Norwegian steams ahead

A report from the first day of the Farr 40 European Championship at Rolex Settimana delle Bocche

Three races, three different winners and only three points separating the top three boats. The Rolex Farr 40 Europeans are underway and the racing was as tight and exciting as expected. A difficult day for the tacticians with only 7-8 knots of breeze, that started from the northeast and ended up from the southeast. A perfect day for spectators gathered to watch one design racing at its best. The secret seemed to be to pick the correct side of the first beat, establish a lead and trust one's judgment for the remainder of the race. Easier said than done, as two of the leaders after the first two races discovered in the third race, when they finished at the back of the fleet.

Leading after three 7 nautical mile windward-leeward races is Eivind Astrup and Norwegian Steam. By Astrup's own admission after a successful 2006 season, 2007 has proved difficult with poor results to date. A bullet in race 1 clearly helped their confidence and although that success was not repeated, two more top ten results have edged the Nordic crew led by tactician Morten Henriksen into a slender two point lead over Marco Rodolfi's TWT, who also posted a first today. One point further back lies Massimo Mezzaroma and Nerone. Tactician Vasco Vascotto kept the results firmly in the top ten in each race. And, as Farr 40 events have proven time and time again, it is consistent top ten finishes that offer a good chance for overall victory.

Astrup was understandably pleased with the day's events: "we have been struggling for this year, so far we have not been doing well and we have been in the second half of the fleet in the three events which we have sailed in. It is very nice to come back up again today because last year we did a very good series so that was a good feeling, since we all need some confidence don't we! Otherwise, we think we have a good team so the boat is going well. We did a few mistakes today, for instance at the bottom mark in the last race where we were not very smart. We were eighth and we should have been a bit better, but we are very pleased with the day of course."

Astrup is a tall, self-effacing Norwegian who is amused that after failing to be mentioned as a contender in pre-event releases it is his team at the top of the standings after the first day's racing. Astrup has been on the Farr 40 circuit for some time and like many of the boats in the fleet is more than capable of winning - not that he'd say so. He also has a clear view on what makes a good team: "in the press releases before the regatta we were never mentioned which is great because we are outsiders so perhaps people don't take us seriously! But we have been sailing since 2001, so that's six seasons. We do not have the full complement of professionals on board, we do not have a coach, we have a good budget but that is not the most important. Some of the crew have been with us since the beginning which is great - and only one change since last year. I think it is important to try to keep a core and not to change the amateur crew too much and as long as they bear with me that is all right. We have a couple of 'rock stars' on board, which certainly helps too."

Like all the owner/drivers in the regatta, Astrup is well aware that it is far too early in the proceedings to make any predictions; "tomorrow we have no expectations, we will just do the best we can and see what happens."

Meanwhile, in second place overall Marco Rodolfi is also delighted with his crew's efforts today and that tactician Tiziano Nava has helped put them right in the hunt from the beginning, "as usual in this class we raced today a top-level regatta with 21 teams extremely experienced and competitive. This made - along with difficult weather conditions - the racing very taut and challenging so that we are very satisfied to take a 6th, a 1st and a 9th place in this first day of racing. It's a good result but we don't forget that this is just the beginning of a tight racing week".

Like Astrup, Rodolfi is not reading too much into today's opening skirmishes in an eleven race series where first to last can occur in the blink of an eye. However, Rodolfi is certainly not here to make up the numbers, "we are always very sceptical. last year we took a second place in the Europeans. In this year's fleet there are loads good for the top of the ranking and there are more boats even than in the previous editions. This raises the racing level and makes harder to win. But we are obviously here to take the first .and not the second."

Rodolfi is another great enthusiast for the Farr 40 class and really enjoys one design racing, "the one-design concept is the secret of this class along with a top level of professionalism on board. The adrenalin to round the mark all together with a few metres length between each other makes the race very demanding and exciting. But the nicest thing of the class is that only the strongest .and so the best wins. To be an owner-driver, - even if it is a very demanding managerially and economically - it is very rewarding."

Rolex Farr 40 European Championship Top 5 Provisional Standings DAY 1

Place/Boat Name/Country/Owner/R1/R1/R3/TOTAL
1/Norwegian Steam/NOR/Eivind Astrup/1.00/5.00/8.00/14.00
2/TWT/ITA/Marco Rodolfi/6.00/1.00/9.00/16.00
3/Nerone/ITA/Massimo Mezzaroma/7.00/4.00/6.00/17.00
4/Cannonball/ITA/Dario Ferrari/5.00/16.00/2.00/23.00
5/Kokomo/AUS/Lang & Sue Walker/12.00/9.00/3.00/24.00