RS-X Open Youth Europeans – Battle for medals hotting up in Sopot
by Rory Ramsden on 2 Jul 2010
Racing at the RS:X Europeans in Sopot RS:X Class .
http://www.rsxclass.com
RS:X Open Youth European Championship is currently under-way in Sopot, Poland and with the youth men's groups now set in gold, silver and bronze and a tough battle developing in the youth women's fleet, the race for medals at the RS:X Open Youth European Championships is getting hot.
The silver and bronze groups got the best of the breeze and had a good afternoon on the water on day four. In the youth women's fleet Liz Hamilton [GBR], the current RS:X Youth World Champion, is doing her best to fend off all comers.
A fourth in the first race of the day followed by a bullet in the second put her back on top of the pack. Her challengers did not manage such consistency gifting Izzy a six point cushion going into medal day.
The fight for the minor places is building. Six points separate Halevy Ofir [ISR] in second from Smekta a Kamila [POL] in sixth. The chasing pack are well back and not likely to interfere in the battle for podium places.
In short, it's Izzy's to lose. She just has to sail conservatively and the title is hers on top of which she will go into the upcoming ISAF Youth World Championships with the psychological advantage.
Over in the youth men's gold group, it is the 15 year old Amir Galili [ISR] who leads the fleet by one point. The gold medal is far from decided. Seven points separate Amir from his fellow under 17 year-old, Pawe Tarnowski [POL] in sixth. This title is wide open with three sailors from ISR, two from Poland and one from Spain all capable of making it to the top step of the podium. The battle over the last two days will be fascinating with the wild card being the medal race which will count double points.
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