Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja at Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja - Overall
by Prensa Sailing Comunicación 3 Feb 08:47 AEDT
30 January - 2 February 2025
Turkey's Erkut, together with Juan Lleonart and Sweden's Alexander Forssén make up the overall and U16 podium. Lilou Backes won the U16 and U13 women's titles, while Izan Rogel from Torrevieja was proclaimed champion in the U13 men's category.
The XVII Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja brings the curtain down on a spectacular edition, with almost 430 sailors from 29 countries. The Turkish sailor Mehmet Erkut Budak (Sopraventus Team- Istanbul SC) is the champion after a long and very complicated day due to the wind, although the race committee, thanks to a great professionalism, has managed to close three races for the gold group, while the other three groups have done it with two.
The wind has been very capricious in Torrevieja, with a wind of 310º with 7-8 knots of intensity at the start of the day, around 10.00 hours. From then on the wind disappeared, returning after a break to 170º with 6 knots, finishing at 140º with just 6 knots.
These wind conditions have marked the regatta in the three races. Juan Lleonart (CN El Balis) started as leader, with a slight advantage, but he was unable to beat the Turkish Mehmet Erkut Budak who, although he started with a 13 to the Catalan's 7, things were going to get complicated for Lleonart in the last race in which he scored a 61, not positive for his interests as the Turk closed with a 7. In the second round Erkut was one place behind Lleonart 3-2.
Behind there has also been a dance. After closing this day complicated by the unstable wind and low intensity, the Absolute podium in the event organised by the RCN of Torrevieja closes with Mehmet Erkut Budak (70 pts.) and Juan Lleonart (77), with the Swedish Alexander Forssén (Team Happy) who has 84 points. This podium was to be repeated in the SUB16 category.
In the women's race, history has repeated itself, but now with Marta Mansito-Valverde (RCN Gran Canaria) who after leading the last race today has lost the first place to the French Lilou Backes (YCPR Sopraventus), champion in the women's race. The Canary Islander did not have the same luck as Lleonart, runner-up, as she finished in fourth place, behind Valentina Belso (RCN Torrevieja), third, and the Danish Freja Vintergaard, silver.
As for the SUB13 Male category, the podium closes with a local triumph, Izan Rogel (RCN Torrevieja) is proclaimed champion. He was accompanied on the podium by the British Charlie Holland (Royal Lymington Yacht Club) and the Greek Giorgos Papavasileiou (CN of Kalamaki). In the women's category, Lilou Backes added a new trophy. Silver and bronze for Ukrainian Ahnieshka Madonich (Yacht Club Imperia/Team Ukraine) and Hong Kong's Alix Nguyen-Minh (Aberdeen Boat CLub / Sopraventus), respectively.
The trophy ceremony was attended by Eduardo Dolon, Mayor of Torrevieja, accompanied by Diana Box and Guitte Lund, Councillors for Sports and International Residents, respectively; Jose Hernandez, Colonel Chief of the Guardia Civil Alicante; Juan Navarro; Subdelegate of the Government of Defence in Alicante; Carlos Torrado, President of the Sailing Federation Valencian Community; Joaquín Valero, President of AECIO; Patricia and Antonio Quesada, General Directors of Euromarina and Carlos Carmona, President of the RCN of Torrevieja, accompanied by Gemma Cruz, Sirena 2024 of the RCNT.
More information on the event website.