With the northwesterly breeze shifting steadily, and the pressure up and down throughout the day, on the Oresund Strait on day one of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, fortunes were won and lost throughout the day. The race committee ran three races - all windward/leewards, comprising four 2.2 mile legs - and all starts got off cleanly with no general recalls. Wind speed was close to 20 knots at times and down to below 10 knots during a couple of the races, but mostly in the 14 -16 knot range, nice conditions when it was steady and not shifty - which was rare. Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Sodo Migliori's Nerone (ITA) sailed most consistently with a 3-6-1 to edge out Mascalzone Latino by one point overall for the day. Some top teams clearly have not hit their pace yet and almost all had fairly inconsistent scorelines, and this highlighted the challenging and shifty wind conditions, which are apt to remain for the duration of the regatta. In past Worlds, an average of 7-8 place per race would put a boat in contention overall, though with top boats in the upper scoreline, that most likely won't be the case in Copenhagen. Racing continues tomorrow, Thursday 29 August with a first race start at 1100; three races are planned. The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2007. The World Championship has been sailed in North America, Europe or Australia every year since the class was established in 1997.
