Garda Optimist Meeting - Intense competition on penultimate day

by Elena Giolai on 8 Apr 2012 At the XXX Garda Optimist Meeting, after the excitement of yesterday's achievement of a Guinness World Record(R) as the largest single-class sailing regatta in the world, it was back to racing today.

Winds today were strong and intense reaching 18-20 knots at Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 1000 boats took to the water for the start scheduled for 12:00 and with constant winds from the south, the various groups took off one after the other.

The cadets, (9-11 years), however, were only able to complete one race as the winds increased in strength to 20 knots at around 14:00 so, for safety reasons, it was decided to call them all ashore. A battle is in progress in the junior category who were able to complete all three races scheduled, for a total of eight.

The situation after eight races has Italian Patrik Zeni taking the lead, one 1 point ahead of American Glossenger who bagged a first in the second race of the day. He is four points behind the leader. In third place is Isik of Turkey.

The competition is fierce. Among the top ten juniors are youngsters from seven different countries with Italy having four of them (out of 805 participants). These include Francesca Bergamo (CV Alto Adriaco), seventh overall and first among the girls. One thing is certain, the battle for a place on the podium will come down to the last race.

One race was completed in the Cadet Category and victory went to Andrea Spagnolli of Fraglia Vela Riva, first in the blue group. Second was Patton Campbell of Bermuda and third Gultekin of Turkey.

Fabian Magnusson was first in the yellow group, second Maltcev Semen (Monaco), and third Aydin Tuna of Turkey.

The general classification (which doesn't include the third race which will probably be made-up tomorrow), for the moment 'speaks Italian' with Alessandro Caldari of Circolo Nautico Cervia, in the lead over Andrea Spagnolli of Fraglia Vela Riva. Third is Gultekin of Turkey.

This category also has Italy well represented with three children near the top of the leader's board. In ninth place is Tommaso Salvetta of Fraglia Vela Riva while Turkey, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain and Finland are the other nations in the top ten. There is a second generation Optimist in eighth place. Aku Tapper of Finland is the son of Risto Tapper who won The Garda Optimist Meeting in 1985.

Results after 8 races JUNIOR: here