2024 Open Skiff Youth World Championships at Circolo Vela Arco - Day 3
by Elena Giolai 31 Jul 14:22 PDT
28 July - 2 August 2024
The third day of the Open Skiff World Championship, being held on Garda Trentino and organised by Circolo Vela Arco, was again characterised by a beautiful sunny day and stable winds of 12-14 knots from the south.
The situation in the largest category, the under-15 category, was also stable, despite the fact that the finals began with the gold fleet, which saw the first 64 helmsmen in the ranking list race together after the first 6 qualifying races. In fact, New Zealander Ewan Brazle, continued his series of partial victories undisturbed: after the 6 qualifying races, he added a further 3 wins in today's three races, leaving behind his rivals, who will fight to the end to win the remaining podium places, as Brazle seems unbeatable. The New Zealander's lead over the second placed Frenchman Charles Ganivet, now 3-36-6, has become 10 points. Three points behind the Italian Antonio Simbula (Italy) who is quite regular with 9-5-4. Behind him were two down-under helmsmen, New Zealand's Tiedemann and Australia's Puls Kaison. First of the girls the local Vittoria Berteotti (Italy), excellent ninth overall.
A 'photocopy' situation among the younger under-12s where Circolo Vela Arco's Samuel Piantoni again today scored three firsts, enjoying himself in the gusting south wind. Twenty-three points ahead of the second, Frenchman Côme Zunquin, who did well today with a 3-2-3 partial. He is followed by the Italians Fabio Serra (LNI Sulcis) and Gabriele Lizzulli (CNV Argentario), one point from each other and pressed in turn by Poland's Grygolowicz and Italy's Vittoria Silvestri (CNRimini), sixth and seventh respectively, as well as the first of the girls
Also in the under-17s, the Romagna-born Federico Poli (Italy) consolidates his position as leader of the rankings. With a 2-6-4 on the day he is first with a 10-point lead over the Pole Hubert Staron. Four points behind the second is the other Italian Enrico Loi (Italy), brilliant today with a 10-3-1, which ensures him provisional third place with an 11-point lead over the fourth, the Spaniard Pepe. First of the girls Vittoria Cartelli (Italy), excellent sixth overall.
The system by which the race course was positioned so that the five fleets did not cross each other during their race was very interesting: the 'windward-leeward' sticks were replicated parallel in width, with the larger fleets starting first, which sailed outwards, while the under-17s sailed the middle stick and the smaller ones the innermost. Two separate finishing areas. A system that did not create any hiccups in the fifteen daily starts (excluding those repeated with a general recall as happened in today's first under-15 gold fleet), which the Race Committee Chairman Mario Lupinelli, thanks to the cooperation of the many race officials and referees appointed by the Italian Sailing Federation, managed to give in quick succession. So this OpenSkiff World Championship is going swimmingly, thanks both to the optimal weather conditions and the organisation on the water, which is running perfectly without wasting the time of the 300 young racers.
On Thursday, the start was brought forward to 12:30, while the event will end the day after tomorrow, 2 August.
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