Tsiboukelis & Karonis take early lead at Kiel
With some 190 420s registered, Kieler Woche got underway today. Nearly half the competitors come from outside Germany, including Australia (3), Austria (7), Czech Republic (4), Denmark (1), Spain (6), France (1), Britain (13), Greece (14), Hungary (6), Ireland (7), Italy (9), Netherlands (5), Poland (11) and Sweden (5). The first international event since the Izola Cup in March and CIMA in April, Kiel follows completion of team selections in most countries for the 420 Worlds in Athens and the Junior Europeans in Zadar. Many of these are competing at Kiel, so this should provide some indication of comparative form, among the competing countries.
Two races were sailed on the first day (Saturday) of the five day event. “Sunshine, westerly breeze reaching 8 to 10 knots, air and water temperature refreshing 17 degrees Celsius - just perfect conditions for the opening day of Kieler Woche 2008!”
Antonius Tsiboukelis & Georgius Karonis of Greece took an early lead. Federico Maccari & Rocco Vitali of Italy (5th at the 2007 Junior Europeans) are 2nd, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton (GBR) 3rd, Ferdinand Gerz & Tobias Bolduan (GER) (4th at the 2007 Europeans and leading German team in their recent selection series) 4th and Sotiris Tsamis & Iason Christoforidis (GRE) are 5th.
The Greek team have made an early impact among the wemen competitors also. Eleni Stamkov & Stamatia Fragkiadaki, from the Club where the Worlds will be held next month, are in 2nd, followed by Lisa Panuschka & Jacqueline M
