| MEDEMBLIK, THE NETHERLANDS-(25-5-2005) Today the Holland Regatta started with more than thousand entries coming from fifty-five different countries. The races were held on the IJsselmeer in front of Medemblik. Lots of sun and a fresh breeze of approx. 15-20 knots brought perfect sailing conditions for the Olympic Classes and Mistral boards.
After one day of racing, the leaders in the 49er class are Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes (GBR). Pietro Sibello and Gianfranco Sibello (ITA) are in second place and Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks (GBR) are in third place.
After three races Mitch Booth and Herbert Dercksen (NED) took the lead in the Tornado class. With only one point behind they are followed by the Australian team, Darren Bundock and Edoardo Bianchi.
Number one on the ISAF world ranking list in the Star class, Frederik Loof and Anders Ekstrom (SWE) are also leaders after two races in the Holland Regatta classification. Second place is for Maurice O’Connell and Ed Peel from Ireland.
Ben Ainslie (GBR) is leading the Finn class after two races. In the second place is Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE) and Edward Wright (GBR) is in the third position of the overall classification.
In general there were no big surprises today. Nevertheless in four from the eleven Olympic classes, the Tornado, 470 men, Laser Radial and Mistral men, the first places are possessed by the Dutch.
Tomorrow the first races will start at 10.00 AM. For the Laser, Laser Radial, the 470 men and women, the 49er and the Tornado three races are planned. The Finn, Yngling, Star and Mistral men and women are all sailing two three races tomorrow.
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