Star Class European Championship: Augie Diaz and Bruno Prada are the winners
by ISCYRA Press 12 Aug 2018 20:35 BST
9-12 August 2018
American Augie Diaz and Brazilian Bruno Prada are the winner of the Robbe&Berking Star European Championships 2018, tied to Lars Grael with Samuel Gonçalves (BRA) who are second. Bronze medal goes to Irish brothers Peter and Robert O'Leary.
This is the podium of the 2018 Star European Championship, where six of the seven races were sailed even though two of the four days of racing have been quite rough with very strong stormy winds. The PRO Claus Otto was excellent in deciding the right time to give the starts, postponing on Thursday and anticipating yesterday.
The winners of today's races were two German team, the first bullet went to Star Class President Hubert Merkelbach with Marcus Koy, and the second one to Olympic Star skipper Robert Stanjek with crew Leif Bähr. But nothing could stop Augie Diaz and Bruno Prada, not even the early start they had in race five, that cost them to go back and re-start.
Not even one mistake by the runners-up was made, Lars Grael and Samuel Goncalves, who discard a seven and are tie to the winners. A Championship well played by the Irish brothers O'Leary, who proved to be excellent team on tough conditions, winning yesterday's race with winds gusting up to over 30 knots.
Augie Diaz: "We had really some tough days of racing, we are happy we were eventually able to recover after the first early start."
Bruno Prada: "The regatta was decided on the last downwind of the last race, we had to be fifth to win the race tied with Lars, and we just managed to finish one boat length ahead of Eivind Melleby who was sixth. So we are super happy and lucky for the last puff."
Best junior team were the German Dominik and Simon Fallais.
Best senior team in the Ü65 ranking were the Hungarians Tibor Tenke and Miklos Bezereti.
Hubert Merklebach, ISCYRA President: "It was really a Championship for the tough sailors, the only non stormy day was today with 15-16 knots of nice breeze. Flensburger Segel Club did a fantastic job to manage the event, they're used to have international regattas, and proved it this week. Everything went well with a great program, even on the social side with dinner in the old Silver factory of the main sponsor, Robbe&Berking, amazing Championship".
The Star sailors are not done for the summer with the Silver regattas, next week the North American will take place in Los Angeles, with probably very different conditions.
Full results can be found here
2018euro.starchampionships.org