Argentina top country at 2014 South American Games

Variable wind conditions in the coastal valley of Santiago, Chile led to tough racing at the 2014 South American Games (March 12-17) with Argentina taking seven medals, Brazil five and Chile four across six events.

Throughout the week wind and visibility challenged the sailors. Some days the wind was too light for racing and other days there was too much. Nonetheless a strong race series was completed with the top South American racers taking the honours in the Laser Standard, Laser Radial, J/24, Lightning, Snipe and Sunfish.

In the Laser Standard Julio Alsogaray (ARG) was dominant and controlled the fleet at the very front. Out of the ten race series the Argentinean recorded seven victories to seal a comprehensive victory. On the whole Alsogaray was impressed with his nations performance in Santiago, “We took three golds, three silvers and a bronze which is great for us, as well as that we are excited to be ahead of Brazil. This allows us to dream a little for the Pan American Games next year and shows Argentina has very good sailors.”

The Chilean Alberto ‘Titio’ Gonzalez, seven times world champion in the Lightning class, won gold in the Lightning class with just a four point advantage over his Chilean rival Felipe Robles. Gonzalez correctly predicted the Chilean’s medal haul, “My prediction was that Chile would have a minimum of four medals we have met this and have the ability to grow in the future if windsurfing is added to the program.”

Brazilian J-24 champion Samuel Albreht, a 2008 Beijing Olympian added, “It was a very good championship, good wind conditions, and a high level of competition. Brazil medaled in all classes but the Sunfish class which shows again that we have a very high standard of sailing within Brazil.”

Argentina added a further two golds to their collection, Cecilia Carranzo Saroli in the Laser Radial and Francisco Renna in the Sunfish Class. Brazil’s Alexandre Dias took the final gold medal in the Snipe class.

Results
Laser Standard, 10 races
1 – Julio Alsogaray (ARG) 11 points
2 – Matheus Deladnelo (BRA) 23 points
3 – Matias del Solar (CHI)29 points

Lightning, 9 races
1 – Alberto Gonzalez (CHI) 14 points
2 – Felipe Robles (CHI) 18 points
3 – Joao Hackerott (BRA) 19 points

J-24, 10 races
1 – Samuel Albrecht (BRA) 20 points
2 – Avermaete Francisco (ARG) 23 points
3 – Robert Vernon (CHI) 31

Sunfish Class, 9 races
1 – Francisco Renna (ARG) 19 points
2 – Jonathan Martietti Mawyin (ECU) 32 points
3 – Alexander Zimmermann (PER) 36 points

Laser Radial, 10 races
1 – Cecilia (ARG) 18 points
2 – Lucia Falasca (ARG) 24 points
3 – Fernanda Demetrio (BRA) 24 points

Snipe, 9 races
1 – Alexandre Dias (BRA) 10 points
2 – Luis Soubie (ARG) 22 points
3 – Augusto Amato (ARG) 30 points

Click here for full results.

Source: http://www.sailing.org/news/37558.php