ORCi Worlds

The warm and shiny day started with a wind less than 5 knots from western directions. At about 11:00 local time, the race committee was at sea, examining every possibility to run at least one race. It was 14:27 that the first race started. Everybody was eager to start, so eager that there was a general recall. Race restarted at 14:38 and this time it was 4 or 5 boats early, over the sail course (OCS). The majority of the rest of the fleet preffered the pin end, a decision that proved horribly wrong. The wind shifted about 10 degrees after a while, favouring the right hand side of the course. The leeward boats had never a chance to tack and head for the wind. First boat at the weather mark was PITHECUSA. In the downwind leg, the faster boats managed to sail faster, so they crossed the downwind gates in this order: DIESEL, OLA, PITHECUSA. The course had already changed according to the shift, but still, most boats followed the starboard tack. First crossing the finish line and taking line honours was OLA from Croatia.

ORCi Worlds 2008

Todays races cancelled, after 5 and a half hours of waiting, just to be sure for the Race Committee that there is no chance of a wind blow.

Although the northern winds have fallen to a force of 4 or 5, the local see breeze is so strong this time of the year, in the oposite direction, that leaves no wind in the Saronic Gulf.

So now, leader in the overall is the Greek MELITI IV of George Andreadis, followed by Italian LIBERTINE, having Francesco De Angelis from Prada Luna Rossa in its force.

The two boats are separated by 7 points, but third overall SUPERFAST RACING is less than a point behind!

ORCi Worlds

The first race of the day started normally on time at 12:13 local time. The Meltemi was blowing at around 20 knots. The heat was on during the starting procedure. Although the wind was strong, there were shifts and careful tactics were required. At the weathermark, first was OLA, then SUPERFAST RACING and then DIESEL, that was forced to retire due to a damaged mainsail. In this order they finished the race. The second windward/leeward race started right after the last boat finished, at 14:03 local time. In the downwind leg, it was DIESEL that came first, followed by SUPERFAST RACING and then OLA. At that point, GOLF lost her mast but fortunately without anyone hurt. Some strong gusts forced many boats to broach, while sailing downwind.

Greek Sails on their Way to Victory

The ORCi World Championship organized by HORC, begun with excellent prospects for the Greek sails. Two Greek yachts are placed in the first 5 places so far after the completion of 2 races proving that they have the ability to make an impressive finish and win a distinctive place at the end of the regatta hosted in the Saronic Gulf.

George Andreadis MELITI IV won the 1st place in the 2nd race and is so far 2nd overall and Nick Lazos and Pericles Livas SUPERFAST RACING won 2nd place in the 1st race and is 4th overall so far. After the completion of the two inshore races the Italian yacht SAGOLA skippered by F. Pierobon is placed 1st overall.

The first day of the Chamionship was very exciting and trying for boats and crew due to the strong winds of the Saronic Gulf (6 - 7 Bft). The sailing conditions were difficult for windward - leeward racing and that was the cause of the 2 hours postponement of the races.

ORCi Worlds, Offshore Race

The offshore race of the 150 nautical miles started on time, at 11:00 local time. The meltemi, the local wind, was blowing to over 25 knots, gusting up to 30 knots. The boats started without collisions, although one could feel the heat from miles away. From the starting line outside Mikrolimano, the boats were sailing by the shore, providing a spectacular view. First to the weathermark was the Greek SUPERFAST RACING, then the Croatian OLA and then the Greek DIESEL. Right behind them, many boats around 40 feet, came together to the mark, resulting to a total mess. Many boats did not have room to pass, so they had to bear away, others touched the mark and had to make a complete turn and the rest were just seeking their way through the other boats of the fleet. From that point, the boats headed for mark 2 with the spinnakers on. OLA had a spectacular broach, all the boats over 50 feet were just flying over the waves. The rest of the fleet is following making incredible speeds in the flat sea. The fleet is expected to finish the race in the first hours of Wednesday.