Laser Youth Worlds – Mikkola and Vadnai are the champions

by segler-zeitung.de on 16 Aug 2016 The Laser Youth World Championships (U-21) in Kiel ended with a day of calm air in the Laser Standard (men) as well as the Laser Radial (women).

There was not enough wind on the Kiel fjord to be able to sail more races that would be suitable for a world championship. So the results remained the same after ten sailed races in both groups: New World Champion (U-21) in the Laser Radial is Monika Mikkola from Finland (Helsinki, 20 years), in the Laser Standard it is Jonatan Vadnai from Hungary (Balatonfuered, 18). 201 participants (144 men and 57 women) from 39 nations and all continents were guests at the Kiel Yacht Club.

Wind from seven up to 31 knots (two to seven beaufort), rain showers at the beginning and sun at the end - Kiel offered all varying weather conditions. Ten races could be sailed, so two discards were possible (in the men's fleet of the Laser Standard only one in both races of the final round, where 144 sailors were divided into a gold and silver fleet).

Finishing first in the first race, Jonatan Vadnai had made clear that he can live up to the expectations of the role as a favourite. At the Kiel Week he finished on rank four and did already demonstrate his ability to sail on this territory for the Worlds. Three further first places did follow in the qualifiers, another one in the gold fleet. 'I am happy.

Fortunately, we did not sail anymore today, so nothing could happen to me anymore', Vadnai was not unhappy about the cancelled race on Tuesday. He had been a bit nervous in the morning and had tried to get distracted by listening to music.

By finishing in first position, Joel Rodriguez from Gran Canaria (Spain), the title defender, did demonstrate the other start group, that he can sail again at the top of the fleet. He was also successful in finishing in first position three more times in the qualifier races - so it has been a head-to-head race at the top of the fleet. There were only three points between the 18-year old and the first ranked - and he was longing for more races to use his chances. 'That is frustrating to be ashore and have no more chance' , Rodriguez was disappointed. 'But that's reality.'

Nik Aaron Willim (19, Schleswig/Germany) did win an unexpected medal with rank three. 'Bronze, that is really cool', he is happy. He was following his conservative strategy not to take too many risks, what has been successful in the end.

In the Laser Radial Monika Mikkola from Finland (20, Helsinki) did also live up to the expectations being one of the favourites. From the first day, she took over the lead and did sail an impressive series with four first and two second places. A fifth and a sixth place have been her worst results, so that she would have not had to sail the last day. 'No, I had not believed to become World Champion. The girls here are all really fast' , said Mikolla. From Kiel she will go directly to Croatia for the U-21 Europeans. Tokyo 2020 is her defined goal for the future.

With 16 points Mikkola was clearly leading in front of Vasileia Karachaliou from Athens (19, Greece). Karachaliou's aim to make it like her team colleague in the Laser 4.7 (who had won the title in the Laser with the smallest rig just the week before), did not really work out. But she was nevertheless really happy about the silver medal. After a big fight and 32 points, she had no chances for a victory anymore. Because she had not reached the hiking strip and fell into the water during a tack, Maité Carlier (20) from Ostende (Belgium) had messed up the last race. She remained on rank three from the first until the final day.

Jonatan Vadnai (Hungary) did win the U-19 ranking in front of Joan Cardona Mendez (Spain) and Jakub Rodziewicz (Poland). In the Laser Radial U-19 Mirthe Akkerman (The Netherlands) did win the title, followed by Sandra Lulic (Croatia) and Nicoel Hemeryck (Ireland).

'You can rely on the wind in Kiel', race officer Robert Niemczewski was satisfied with the summary of the event despite the last day. 'It was also very difficult for us, since it was unusually gusty and shifty', added co-race officer Tina Buch. 'But we managed to have nice races.' With the very light and shifting winds in Kiel Schilksee, the race committee did not want to start any more races on Tuesday. Only a puff of wind (three knots) was measured at the windward mark - not enough for a world championship race. At 1pm, start readiness was cancelled.
'We had a great variety of conditions', summed up Randolph Bertin, General Manager of the International Class Association ILCA. 'It was a challenge for the sailors. So we have true champions.' Bence Borocz, Head of the International Jury, was also satisfied with the event: “We had only a few protests. That is a good sign. The sailors know the rules', stated Borocz. At the prize giving ceremony, Dr. Carsten Krage, president of the Kiel Yacht Club, did say thank you to all participants and coaches on the water as well as the team of the race committee. 'We had great days of racing. The weather conditions were perfect to find the best Laser U-21 sailors in the world.' Gratitude is also owed to the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and Helly Hansen for supporting the event.

U-21 World Championship in the Laser Standard (men)
Final results after 10 races (two discards)
1. Jonatan Vadnei (Hungary), 16 points
2. Joel Rodriguez (Spain), 19 p.
3. Nik Aaron Willim (NRV, Germany), 44 p.
4. Santiago Sampaio (Portugal), 52 p.
5. Nicolo’ Villa (Italy), 53 p.
6. Max Gallant (Canada), 70 P.

U-21 World Championship in the Laser Radial (women)
Final results after 10 races (two discards)
1. Monika Mikkola (Finland), 16 points
2. Vasileia Karachaliou (Greece), 32 p.
3. Maité Carlier (Belgium), 42 p.
4. Valentina Balbi (Italy), 43 p.
5. Maud Jayet (Switzerland), 43 p.
6. Elli Cumpsty (Great Britain), 55 p.