Garda Trentino Olympic Week: Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup - Day 4
by Elena Giolai 10 May 2015 19:27 NZST
6-10 May 2015
Sunday sees the final day of Garda Trentino Olympic Week with the medal races, the grand finale among the top ten of each class.
Giulia Conti - Francesca Clapcich win ahead of time on the 49er FX: their first victory in this class after coming in third in the World Championships and at the World Cup at Hyeres.
It was yet another intense day for the 500 athletes from 55 different countries and for all the staff who have contributed to the organisation of the Garda Trentino Olympic Week, the II stage of the Eurosaf Champions Sailing Cup. Since early this morning at Fraglia Vela Riva, Lega Navale Italiana, Circolo Vela Arco, Circolo Surf Torbole and Fraglia Vela Malcesine, all the classes (except the 49er) have been trying to make up for the races that weren't completed yesterday due to lack of wind. After four days and three days of racing the qualification has been completed for the medal races, which will be held on Sunday comprising of the first ten of each Olympic class. Another two races will be held for the paralympic classes; the Sonar, 2.4mT and the Skud. Only the windsurf RS:X, Nacra and Paralympics were able to complete the days programme this morning,while the Laser Standard, Radial, 49er, 49er FX and 470 returned to the water in the early afternoon to race again with medium to light winds from the south.
Nacra 17 – Fraglia Vela Malcesine - 10 races
Four races were held this morning for the mixed catamaran Nacra 17 which sees a tight contest between Italians Bissaro-Sicouri and New Zealanders Jones-Saunders. The two crews are playing for an outright victory and have only 2 points separating them as they go into the medal race. There's a tight race also for third place with three crews all within one point of each other. The outstanding Martinez with Marina Lopez at the bow, Greeks Bekatorou- Trigonis and Brits Gimson-Diamond. Eight nations will be represented in the medal race.
49er – Circolo Vela Arco – 9 races; 4 Italian crews qualify for the medal race
Leading the pack is local Ruggero Tita with Giacomo Cavalli at the bow, who thanks to the reparation given in the last race of Thursday (after a collision), jumped into the lead. In today's races they were able to hold on to that lead with a 14, a first and a third. Tita will go into the medal race with a 3.5 advantage over the other Italians Cherin-Tesei who today showed great form with 2-3-1 partials. Januszewski-Novak of Poland are 8 points behind. Seven nations will be represented in the medal race.
49er FX – Circolo Vela Arco – 10 races
Winning hands down one day early is Conti-Clapcich 3-1-8-1: they will go into the medal race with a 23 point lead. This is their first win on the 49er FX. In second place are Spaniards Echegoyen-Betanzos (helms woman Tamara was a gold medallist in the London games in the match race). Germans Meyer-Stoffers recuperated to come in third with a first and a second today. 10 athletes from 10 nations will compete in the medal race.
RS:X M Windsurf – Circolo Surf Torbole – 10 races
The leadership changes between the Italians Camboni-Benedetti: Mattia Camboni goes into the medal race with a two point lead over Daniele Benedetti, thanks to two firsts today a fourth and a second. Well behind in third place by 23 points is Gàdorfalvi of Hungary.
RS:X W Windsurf– Circolo Surf Torbole – 10 races
France dominates this category with three athletes holding the top three positions in the medal race. Berenice Meg, Lucie Belbeoch and Claire Tetard. Five nations are in the medal race.
Laser Standard – Fraglia Vela Riva – 7 races
The Lasers completed two races this morning and one this afternoon for a total of 7 races going into the medal race. In first place is Bernaz of France who showed excellent form today with 2 firsts and a fifth (he has an 8 point lead over second place). Robert Scheidt holds on to third place and is tied on points with Thompson of Great Britain. Seven nations will be represented in the medal race.
Laser Radial - Fraglia Vela Riva – 7 races
Olympic bronze medallist Evi Van Acker qualifies for the medal race with a 9 point lead over Tenkanen of Finland (1-6-6). Eight nations will be in the final.
470 M – Lega Navale Italiana – 7 races
Italy goes into the medal race with Sivitz Kosuta-Farneti and Emmanuele and Enzo Savoini first and third respectively. The leaders are ahead by 18 points (3-3-1 today) over Russians Maxim and Mikhail Sheremetev. Seven nations are in the medal race with two crews from South Korea.
470 W Lega Navale Italiana – 7 races
Slovenians Mrak-Macarol have dominated the standings from the start and go into the medal race ten points ahead of Fahrni-Siegenthaler of Switzerland. Tied on points are Russians Kirilyuk-Dmitrieva and Italians Berta-Paolillo. Italians Roberta Caputo-Alice Sinno (eighth) and Scotto Di Vettimo-Carraro also qualify for the medal race. Seven nations will be represented.
Paralympic Classes
Gusts reached 25 knots this morning at Malcesine making the races very challenging for the paralympic athletes in all three classes. There will be two race of each fleet on the final day.
2.4mT – Fraglia Vela Malcesine – 7 races
Antonio Squizzata holds a comfortable lead. The Italian notched up 6 wins and a second which was discarded. 13 points behind him is Andarias of Spain. The other Italian Redavid is third followed by Broertjes of The Netherlands 4 points behind.
Skud -Fraglia Vela Malcesine – 7 races
Brits Rickam-Birrel comfortably hold on to first place by 8 points and 6 wins and a second. Second are Canadians McRoberts-Gay who today took a 1-2-3. With only three points separating them Italians Gualandris-Zanetti could overtake the Canadians tomorrow.
Sonar – Fraglia Vela Malcesine – 7 races
With only one point among three crews, an exciting battle is heating up. The German crew helmed by Bauer is in first place with a 1-2-3 today and a disqualification in the fourth race. Tied with them on points are Italians D'Agaro-Solazzo-Pira who raced well today picking up a 3-1-1. Just one point behind are Spaniards Lloret-Avarez-Gimeno.
Full results for all classes can be found here.