Byte CII Championship and YOG Qualifier for South and Central America

Day 1
Day 3
Day 4
Final

Alexander Elstrodt of Brazil wins CII South American Championship and YOG Qualifier

It's over! Elstrodt bested both his peers and his elders to win the inaugural South American Championshp and, in so doing, qualified Brazil for a spot in the Youth Olympic Games this coming August in Singapore. Racing on the final day was cancelled for lack of wind so the results after 11 races stand. This left Elstrodt with a single point margin over Michael Louzada BRA, an experienced competitor with fifth and sixth place finishes in the last two World’s.

In third place was Juan Ignacio Biava ARG who, as the second country finisher of youth age, qualified Argentina for the Games. Two country positions were available to both the male and female qualifying sailors from amongst Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Fourth and fifth place went to female sailors with Denise Chagas BRA, current CII World Masters Champion edging out her young ompatriot Claudia Mazzaferro by just two points. Mazzaferro (below), as the top youth qualifier, therefore earns Brazil a place in the YOG.



Three points behind Mazzafero was the top female Argentinean qualifier, Solewe Crepin, who likewise earns Argentina a place in Singapore.

It should be pointed out that, although the sailors have earned their countries a place in the Games, it is the Member National Authority that will make the final selection of who represents their country at the Games.

The Byte Class International Association is extemely grateful to the ADC Eletropaulo Sports Association, the São Paulo State Sailing Federation, FEVESP and the Brazilian Sailing Confederation, CBVM, for the tremendous support they have given to the Championship and to Cristina Dehn, the Class representative on the Organizing committee for the tremendous job she did in putting the event together. A special thank you as well to all the volunteers and to the Race Committee and the Jurors - an event like this does not happen without them and they have all contributed to making this an outstanding Championship in difficult conditions.
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Alexande Elstodt BRA takes over the lead from Louzada after only two races are sailed on Day Four.


Rain continues to plague the Championship as Sao Paulo sees its heaviest rainfall in 60 years! In spite of this, they have managed to get off 11 races in 6 - 11 knots (Singapore conditions without the rain) and, when sailing became impossible, it was soccer as usual!

Race 11 was won by Ricardo de Catro Paranhos BRA for his first win of the series, followed by Roberto Fontes de Mattos Filho BRA and Juan Ignacio Biava ARG. Juan Ignacio continues to hold down the series third position. Although he is 21 points out of second, he sits fairly comfortably in third, 12 points ahead of the next male YOG competitor and has demonstrated geat talent in a boat he has just seen for the first time. It will be a surprise if he does not qualify Argentina fot the YOG.

Argentina have a terrific section of their Opti site devoted to their Event team (seen below). It's worth the trip!

Top Qualifying Countries after 11 races
Boys
Brazil        (sailed by Alexander Elstrodt)
Argentina (sailed by Juan Ignacio Biava)

Girls
Brazil        (sailed by Claudia Mazzaferro
Argentina (sailed by Solewe Crepin)

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Young Brazilian Alexander Elstrodt the star of Day Three!


Alexander was sitting in third after day two but came into his own on day three winning three of the four races sailed. Below, he takes a sandwich break after winning the first race of the day with his first win of the Championship.




His three wins brought him within one point of the series leader Michael Louzada (below) but this could change on day Four as, with the sailing of Race 10, the second drop race will kick in.



Below, the fleet gets off on race one of day three with a huge sag in the line. Ricardo de Catro Paranhos BRA takes the pin end.



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The Byte CII South American Championships and Youth Olympic Games Qualifier underway after a soggy start!

Lake Guarapiranga was under an abnormal deluge of rain that cancelled all the practice races and moved the opening ceremonies indoors (see below) at the ADC Eletropaulo Sports Association.

 

Teams from Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile are trying to qualify for the two male and two female South American spots in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August 2010.

However, the first day of the Championship saw the return of the normal 8-10 knot conditions for which the venue was chosen as it closely resembles the conditions expected in Singapore next August at the Games.

Brazilian Michael Louzada, the most experienced CII competitor with a fifth and sixth respectively in the last two World Championships, claimed the first race and went on to win the day’s racing with another sixth and a third. Even though he is too old for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), he is still looking to win the inaugural South American Championship.

Not far behind him in second on day one was Juan Ignacio Biava from Argentina who is of YOG age. Juan then won the second day’s racing, in the same conditions, with a first and a third to Louzada’s second and fourth. After five races, the first drop has kicked in, and Juan now sits second overall, just four points behind Louzada but leading all qualifiers.

In third and fourth overall are Alexander Elstrodt BRA and Pedo Hecker ARG. Both are of YOG age and both are sailing consistently, Pedro actually winning the fifth race with Alexander in second.

Rounding out the top five is Brazilian Denise Chagas, the World Master’s title holder from the 2009 World Championships in Kingston, Ontario.

Below, Roberto Fontes de Mattos Filho BRA gets the pin start in Race 4 with Alexander Elstrodt just to leeward.

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Top Qualifying Countries after five races

Boys
Argentina (sailed by Biava)
Brazil        (sailed by Elstrodt) 

Girls
Argentina (sailed by Solewe Crepin)
Brazil        (sailed by Claudia Mazzaferro

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