Blown out

For a second day, gale force winds pummel the Star Europeans in Dun Laoghaire

High winds once again dictated the racing schedule at the Star European Championship at Dun Laoghaire on the third day of the series that has had two races out of the original eight-race 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.

Wednesday'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.

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