Kieler Woche shrugged off its reputation for chilly Baltic temperatures and turned on Mediterranean temperatures and settled breezes. Italian crews made the early pace on the first day of the 90-boat J/70 European Championship, holding all four top places after three races for the fleets. Stefano Roberti, who sails for the YC Monaco, and Carlo Alberini both won two races apiece which they add to a second place. The J/70 fleet is split into two groups for the preliminary stages, but the standard in each was universally high. The winds were from the ESE at around 8-12kts, and the fleets sailed three races each with clean starts and no recalls and no course changes. The most consistent performers on the water were the Monaco flagged Piccinina in the Blue Group and Calvi Networks in the Yellow group. Past Italian Olympian and Melges 24 World Champion Kiko Fonda calls tactics on Piccinina. He won the Melges 24 Worlds on Lake Garda from a fleet of more than 120 boats in 2012. Also consistent were Calvi Network (matching Piccinina’s scoreline), Claudia Rossi on Petite Terrible (winning the first race in her group) and Edoardo Lupi’s Torpyone (which has three-time Melges 24 World Champion Lorenzo Brassani calling tactics). “Conditions were very good, not too strong winds, but we sailed well with good speed from our trimmers, and our tactician did a nice job over all the races. I am watching the other Italian crews up there in the top positions, but it is such early days. It is a long game. Tomorrow will be different conditions,” said Calvi Network’s owner/driver Carlo Alberini. “I came here expecting to finish in the top 10, but it is the two last days which count, and the best teams are all in the same races.” For complete event information, visit http://www.kieler-woche.de/english/sailing/J70_Euros/index.php.