Sixty six boats are ready and sixty six crews are eager to start battling fo rthe 2010 Platu 25 Worlds that open today in the Spanish city of Alicante. 

Practice Race Video: 

 

Alicante, 20th July 2010 - After yesterday's official practice race where the Italians on Koppa Troopa had the better of the rest of the fleet in a windward/leeward course, today the real battle will begin at 12.30 when the race Commitee will give the first warning signal. A maximum of three races are scheduled for the first four days and two on the last and decisive day.
The Opening Ceremony, that took place last night at sunset was hosted by the  Real Club de Regatas on its beautiful premises was attended by many sailors and representatives of the local authorities.
 
The practice race was sailed with shifty, unstable breezes that forced the Committee to postpone the start by forty minutes. In a south-easterly wind of about 6 knots, the fleet proved to be extremely cautious on the  crowded starting line and profited from the practice to get to know the wind and sea conditions that will probably remain similar for the rest of the championship. The start was marked by a split in the fleet, nearly half of the boats opted for the pin end while the rest for the Commitee boat that proved to be the best choice since the breeze shifted heavily up to 170°. The race officials were then forced to signal a course change.
 
As usual the favourites to the title chose not to show their full potential and a low-key strategy, even if some of them put to the test new sails and profited from the practice race to fine tune their setting.
In the first upwind leg it was the Spanish crew of PIX1-Anna Mora de Oriol Bou, that flies the flag of Réal Club Náutico de Barcelona, to show the best speed, but then they decided not to cross the finish line. Victory went to the Italians on Koopa Troopa followed by four Iberian boat in a row: Bribón-movistar owned by Marc de Antonio; Carpantxo skippered by Laureano Wizner and Jesús Pintos; Da Bruno-Marbella by Pepequín de Orbaneja and Mundo Marino Team whose leader is Alvaro de Haro. The reigning world champions, Mexillón de Galicia-Movistar owned by the brothers Carlos y Antón Paz and the Greeks on Kostas N. Karageorgiou's Modus Vivendi 3Alfa  did not sail the practice race.