Final major 470 test before Tokyo 2020

Published on May 2nd, 2021

Vilamoura, Portugal (May 2, 2021) – Eighty-one 470s from 25 countries today began the 2021 470 European Championship, providing mens, womens and mixed teams needed training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond.

At the top of the Men’s fleet scoreboard is the Spanish crew Jordi Xammar and Nicolas Rodriguez after a 10th, 2nd and 4th in the three races of the day.

New Zealanders Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox are in 2nd just 1 point behind the leader and tied with the 2021 World Champions from Sweden Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergstrom. Just 3 points separate the leaders from the 8th boat.

With less then 3 months to go for the Olympic Games, this is the last 470 major event before Tokyo. Two months after the 2021 470 World Championship, also sailed in Vilamoura, the European Championship has attracted the elite of the 470 Class, including 34 out of the 40 Olympic teams.

The Women’s fleet with 18 teams the reigning European Champions from France, Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz, taking two bullets in races 1 and 3, followed by the 2019 World Champions from GBR Hannah Mills and Eilidh Mcintyre, with the 2021 World Champion crew Silvia Mas Depares and Patricia Cantero closing the top 3.

Thirty-four teams are competing in the first ever Mixed European Championship, so far dominated by Israeli and German crews, Nitai Hasson/ Saar Tamir and Theres Dahnke/ Matti Cipra respectively, tied in points, followed by the British crew Freya Black and Marcus Tressler.

Among the top North American teams, Stu McNay/ Dave Hughes (USA) are 12th in mens, Nikole Barnes/ Lara Dallman-Weiss (USA) are 10th in womens, and Louisa Nordstrom/ Trevor Bornarth (USA) are 10th in mixed.

The day started with a breeze of 6 to 8 knots, picking up along the afternoon and delivering 12 to 14 knots in the 2nd and 3rd races of the day.

Day 2 has on schedule 2 races with the first warning signal at 13:00.

Race details – Results – Facebook