From June 4th to 12th the Formula Windsurfing European Championships will take place in the beautiful town of Ialisos / Rhodes (Greece). Over 100 competitors from 26 different countries representing 4 continents are already registered for the Championships. Among them will be the whole elite of the racers. The winner of the event will be crowned as official Formula Windsurfing European Champion 2005. The Championship is a qualification regatta for the 2005 Formula World Championships and a Level 1 Formula World Ranking event. The event offers a total prize money of EUR 20.000,00.

Competitors also fight for ranking points in the Euro-Cup, windsurfing’s premier racing and slalom series.

In the men’s fleet with already 98 registered racers all but one of the top ten formula sailors from the 2004 World Championship including World Champion Micah Buzianis (USA-34, F2, North Sails) will come to Rhodes.

Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde) will face a tough challenge to defend his European title. However he is one of the favourites after his victory at the first Windsurfing Euro-Cup in Portimão (Portugal).

Other hot names are Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, F2, Neil Pryde) and Ross Williams (GBR-83, Starboard, Gaastra) who got second and third in Portugal.

Last year Williams was able to win the Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix in Ialisos. In the meantime the level of competition got extremely high and there are ten to 15 racers who have chances to win the event.

15 of the elite female racers are already registered in the women’s fleet.

The World Champion 2004 and defending European Champion, Dorota Staszewska (POL-1, Starboard, Maui Sails) will once again face stiff challenge from Allison Shreeve (AUS-911, F2, Neil Pryde), and the World Champion 2003 Christine Johnston (GBR-93). The participation of the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, Faustine Merret (FRA-9) may very well bring a surprise to the established formula racers.

The huge participation level is a great success for the International Formula Windsurfing Class and the hosts in Greece. But on the other side it will be a tough challenge for the organizers and the race crew. They will be forced to run the split fleet system as it will be impossible to start the whole fleet together. The fleet will be divided into two halves and run a qualification series of eight races. Then the best 50% of each fleet will qualify for the gold fleet to fight for the European FW title and the prize money.

Ialisos on Rhodes island is famous for its racing conditions. The legendary Greek Meltemi wind blows sideshore from the left with 10 to 25 knots every day which provides a perfect situation for Formula Windsurfing. This will ensure the chance to run the full number of races for the 15 race series.

The venue offers enough space for the racers and their equipment and optimal access to the water. The infrastructure with the Forum Beach Hotel and the Rhodes Windsurfing Academy right at the beach is perfect for great windsurfing events.

So everything is perfectly prepared for the Formula Windsurfing European Championships 2005. The official competitions will take place from Tuesday June 7th to 11th. The closing ceremony with prize giving will take place on Saturday evening.

The event is covered on www.euro-cup.org, www.rwa.gr and www.formulawindsurfing.org. Besides the reports and the results you will also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org and a live cam on www.rwa.gr. So check out the internet!

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Hosted by: Municipality of Ialisos, Island of Rhodes Organized by: Rhodes Windsurfing Academy (RWA) Supported by: Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Aegean, Southern Aegean Region, Prefecture of Dodecanese (D.O.T.), T.E.D.K. – PRO.TOUR Main Sponsors: CONN-X, Hyundai, Oxbow, Bollé, Water Park

Sponsors: Rodos Palace Hotel, Motorola, GA Ferries, Shandy Rock, Rodos Tour, Colorado Entertainment Center, Naftilos, E.N.AK, Extreme Sports Shops

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Comments:

Achilleas E. Tzimas (local organizer & director of the Rhodes Windsurfing

Academy): “Ialisos and Rhodes are prepared for one of the biggest Windsurfing events in the history of the island. We will do everything to ensure a great Championship for the class, an unforgettable stay for the competitors and spectacular races for the spectators and media.”

Ceri Wiliams (Chairman of the International Formula Windsurfing Class):

“Congratulations to the event organisers for assembling such a strong Race Committee and a very supportive team of sponsors. We are especially thankful for the continued support of the Ministry of Tourism in Athens and the Municipality of Ialisos on Rhodes.”

Matthias Regber (Director Windsurfing Office): “We are more than happy to return to Rhodes for the Formula Windsurfing European Championships. Ialisos is one of the best venues for Racing in the whole World. I am looking forward to a great event!”

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