Big winds close Garda Trentino Olympic Week

Trentino, Italy (May 11, 2014) – A memorable week on Lake Garda with great wind conditions and a very windy final race day that decided the medals at the Garda Trentino Olympic Week, first leg of the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup.

With more than 22 Kts of southern wind and steep waves during the decisive final races, these challenging conditions were ideal for those whose aim is to arrive at the Rio 2016 Olympics in the best possible condition. The regatta is the only occasion to see all the Olympics and Paralympic classes racing together in Italy, an event that’ Vela Garda Trenten’ have organized and involves the foremost sailing clubs in the region in order to provide the best possible support on the water and on shore.

Applause for the Fraglia Vela Riva, the Lega Navale Italiana of Riva, Circolo Vela Arco, Circolo Surf Torbole and Fraglia Vela Malcesine who ably organized the racing in an exemplary manner by putting in place the right number of support boats and personnel These sailing clubs united together by Vela Garda Trentino managed to host a high level international event which involved athletes from 50 nations and a high degree of complex organizational skill (5 race courses for 12 Olympic an Paralympic Classes). The EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup now moves now on to Northern Europe, the next races are going to take place in Medemblik (Netherlands), Weymouth (UK) and Kiel (Germany).

Nacra 17: Victory for the Italians Vittorio Bissaro – Silvia Sicouri

With victory effectively in the bag the crew Bissaro – Sicouri who are justifiable leaders in the ISAF world classification won the gold medal with a fifth in the medal race on the course at the Fraglia Vela Malcesine. The Italians taking a risk at the start touched the start line buoy and were therefore forced to do a penalty 360 which obviously slowed their departure, notwithstanding this and thanks to their superior speed they were worthy winners of the regatta. Second and third place went to the French crews of Vaireaux – Audinet and Ogerau – Vandame (second in the medal race).

470 M: Confirmation of the superiority of the current European Champion, Croat Fandela – Marenic

Difficult conditions also in the Medal Race of the men’s 470 provided for a spectacular finish to this regatta. The European Champions and fourth in the London Olympics Fantela – Marenic also won the medal race meaning they secured the Gold medal with a 7 point advantage. Following them were the Germans Gerz –Symanski who were third in the medal race. Third place was maintained by the Italian crew Desiderato – Trani (eighth in the medal race) who were in the lead for the first three days but fell behind after being disqualified for a premature start. There was satisfaction for the other two Italian crews, a new emerging generation in this highly competitive class ; Capurro – Puppo fourth overall and sixth in the Medal race, and ninth in the 470 Youth Worlds in 2012 Sivitz Kosuta – Farneti (fifth in the medal race).

470 F: Gold for the Italians Caputo – Sinno after a magnificent finale.

In the final the European and world champion Roberta Caputo rose to the fore even after four years in exile following her exploits of 2010 in the 420. Returning to the stage in the 470 class she has shown that these previous titles did not arrive by chance. On the most difficult day of the competition, the Italian crew knew how to draw on their reserves of grit and determination to bring a second place in the Medal race and first place overall even if they were on equal points with the Poles, Skrzpulec – Pogon who were present in London for the 2012 Olympics. There was victory In the Medal Race for the Russians Kirilynk – Dmitrieva who took the bronze in the overall competition.

Laser Standard – The mythical Robert Scheidt takes everything. He wins the Medal Race and the competition.

Little to say in the Laser Standard class with Scheidt winning everything to add to his numerous world titles and Olympic medals. Coming back from third place on the first upwind leg he showed his class by moving into first position and winning the Medal Race. In the Silver position 21 points behind was the Frenchman Bernal (sixth in the medal race). Bronze for the Englishman Thomson. Second place in the medal race for another Brazilian, Bruno Fontes, third in the medal race was the Argentine Alsogaray.

Laser Radial – gold for Murphy (Ireland). Italian Zennaro did badly in the medal race and finished sixth overall.

Victory was already in the bag for Irish Murphy who, in the Medal Race, left the other podium places to be disputed by her main rivals. Danish Rindom won overall silver after a first place in the Medal Race, and Australian Stoddart got Bronze with a second place in the last race. Only finishing ninth in the Medal Race, Italian Zennaro was out of a podium place, a day of strong wind not suiting her technical abilities.

49er: Abandoned race both for male and female due to the risky conditions in the closed course “theatre”.

French victory for the crew D’ortoli – Delpech and two well-earned Italian medals for Dubbini and Plazzi Molineris, respectively silver and bronze. No racing today for the skiffs that should have sailed the “medal race” on a course limited by a string of buoys. The strong wind and the peculiarities of the course resulted in a decision to abandon the race for safety reasons.

The ranking has changed from yesterday due to the resolution of protests which have allowed the Italians Plazzi-Molineris who contested the OCS they received, to return in contention and in so winning the bronze medal close behind the very competent cousins Dubbini, who took second place. The leadership did not changeat the front with the gold medal for the Frenchmen D’Ortoli – Delpech.

49erFX: Victory for Martine, daughter of Torben Grael, after a jury protest yesterday evening.

As in the Men’s racing, the Women’s 49ers, who didn’t sail a Medal Race today, saw a change in the classification compared to yesterday after a decision by the Jury yesterday evening. In fact, the request for redress by the Brazilian team (leading so far in the World Cup) was upheld, with Martine Grael at the helm (daughter of the legendary Torben, tactician for the Luna Rossa monohull and winner of various Olympic medals and also a round the world race). The Brazilians were thus able to overtake the New Zealanders, current world champions Maloney-Meech, and the Germans, Meyer-Stoffers, who then took silver and bronze.

RS:X M: Victory for Croatian Mratovic, silver to Italian Mattia Camboni.

The top ten windsurfers certainly had fun with Marcantonio Baglione who had the satisfaction of winning the Medal Race. The top three placings remained the same as yesterday putting Croatia, Italy and Thailand on the winner’s podium.

No regatta today for the RS:X Women and that confirms gold for Flavia Tartaglini and bronze for Veronica Fanciulli.

RESULTS:
http://www.velagardatrentino.com/idPm/2023/ncName/ResultsO2014LaserSt/news.aspx

Background: The second year of the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup promotes four major European regattas, extending the European summer season for Olympic and Paralympic sailors beyond the ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas. The 2014 schedule is Lake Garda, Italy (May 7-11); Medemblik, The Netherlands (May 20-24); Weymouth & Portland, United Kingdom (June 2-6); and Kiel, Germany (June 21-25). – www.championssailingcup.org