III NEW YEAR'S RACE

RS:X (Grade 3) and Techno 293 Europeans

El Puerto de Santa Maria, January 2nd - 165 sailors from 16 countries have gathered under the warm winter sun for  the III New Year's Race (1^st to 5^th January), which is hosting the first European Championships in the history of the Techno 293 class.  The RS:X class has attracted many top sailors and the current European champion, local star Blanca MANCHON (ESP) must be among one of the favourites to win the Women's class and the Techno class will see many of the top junior windsurfers competing to take the European title.  The RS:X 8.5 Youth fleet is particularly strong and features many of the young stars from last year's Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship at Weymouth.

A strong northerly wind was blowing when the sailors arrived to complete registration, but it slowly died and no racing was possible in the Techno Area.  The RS:X fleet managed two races in light conditions, with Richard HAMILTON (GBR), Faustine MERRET (FRA) and Thomas KARGL (AUT) lead the overnight scoreboard in the Youth, Women and Men's classes respectively.

Racing continues at 10.00 a.m. tomorrow

 Full results available at www.fav.es