Percy/Simpson out

Another race sailed at the Star European Championship in Dun Laoghaire

Race three of the Star European Championship at Dun Laoghaire was successfully started on Dublin Bay this morning as gales finally abated for the 26-boat fleet gathered at the Royal St George Yacht Club. Double Olympic Gold medallist Iain Percy (GBR) has been forced out of the event due to an ankle injury.

The 2006 European champion Diego Negri (ITA) with Enrico Voltolini remain as overalls leaders after their second win of the series while local interest hinges on Peter O’Leary and David Burrows in third overall after their second third place of weather-hit event.

However, the plan to sail three races to catch-up on the programme was scuppered by the weather once again. Although the strong winds had eased to less than 20 knots, barely half an hour after starting shortly before mid-day, a 30-plus knot squall swept across the fleet that was already dealing with a short, choppy seaway. Three boats suffered mast damage and retired while there were two reports of separate man-overboard incidents that were successfully recovered.

Thursday’s forecast offers better hope of completing a minimum number of races for a championship as well as a single discard with light to moderate winds expected leading to an early morning start to racing.

Star European Championship 2011 - Provisional overall standings after three races:

1st ITA Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini
2nd FRA Guillaume Florent & Pascal Rambeau
3rd IRL Peter O'Leary & David Burrows
4th CAN Richard Clarke & Tyler Bjorn
5th POL Mateusz Kusznierewicz Dominik Zycki
6th POR Afonso Domingos & Frederico Melo