British Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy, sailing with crew Steve Mitchell, posted a 10th place on the opening day of the Star class European Championship in Cascais, Portugal. The current Star World Champions moved up from 30th place at the windward mark to finally finish tenth after the first race.

Coming straight from the Pre-Olympics in Athens, were they finished seventh despite breaking their mast halfway through the event, team Percy/Mitchell will be looking for a good result prior to the all important ISAF World Sailing Championship in Cadiz next week which is the first opportunity for the British pairing to try and gain selection for the 2004 Olympic Games.

The 71-boat line up includes many of the world’s top keelboat sailors including double Olympic medallist Torben Grael of Brazil and crew Marcelo Ferreira who have arrived fresh from success at the 2003 Pre-Olympics, as well as the double Star European Champion and Sydney Olympic Finn bronze medallist Fredrik Loof from Sweden who will be looking for the hat-trick at this event.

The European Championship continues through until 9 September with one race scheduled per day with a reserve day on 7 September.

Results (after day 1)

1st Mark Neeleman/Peter Van Niekerk, NED (1) 1 pt

2nd Michael Koch/Markus Koy, GER (2) 2 pts

3rd Roberto Benamati/Filippo Domenicali, ITA (3) 3 pts

GBR

10th Iain Percy/Steve Mitchell (10) 10 pts

18th Jez Fanstone/Luke Chapman (18) 18 pts