Racing for the 2005 Star World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina began Saturday, and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Torben Grael/ Marcelo Ferreira of Brazil began right where they left off in Athens.

Showing the tenacity that won them the gold, they recovered from an 11th place at the 1st mark rounding to win the opening race. In the 18-20 knot conditions, eight boats did not finish racing, including 2002 World Champs Iain Percy/ Steve Mitchell (GBR), who dismasted during the race.

The second race on Saturday found more moderate 14-15 knots, with the 2003 World Champion team Xavier Rohart-Pascal Rambeau of France taking the wire-to-wire victory. Rebounding in second from their dismasting of the previous day was Percy/Mitchell, with Americans Mark Reynolds/ Phil Trinter, both past world champions, finishing in third.

Time will tell as to whether any new faces will surface at the top of the fifty-three boat fleet, or if there will be a repeat champion by the end of the week.

Results (after two races)

1. Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom (SWE), 2 – 4, 6 points

2. Torben Grael/Marcelo Ferreira (BRA) 1 – 6, 7

2. Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau (FRA) 6 – 1, 7

4. Mark Reynolds/Phil Trinter (USA) 7 – 3, 10

4. Roy Heiner/ AlexBreuseker (NED) 3 – 7, 10

9. George Szabo/Brian Fatih (USA) 9 – 11, 20