Eurosaf Youth Sailing European Championship - Italy victorious

by John Friend on 11 Aug 2012 At the Eurosaf Youth Sailing European Championship in Aarhus, Denmark, Italy has claimed the Nations Cup: Team Trophy whilst the individual medals are being shared amongst the nine different nations, as the event draws to a close.

Sunshine and reasonable breezes, in the region of 10 – 12 knots, made the medals races enjoyable for both sailors and spectators alike. The course was laid close to shore so everyone could witness the races at first hand, without the need to go afloat. This is the first time that medals races have been used at a youth championship and the reaction of the coaches and sailors was generally very positive. The debate will now continue within Eurosaf as to whether they will continue to use the double-points scoring medal races to conclude the event in Tavira, Portugal, in 2013.

Racing took place over four days, with just the medals races on the fifth and last day, but some have suggested the last qualifying race should take place on the last day, with the short medal races in the afternoon of the same day. This idea was attractive to the sailors and coaches, who also suggested all fleets should sail three races each day, with the high performance dinghy completing as many as sixteen races over four or five days. All these ideas are to be discussed in the coming few months, prior to the Notice of Race for the 2013 event being issued later this year.

Feedback from the sailors was very encouraging. For many this was their first experience of a multi-discipline event, one which will stand them in good stead in years to come, both at youth and senior levels. Some of the competitors were young enough to continue racing at youth level for another three years, so being in Aarhus for the event in 2012, will add significant benefit to their sailing careers.

The team leaders and coaches, who accompanied all the teams, were also very positive, with many voicing their long term commitment to the event, which is most encouraging for Eurosaf. The commitment of the European National Authorities for Sailing is important to the continued success of the championship and for the benefit of youth sailing in Europe.

We now look forward to being in Tavira, Portugal from third to 10th August, 2013, when once again the youth sailors of Europe will gather to compete in the Eurosaf Youth Sailing, European Championship.

Individual winners of each discipline were as follows:

Girls Single-handed dinghy: Laser Radial

First - Celine Carlsen, Denmark
Second - Joyce Floridia Italy
Third - Line Host, Norway

Boys Single-handed dinghy: Laser Radial

First - Henrik Begby, Norway
Second - Michael Beckett, Great Britain
Third - Obias Hemdorf, Denmark

High Performance Dinghy (Open)

First - Frederik Melson and Markus Lielsen, Denmark
Second - Sara Piasecka and Merek Kalinowski, Poland
Third - Ole Kuck and Niclas Kath, Germany

Sailboard, Boys

First - Joe Bennett, Great Britain
Second - Mattia Camboni, Italy
Third - Martin Kieran, Great Britain

Sailboard Girls

First - Saskia Sills, Great Britain
Second - Noelle Finch, Great Britain
Third - Melanie Jariel, France

Girls Double-handed dinghy: 420

First - Clara Addari and Arianna Perini, Italy
Second - Anna Bettoni and Sofia Carluccio, Italy
Third -Simay Aslan and Beste Kaynakc, Turkey

Boys Double-handed dinghy: 420

First - Davide Marrella and Francesco Rossi, Italy
Second - Ruggiero Di Luggo and Davide Russo, Italy
Third - Pierre Garreta and Eliot Michal, Event website