more of Chile’s 420 sailors and about sailing in Chile soon; we look forward to their joining in racing on the circuit.

420s en route to events in Asia (Thailand) and Europe (Palma & Imperia) 
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