THE FIRST RACE WENT WELL WITH STRONG WINDS. NICOLAS HUGUET IN THE LEAD.

GIORDANO AND TARTAGLINI ARE AMONGST THE FIRST ITALIANS

With a wind of 30 knots the Mistral Class World Championships went underway this morning in Mondello.

More than 100 athletes with their multi-coloured sails filled up on Valdesi beach, they found it a little difficult on the water as a strong wind blew making it hard for them, a wind that blew no less than 18-20 knots on their first trial.

There were three trials carried out today and Nicolas Huguet is in the lead of the male category with a a third, second, and first place. Behind him are Maxim Oberemko, Ukrainian, and Piotr Myszka from Poland. Once again Riccardo Giordano and Paco Wirz are the best Italians coming at eleventh and fourteenth place. In the female category Blanca Manchon from Spain is ahead winning all three trials, followed by Amelie Lux and Marina Alabau.

A great trial for the Italian Flavia Tartigliani who after coming in second in the first trial came in thirteenth on the second as there a problem with her sail. In the third trial she came in with fifth place making her just behind the podium in the general results.

Along with the world title there will also be the European youth title.

At the end of today's trials George Fragos from Greece came in before Cordonnier the Frenchman and the Isralian Mashiah. The Frenchman Eugenie Ricard is the first youth in front of Laura Linares and the Greek Lilly Karagiorgu.

XX Edition World Festival On The Beach

Palermo Mondello 11-22 May 2005