European third for Finn star Wright
by Robert Deaves 18 May 2015 08:11 NZST
12-17 May 2015
World number one-ranked Ed Wright finished as the third European sailor at the 2015 Finn European Championships, which drew to a close on Sunday (17 May) in Split, Croatia.
Wright, the five-time European Championship medallist, concluded the six-day Open regatta – which permits off-continent entries – in fourth place overall.
The host's Ivan Kjlakovic Gaspic gave home fans plenty of cheer by taking the European crown for the fourth time, with New Zealand's Josh Junior in overall second and Slovenia's Vasilij Zbogar rounding off the Open podium just ahead of the 2014 world bronze medallist Wright.
The 37-year-old said he had enjoyed the competition, but was disappointed not to add the 2015 title to his previous European Championship victory from 2006.
"It was a fun week, we managed to get some wind in the end," said Wright of the regatta, which was beset with light wind conditions and race postponements in the first half of the week, with the medal race also delayed due to light winds at the Croatian venue.
"I wanted to win it, but the week didn't pan as I'd hoped.
"I had a couple of bad races out there, but managed to win one race in the breeze and in the end I was actually sailing pretty well," explained Wright, who counted six of the nine opening series races inside the top ten, before a fifth place in the medal race rounded off his regatta and assured him of his place inside the European top three.
Meanwhile, British Sailing Team Podium Potential squad sailor Ben Cornish declared he was 'chuffed' with his finishing position of ninth European (12th overall) after just 18 months sailing in the men's heavyweight Olympic class.
Fellow Podium Potential squad members James Hadden and Hector Simpson were also in action in Split, finishing in 27th and 32nd respectively.
World Champion Giles Scott, who won the European title in 2014, did not defend his crown this year, instead opting for a training stint in the 2016 Games venue in Rio ahead of a home World Cup regatta in Weymouth and Portland from 8-14 June.
Regatta results are available at finneuropeans.org/ec2015
For all the latest news from the British Sailing Team, follow us at www.britishsailingteam.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @BritishSailing.