The Official
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Going hard left up the beat clearly paid on the race course to the point that inner and outer loops were crossing between their upwind and downwind legs. Giovanni Benamati (ITA) and Reuben Murphy (GBR) took the first race bullets.
As the heat built up to 30 deg the breeze strengthened with a few white horses across the lake. The sun was shining and the sailors were enjoying the excellent sailing weather. Race 2 got away at 15:20 with the second flights following ten minutes later. Sailors headed the warning of the first race OCSs and all were cleanly away for the second race. First home for their respective flights were Edward Jones (GBR) and Freddie Chiddicks (GBR).
The Topper class is made up of sailors spanning junior, youth and adult sailors, so quite a mix of ages and experience. Fraglia Vela Malcesine is host for the third time to the Topper World Championships and sailors are all delighted to be here again competing against the backdrop of rugged mountains.
Sunday evening saw the opening ceremony held in Malcesine castle. This was preceded by a march by the competitors from the water front through the narrow winding cobbled streets of Malcesine to the castle. Flags representing the competitors Austria, Germany, Great Britain (including the Scottish and Welsh flags), Ireland, Italy and for the first time this year Korea were proudly flown through the streets to the delight (and occasional puzzlement) of locals and holiday makers.
The opening ceremony at the castle was conducted by the President of Fraglia Vela Malcesine and Roger Proctor acting as ITCA President.