Sunny day for racing at the 2016 RS:X Open Europeans in Helsinki

July 6th, 2016 – Helsinki, Finland – It was a great morning in Helsinki today – both for some athletes enjoying their spare day and for these going for racing. The sunshine, increased temperature and enough wind made everybody happy. Women and youth men, who did not have scheduled number of races sailed up to today, got three additional races to their series.

Besides the sun this morning in Hernesaari Ranta greeted the athletes with 11 knots wind from the West. Wind was picking up to 14 knots until noon and dropped to 9 knots by the final race of the day.

Women’s fleet went to the water and got their racing started as scheduled at 11 am. The Race Committee did an excellent job – without any delays three races were sailed before 2 pm. The women’s fleet has completed the total of six races by now. Zofia Noceti-Klepcaka (POL-8) is keeping strongly her leading position having 10 points in total in front of Charline Picon (FRA-4), who climbed to the second position with 22 points. Three points behind on the third place is 2015 ISAF Youth World Champion Stefania Elfutina from Russia (RUS-271), also as the best in Women’s U21 division by now.

See the full results here http://rsxclass.com/europeans2016/?results=women-open-trophy

Youth Men were kept ashore and their start was postponed because of the yesterday’s redress hearings this morning. At 11 am the AP flag was lowered and the fleet was sent out for sailing. Both yellow and blue fleets had three races sailed up to the morning and they needed three additional races to complete their Qualifying Series.  Before 4 pm they were back ashore with six races sailed in total up to now.  Israel has a double leadership – Tom Reuveny (ISR-60) is leading with 12 points being also the best in Men U21 division, followed by Tal Zadok (ISR-2) only one point behind and 2015 ISAF Youth World Champion, Titouan Le Bosq (FRA-719) as third with 16 points.

See the full results here http://rsxclass.com/europeans2016/?results=youth-men-open-trophy

On Thursday, all Men’s fleets will start their Final Series starting at 11 am with three races scheduled. Women will continue their Opening Series, showing their best performance for getting to the Final Series and Medal Race held on Saturday from their best possible positions. So far the sailors will enjoy their spare time in Helsinki, where there’s sunny and +21 degrees Celsius now. Higher Celsius degrees are available in the real Finnish sauna, which is available for all sailors in the regatta village after daily racing.

209 athletes from 33 nations and 5 continents have gathered to Helsinki to test themselves at the final title event before stepping up to the biggest challenge of all at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It’s especially great to see so many athletes taking part from outside the Europe; for example Japan, Oman, Hong Kong, Seyshelles, Aruba, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, here in Helsinki.

There will be a maximum thirteen races in a series over five race days. The regatta will consist of an Opening Series and, provided a minimum of six races have been completed in the Opening Series, a Medal Race. Men and Youth Men Opening Series’ are split in the Qualifying Series and in the Final Series. The top ten at the end of the Opening Series will advance to the Medal Race.  On the last day one Medal Race is scheduled with one further Opening Series race for those not assigned to the Medal Race.

2016 RS:X European Windsurfing Championships & European Windsurfing Open Trophy including the 2016 Helsinki RS:X U21 Windsurfing Championships together with the 2016 RS:X Youth European Windsurfing Championships & Youth European Windsurfing Open Trophy including the 2016 Helsinki RS:X U17 Windsurfing Championships are organised by Helsinki Sail Racing Management (HSRM) in co-operation with the International RS:X Class Association on July 2^nd to 9^th.

The supporters and partners of the 2016 RS:X Europeans in Helsinki are Mercedes Benz, KONE, City of Helsinki, Helsinki Region Transport, Familia/Pan Nordic Meat , Ocean Nation, S1 Networks together with the International RS:X Class Association and World Sailing.

Event Schedule:
Monday 4^th July to Friday 8^th July – Races scheduled to start at 11 am
Wednesday 6^th July – Reserve Day
Saturday 9^th July – Races and Medal Race scheduled to start at 11 am
Saturday 9^th July – Last possible warning signal 5 pm
Saturday 9^th July – Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony – scheduled for 7.30 pm

Event website: http://rsxclass.com/europeans2016/
RS:X class in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSXOlympicWindsurfing/
Event photos by Robert Hajduk/Shuttersail.com : http://rsxclass.com/media/pictures/?album=4540
Event videos by Icarus Sailing Media: http://rsxclass.com/media/videos/

Text:
Piret Salmistu
RS:X Class

For more information please contact:
Andrus Poksi
Executive Secretary
International RS:X Class Association