German Optimist Championship at Lake Garda - Overall
by Elena Giolai 28 Jul 2018 15:49 AEST
22-27 July 2018
2018 German Championship Optimist Open © Elena Giolai
Ended the German Championship Optimist with a final nothing short of exciting and not without twists, with the current World Champion Marco Gradoni disqualified for early departure in the last race and the American Baker, who took advantage of it, going to win the event with 22 points on the Maltese Richard Schultheis. Marco Gradoni slipped to third place, having to discard the disqualification of the last test was found in the standings on the 41st of Thursday.
Germans moved up again with Anna Bart, fourth overall and Caspar Ilgenstein fifth. Also the other blue Davide Nuccorini (CV Roma) has paid a disqualification on Thursday, but in the last test he reacted well going to win on all, ending up in a good eighth place overall. Nono the Australian Links, tenth Mattia Cesana (Fraglia Vela Riva). Maria Vittoria Arseni (CV Roma), wins the women's second place.
The choice of the German Optimist class to come to Italy on Garda Trentino to play in the National Championship was certainly courageous given that all the German clubs have had to adapt, but was also rewarded by a wonderful week that led every day, from Monday to Friday sun and wind always from 12 to 16 knots. An edition that is nothing short of perfect, which featured not only the young German sailors engaged in their national championship, but many of the strongest timers of the moment, who took advantage of this opportunity to train one month earlier from the World Optimist in Cyprus. It was therefore an opportunity for technical growth for everyone because racing between world champion, European, American and others who have won international podiums is certainly an added value. The commitment to the Circolo Vela Arco was certainly a lot, but repaid by the success of the event, first at the numerical level (over 300 participants from 25 nations), then the exceptional conditions offered, which have transformed the trip for all guests present highly positive.
The Garda Trentino has therefore brought good results to the American Stephan Baker, ruler of the Garda Optimist Meeting of 2017, who confirmed his feeling with the lake, imposing himself in this German Optimist Championship on the final after a good duel with the blue champion of the world in charge Marco Gradoni (Tognazzi Village), who will meet again in a month at the world of Cyprus and where the stakes will be decidedly higher.
After this particular Championship dedicated to the very young from the next days at the Circolo Vela Arco will still be a single hull protagonist, but this time widespread among adults: from 28 to 3 August is scheduled the European Championship Class Contender.
For full Gold ranking click here.