At the foot of Mt Olympus

The 470 fleet are preparing for their European Championship in Greece

Racing is about to start at the 2007 Open 470 European Championships Men and Women. The event takes place from 1-10 June in front of the Greek ancient city of Thessaloniki, in the shadow of Athens. Registration and measurement have been finalized and opening results will be known tomorrow.
 
The event is open for 470 teams from all countries around the World. The Title of 470 Class European Champion will be granted to the first ranked crew from a European nation and the Mediterranean Basin.
 
According to last figures this morning, 101 male 470 crews from thirty nations from five continents, and 49 female 470 crews from twenty-three nations from also five continents have registered.
 
Current European Champions, the French Bonnaud brothers in the 470 Men and Germany’s Stefanie Rothweiler and Vivien Kussatz in the 470 Women will meet strong competition to defend their Titles.
 
Predictions on the outcome for this European Championship event are hard to make. Close to the ISAF Sailing World Championships as the competition for places in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, gets ever stronger. No crews, in the 470 Men, nor in the 470 Women show consistency winning major events.
 
470 Men

The leading team on the current World Ranking list is Nicolas Charbonnier and Olivier Bausset refelcting the French domination of the fleet. Although the World Ranking leaders are not known as event winners, their names keep showing up on top of the leader boards at major events. They kept the Silver Medal in France at the Semaine Olympique Francaise last April, and took home Bronze from the Breitling Regatta in Holland last week.
 
The French have traveled to Greece with thirteen 470 Men’s teams. Three of these teams made it to the top five last year at the European Championships on Lake Balaton, including the Title defenders.
 
Nevertheless, the entry list shows the presence of many Athens 2004 competitors, World Champions and winners of major events from the past. Reigning World Champions, Nic Asher and Elliot Willis (GBR) are present, although they still have to decide on participation because of an injury. In their home country, eyes will be focused on 470 veterans Andrea Kosmatopoulos and Andreas Papadopoulos, with three Olympic competitions behind them.
 
470 Women

Ruling World Champions and leaders of the 470 Women’s World Ranking List, Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout from the Netherlands, will not be participating in the event.
 
This May be an excellent opportunity for Ingrid Petitjean and Nadège Douroux to recover. The Ladies from France have been showing some excellent sailing on the way to Athens 2004.
 
Stefanie Rothweiler and Vivien Kussatz from Germany are the defenders of the European Title at the 470 Women. They seem to be in perfect shape by taking Silver at the Semaine Olympique in Hyères.
 
Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol (ITA) break into the common list of leaders by winning the Semaine Olympique in Hyères. The Italian Women started in the 470 Class in 2006 with an impressive track record. Conti competed at the Athens Olympics in the Yngling Class. Micol has been successful in the International 420 Class.
 
Europe Class Athens 2004 Silver Medallist Lenka Smidova (CZE) has formed a team with Veronika Fenclova to take a shot at the 2008 Olympics in the 470 Class. Together they debuted in the 470 Class in 2005. They move forward rapidly by winning Silver at the Princess Sofia Trophy, and Bronze at the Semaine Olympique earlier this year.
 
Some teams in both fleets decided to choose either the Breitling Regatta or the European Championships event. Both events take place in a period of final preparations for the ISAF Sailing World Championships event, to take place in July in Cascais, Portugal.
 
The weather forecast for the next few days predicts light winds. During the week, some cloud cover will reach Thessaloniki and winds will increase by just a few knots. Racing starts at tomorrow.

Event Schedule:

4 – 6 June Qualifying Series
7 – 10 June Final series
10 June Medal Race