In a week that the weather threw everything at the fleet including 30 knot gusts and at times waiting for wind, Peter O’Leary and David Burrows emerged to finish in fourth place and just miss out on third by four points. In a field that included some 8 to 10 of the world’s top ranking Star sailors amongst the 27 competitors this was indeed no mean feat.
Italy led the way for the entire week and it rapidly became obvious they were on a roll that couldn’t be stopped with France, Canada and Ireland (O’Leary) snapping at their heels. But if there was anything certain it was that Poland and Portugal were not going to stay down the fleet for very long and quickly entered the fray. The current Gold Medallist Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson had to withdraw after day one due to Percy’s injured ankle. The well known French crews also slipped with Norway coming up but again slipping. Amongst these top Star sailors one can never be certain of anything except that the battle will always be between these well known names and what a great achievement it is for Peter O’Leary and David Burrows to be consistently in this leading group.
Final Result:
Italy 17 pts. Poland 25 pts. Canada 39 pts. Ireland (O’Leary) 43 pts.
The other Irish pairing Maxwell Treacy and Anthony Shanks of the Host Club finished in 18th position on 97 pts having been unlucky enough to be one of the teams to lose their masts during the series.
September 08 2011
Three races were sailed today in 12/15knots of breeze. Peter O’Leary and David Burrows posted results of 6, 12 and 13 and now lie in 5th position overall. Italy still holds a commanding lead followed by Poland, Canada and France.
Ireland’s Treacy and Shanks were back on the water today after losing their mast and they now lie 18th overall.
September 7th
14.30 hrs
Another day of carnage at the Star Europeans so far today. Race 3 of the series has been sailed and the top three placings have not changed after race 3. Italy leads, followed by FRA (Florent) 2nd and IRL (O’Leary) 3rd. Winds were averaging over 20 knots with gusts of 30 knots. Three masts were lost including that of the pairing of Treacy and Shanks from the host club, George Szabo USA and Xavier Rohart of France. Another unfortunate twist to this saga is the withdrawal of British Gold Medallist Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson from the event following a reported ankle injury to Percy on Monday.
The boats are ashore at the moment awaiting a decision on whether or not Race 4 will be sailed. PRO is David Lovegrove of Howth with Royal Cork’s Peter Crowley watching the Pin End. More to follow later.
Latest: All racing cancelled for today.
September 6th, 2011
High winds once again dictated the racing schedule today at the Star European Championship at Dun Laoghaire (Co. Dublin, Ireland) on the third day of the series that has had two races out of the original programme completed.
The overnight offshore gale eased slightly during the morning and a two-hour postponement by principal race officer David Lovegrove offered some hope of racing for the 27 crews waiting at the nearby Royal St. George YC. However, gale force gusts continued and the programme was abandoned for the day leaving the sailors free to take the 20-minute train ride into the historic Dublin city-centre offering the famous Book of Kells at Trinity College, the Jameson Irish Whiskey centre and other attractions.
Tomorrow’s forecast does appear more hopeful though the unsettled frontal conditions are set to continue towards the weekend and racing is certain to be testing for the fleet and race management team alike. However, if winds do ease during the day, three races will be sailed to get the championship back on schedule.
Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
(Overall standings after two races):
1st ITA Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini
2nd FRA Guillaume Florent & Pascal Rambeau
3rd IRL Peter O’Leary & David Burrows
4th FRA Xavier Rohart Pierre & Alexis Ponsot
5th CAN Richard Clarke & Tyler Bjorn
6th POR Afonso Domingos & Frederico Melo
September 5th, 2011
After waiting in vain all day yesterday in atrocious conditions, the Stars finally got a chance to come out today and Howth Race Officer David Lovegrove managed to get in two races at the Royal St. George Yacht Club. Racing was scheduled to get under way at 11.30 a.m. but again some waiting was involved. At last Race 1 got underway with a wind of 20 knots resulting in Italy,Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini 1, France (Florent and Rambeau) 2, and Ireland O’Leary and Burrows 3. Treacy and Shanks of the Host Club finished 15th.
Race 2 started in 14 knots of breeze and first to finish was the Canadian team of Richard Clarke and Tyler Bjorn followed by the Italians and French (Florent and Rambeau). Ireland (O’Leary and Burrows) finished 6th and Treacy and Shanks of the Host Club finished 11th.
Going into racing tomorrow (Tue) with windy conditions again forecast, Italy are lying first on 3 pts, France (Florent and Rambeau) second on five points, Ireland (O’Leary and Burrows) third and France (Xavier Rohart and Pierre Alexis Ponsot) fourth. Ireland (Treacy and Shanks) are lying twelfth
www.fotosail.com/2011stareuropeans HERE
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