ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE 2010 ORC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Cagliari and Lega Navale ready to welcome participants for 5-11 July event

ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE 2010 ORC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Cagliari, Sardinia – Its only one month to go before racing starts in the 2010 ORC International European Championship, organized by Lega Navale Italiana (LNI) in Cagliari in conjunction with the Italian Offshore Association (UVAI) under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), and the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC). Including measurement and registration activities, the event dates are 5-11 July in what promises to be one of the more interesting championship events of the 2010 season.

Interesting because there has been a build-up of numerous ORC local and regional regattas throughout Italy, on both the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic sides of the peninsula, with winners using these events to train for this “main event.” Among the favorites is Alvarosky, a Grand Soleil 40 RC owned by Francesco Siculiana of Palermo, who is fresh off his victory in the ORC Tyrrhenian Sea National Championship. Other favorites include Richard Vojta’s GS42 Bohemian Express, a perennial winner in many Adriatic regattas, and the new Comet 50 Verve owned by Biscardi/ Chiusano and helmed by Lorenzo Bodini with Francesco de Angelis as tactician.

This event will take place in one of the most beautiful settings in the Mediterranean, with the clear blue waters of southern Sardinia beckoning for some post-regatta cruising, using the venue at the Marina di Villasimius as a base to explore the archaeological sites of Nora, Cala Saffron, the Island of San Pietro to Capo Teulada and up to Oristano along a spectacular coastline lapped by crystal clear waters.

The event schedule starts with Registration and Measurement over Monday and Tuesday, 5-6 July, followed by the Opening Ceremony on the evening of 6 July. Inshore racing starts on Wednesday, 7 July, followed by offshore racing on Thursday and Friday, 8-9 July. Inshore racing resumes on Saturday and Sunday 10-11 July, with the final Awards Ceremony scheduled for after racing on 11 July.

ONE MONTH TO GO BEFORE 2010 ORC EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP As specified by the ORC’s “Green Book” guide of championship event standards, the regatta will include seven inshore and two offshore races. Inshore races will be over windward-leeward courses, and offshore race courses and lengths will be determined by the LNI Cagliari Race Committee based on local conditions.

This will likely be the largest ORCi event in the Mediterranean basin, promising to attract dozens of entries from throughout the region. The fleet will be divided into two divisions: Division A for boats with GPH ratings of 400 to 599.9 sec/mi, and Division B for boats from 600 to 665 sec/mi, though this split may change once the final entry list is compiled for the event.

In addition to issuing awards to the first three places in each Division in the fleet, and prizes given to individual race winners in each Division, there will be an overall ORC Prize awarded to the top owner-driver in each Division.

For more information on logistics planning, entry information, and charter opportunities for the 2010 ORCi European Championship, visit the event website at www.orceuropeans2010.com.

 

 

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