Taranto - Nocturnal, and solitary, Team Chilli Pepper's success in the first stage of the EUROSAF Female Offshore European Championship materialized late yesterday night when Ellie Driver and Catherine Hunt showed up on the finish line right in front of Budva and of the headquarters of the Yacht Club Portomontenegro, partner of Difesa Servizi S.p.A. and SSI Events, organizers of the event with the support of the Marina Militare and EUROSAF.
Leader from the start, the two English sailors maintained the lead even during the second night of the race, characterized by light winds of variable direction.
Following Team Chilli Pepper, Roisin O'Happelloran and Connie Stevens grabbed the second spot with Team Vamos (Florencia Lazzari-Helena Schneider) third. Fourth place went to Team Quadriga (Melanie Aalburg-Viktoria Galla, followed by Team M&M (Marjoleine Hulshof-Marion Engelhard) and Liberty Askew, crewed by Rosie Hill, protagonists in the initial stages with Carta Giovani-Dipartimento per le politiche giovanili. To complete the list of arrivals Team Caccia (Giulia Farnetani-Alice Molly Briggs) and Team Solot (Sophie Von Waldow-Charlotte Schneider).
The stop on Montenegrin soil lasted a few hours, just enough time to catch our breath and do some food before leaving again - at 1.30 pm today - towards Taranto, the final destination of the EUROSAF Female Offshore European Championship, where the first boats are expected in the night between Saturday and Sunday.
After covering about forty miles, the fleet advances compactly towards the south-west, with the usual Team Chilli Pepper leading the ranks.
To follow the regatta via Trac Trac click here.