49erFX: Final test before Tokyo 2020

Cascais, Portugal (June 7, 2021) – The best sailors in the world in the Olympic 49erFx class are competing in the 2021 Cascais International Week Act II as the final event before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

This championship will serve as a barometer for the Olympics during this summer an as it has the participation of the European Champions in 2020, Tina Lutz and Susann Buecke (GER), with the World Champions in 2020, Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barceló (ESP), and the Gold medalists at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA).

With the first warning signal scheduled for 11:00 am, the female Olympic fleet of 21 boats, the same number of boats that will be in Tokyo within 45 days, set out at sea around 10:00 am to find an unfit race area to start the championship. The Race Committee also tried to change the location of the race course but there was not enough wind to fill the race area with the necessary conditions to held a race.

Consequently, the organization sent the fleet to wait ashore for better conditions. These conditions soon emerged, and with the wind at around 10 knots and shifting right, it can be seen that the favorable tactical options of the boats in front were always on the right side of the course throughout the first day.

At the end of three races and at the top of the overall is the duo from the United Kingdom, Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey, the lone team to post all keepers with a 3-4-1. In second place was the Argentine duo of Victoria Travascio and Sol Branz with a bullet in the second race. With the victory in the debut race and closing the podium at the end of the first day was the Spanish team of Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barcelo.

Americans Steph Roble and Maggie Shea are in fourth, three points off the podium.

In total, 5 continents are represented – North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania – with 19 nationalities competing. The championship has 12 races scheduled plus a Medal Race that will count double points for the final overall.

Racing is planned for June 7-12.

Results: https://www.cncascais.com/index.php?option=com_rib&view=item&id=1268&catid=2&Itemid=157&lang=en#results