"The star class should have more places to go to the Olympics"

Francesco Bruni, Italian racer that get into sail at 8 years old. It was not until his 20 that started professionaly with Laser, then he got into 49er and now, at the age of 30, he keeps on the Star Class. After this European Championship's result, he will only have the World Championship in Gaeta to know if he will be the more fortunate Italian racer that represents his country in the Olympic Games in Athens. At the moment he is in the 15th place in the European being the first Italian.

- ¿How do you see the possibilities to go to the Olympics?

- Now D'Ali and I are very close to each other and it is early to say it. We still have to do the World Championship in Gaeta with 6 races and it is going to depend on the result there to determine who is going to Athens to represent Italy.

- So, this European is not definitive but the Worlds, ¿how can one value then each Championship to choose a racer?

- One makes a summ of all races. One choose the two we did the year before, like the European and Kiel in Germany and then this European plus the Worlds that we will do next year in Gaeta. Those who get the best result will go to the Olympics.

- ¿Do you think that the Star Class should have more places to go to the Olympic Games?

- Yes, beacuse Italy got classified in the worlds in Cadiz but a lot of strong countries are not yet classified. One of them will be the Canadian, McDonald, who was the first in the ranking, also the Portuguese, that won the Bacardi Cup... There are other classes like Laser that has a lot of places and for the Star there are not enough places, that is why I think that the ISAF system is not perfect.

- ¿Could you confirm that in the future the Star Class will be removed as an olympic class?

- I do not know, the past year they made it but they changed the decision because it is a very important boat, a very alive class. It would be a foolishness to do it.

- ¿How do you manage a life travelling from harbour to harbour?

- It is difficult but if you like it, it is nice.

- ¿How has to be fisically more fit, the skipper or the crew?

- With the new rules both have to be well prepared. With little wind it does not matter that much but with strong wind the training makes the fifferende. But sailing requires much specific training with the boat.

- ¿Which country do you see the strongest in this European?

- The Dutch Neeleman who heads the results, is a very regular racer. There is also the Swedish Frederik Lööf. A strong boy is the English Ian Percey but he is not regular at all.

- ¿ And what is happening to Torben?

- Sometimes he is unpredictable and other times he is not concentrated. When the race is not important for him, he just relaxes himself.

- ¿Do you risk to give some possible names to win the Olympics?

- Torben is always an incredible talent, I believe he will be one of the favourites.

- ¿Will Spain go to the Olympics?

- I think so, Bermúdez is a good sailor. He is not classified but is is incredible.