Match Racers Waiting For Wind In Russia...
The Neva River hosts the Sails of White Nights
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Sails of White Nights - The National Congress Palace Cup 2009
St Petersburg, Russia
The wind refused to cooperate on the opening day of the ISAF Grade 1 Sails of White Nights - The National Congress Palace Cup, part of the World Match Racing Tour Qualifying Series, with the start of racing in St Petersburg postponed until Thursday.
After lazy morning, the first group left marina at 14:00. There was a little wind and Race Committee thought it was good enough to do some racing on Neva River where everybody has to think about current and has to take it into consideration especially right before start signal and during the mark roundings. The first flight was started with
Peter WIBROE (DEN) facing
Rui BOIA (POR) but wind dropped after few minutes, races were cancelled and then it started raining. The RC sent everybody back to the marina and around 15:00, with the forecast not looking promising, decided to postpone racing until Thursday. At least for the crews visiting St Petersburg for the first time, this meant an opportunity to take a look at some of the spectacular city.
For 12 teams invited to the event, their battle will start on Thursday and they will be fighting not only for fame, glory, points to the ISAF World Match Race Rankings and prize money but also for one spot to Swedish Match Cup - World Match Racing Tour event. Quite enough to feel some pressure!
Entry List
Damien IEHL (FRA)
Andrew ARBUZOV (RUS)
Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV (RUS)
Peter WIBROE (DEN)
Manuel WEILLER VIDAL (ESP)
Alexis LITTOZ BARITEL (FRA)
Sergey MUSIKHIN (RUS)
Jacopo PASINI (ITA)
Marek STANCZYK (POL)
Eugeniy NIKIFOROV (RUS)
Phil ROBERTSON (NZL)
Rui BOIA (POR)
Maciej Kolosinski