Charlie Buckingham to race at 2020 Laser European Championships
by US Sailing Team 9 Oct 2020 19:11 NZDT
Charlie Buckingham at the 2020 ILCA Men's Laser Standard World Championships © Jon West Photography
US Sailing Team Athlete Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) is in action this week beginning Thursday, October 8 in Gdansk, Poland at the 2020 Laser European Championships for six days of racing. The Laser fleet completed two races on Day 1 of the regatta on Thursday and Buckingham placed 10th and 12th in the 126-boat Laser Standard fleet.
Buckingham has had an active fall racing season in Europe. Most recently, he captured first place honors at the Olympic Classes International Italian Championship in September. He clinched his victory in the Men's Laser fleet on the last day of racing and finished one point ahead of Robert Scheidt (BRA) and two ahead of his training partner Juan Maegli (GUA). Buckingham won half of the races throughout the event and finished outside the top three only once.
Prior to the Italian Championship, Buckingham posted another impressive finish at the 2020 Kiel Week Regatta. This event was Buckingham's first following a six month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lengthy break in racing, Buckingham placed fourth overall. He spent much of the week at the front of the Men's Laser fleet, finishing outside the top ten only once.
Quotes from Charlie:
- On Racing at Laser European Championships -
"All the top Laser sailors in the world are here, minus Australia and New Zealand. It will be a really good test to see where my level is compared to all the top guys."
- On his goals for this event -
"My goal for the event is to practicing racing at the front of the fleet and be consistent"
- On the possible weather and racing conditions at event -
"The conditions should be moderate winds and pretty cold. If we get some rain it could bring some stronger wind, but it's looking like we will see more moderate conditions. The wind is coming from the shore so it will probably be pretty tricky."
For more information visit www.ussailing.org/news/buckingham-2020euros.