Rafa Trujillo of +39 Challenge is the best spanish sailor after the first day of the Christmas Race

Starting gun of the 31st Christmas Race yesterday in the Bay of Palamós. The twice Olympic medallist Rafa Trujillo (+39) is the best Spanish sailor after winning the 2 races sailed in the Finn class. The Tramontana wind (N), 22 to 25 knots with gusts of up to 30 knots blew today in Palamós.

Rafa Trujillo will try to win the Christmas Race again in the Finn class and won today’s 2 races with authority. Second place is for Michael Maier (CZE) followed in third place by Giorgio Poggi (Harten) from Italy.

The leader in the Laser standings is British sailor Mark Powell, followed in second place by Dutch competitor Marc de Haas (Triple-P) and third is Marcin Rudawski from Poland.

Rafa Trujillo in the first day of the Christmas Race. Palmaros, 18 December 2006. Photo copyright Christmas Race

The top three competitors are tied with equal points at the top of the standings: Harriette Trumble (GBR), Tatiana Drozdovskaya (Transbunker) (BLR) and Alison Young (Skandia Team) (GBR).

In 470 Women the lead is for French team Camille Lecointre/Gwendolyn Lemaitre (Vecteur +) with a first and third place. Second place is for Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol from Italy and third place for French team Marie Menaldo/Hélène Defrence, at three points from the leaders.

First place in 470 Men is for the leaders of the ISAF World Sailing Ranking lists Gabrio Zandoná/Andrea Tani (Joe Fly) (ITA). Second place is for French sailors Dreano/Floch Roman and third place is also for French team Pierre Leboucher/Vincent Garos (Lemer Pax).

The 49er was the only class that did not sail today due to the strong wind conditions. The favourite team in this Class is Spanish Olympic team Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández (Grand Krust-Movistar).

The forecast for Tuesday calls for NNE wind 18 to 22 knots with 2 metre waves