Feature

Belgium statement at ILCA 6 Worlds

Published on December 6th, 2021

Mussanah, Oman (December 6, 2021) – Two races were completed today for the final day of the 2021 ILCA 6 World Championships, and once again, with varying conditions and strong competition, the leaderboard was shifted around for the final results. Only seven points separate the top five women, and only eight points separate the top four men.

In the women’s fleet, Belgium’s Emma Plasschaert took home the title by remaining consistent and steady with two top-ten finishes today and rising to the top from fifth place yesterday. This is Plasschaert’s second world title and a shiny consolation prize after a fourth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“Today, I went to the last day without any expectation, and just wanted to have three good races,” said Plasschaert. “I ended up with two good ones. It is a little bit surreal to come back on shore and not knowing what the points are. Am obviously super stoked about it and proud to be world champion!”

Agata Barwinska of Poland, who kept herself at the top of the fleet throughout the event, picked a bad day to have her worst day with a 21st and 12th, leaving her tied with Plasschaert but losing on countback.

Just two points behind Plasschaert and Barwinska is Lithuania’s Viktorija Andrulyte who also had been strong and steady, given the conditions. Reigning Olympic champion Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) was leading the fleet after yesterday, but finished with a 36th and 19th today dropping her to fourth.

Julia Büsselberg of Germany had a stellar day, with a second and first in today’s races, which pulled her back on the leaderboard to finish in fifth overall.

Due to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the ramp for Paris 2024 is now short, and while some countries approached this event at full throttle, North American fans better hope there is more gunpowder in storage.

Canada and USA had three sailors each, but none finished above the fold, with Maura Dewey (CAN) best at 37th out of 63 in a fleet that will be deeper for the 2022 Worlds.

In the men’s division, Nik Pletikos of Slovenia secured the title just one point ahead of Oman’s ALMuatasim Al Farsi. Al Farsi and Pletikos were battling all week, keeping close together on the scoreboard, but Al Farsi was leading the fleet until Pletikos closed the distance yesterday to sit just one point behind, heading into the final day. Oman’s AbdulMalik Al Hinai finished in third, just four points behind Al Farsi. Umut Eyriparmak of Turkey finished close behind in fourth and Karel Ratnik of Estonia placed fifth overall.

The venue is gaining a reputation as a light air hair puller, and now will be the setting for the 2021 Youth Sailing World Championships on December 11-18 as 350 of sailing’s future stars head to Oman for the 50th anniversary of the competition and the first to be held in Asia.