What a difference a day made as the wind returned to the lighter conditions of the first three days of the championships.[more]
In the under 17 boys fleet, Friday’s leader Yael Paz put in his worst result of the week, which he could not afford to do, and slid down to third overall. Italian Michele Cittadini moved up into second place and Adam Sosnowski (POL 263) became Under 17 Boys European Champion.
World Champion Marta Maggetti (ITA 157) has maintained a strong lead throughout in the under 17 girls fleet and now adds the title Under 17 Girls European Champion to her portfolio. Zohar Ben Hayoun finished comfortably second overall. The real battle has been for the third place on the podium which went to Zuzanna Czurylo with one point to spare!
In the under 15 boys fleet, World Champion Tom Monnet has also dominated the top spot throughout and becomes the Under 15 Boys European Champion. Just one point separated Yoav Cohen in silver position and Antonino Cangemi in bronze. The effect of the stronger wind was quite marked in this fleet as some good scores were posted on that day by those who finished way down the fleet.
The most nailbiting finish for the top spot was in the girls under 15’s. Lucie Pianazza from France might have nailed it, being just one point behind at the close of play on Friday . . . she beat Gulia Alagna’s third with a second in the first race on the final day . . . and then bombed out with a sixth as Gulia won the final race of the championship! Thus Gulia Alagna from Italy becomes Under 15 Girls European Champion, Lucie Pianazza takes silver and Maya Morris from Israel bronze.
40 year old Olympian and Master Joao Rodrigues (POR 75) has become 2012 Raceboard Masters European Champion and also 2012 Raceboard European Champion – but only by 1 point ahead of Spaniard Ivan Pastor, second overall, who took all three bullets in the final day’s races. Between them, they have won every race of the championship. Max Wojcik from Poland, finishing in third place on the podium, managed to snatch a couple of second places, as did 18 year old Huig Jan Tak from the Netherlands who clearly preferred stronger wind conditions.
Winner of the 2012 Raceboard Youth European Champion title was 18 year old Russian Murashev Artem who also fared far better when the wind blew a little stronger.
First Grandmaster was 47 year old Juha Blinnikka from Finland, finishing 6th overall, and first Veteran was 65 year old Paco Manchon from Spain who beat our only lady competitor and Veteran Maria Antonia Dominguez by just 2 points.
Murcia has delivered a fantastic championship. Our hosts in Los Alcazares have been great, organisation has been second to none, and the atmosphere has been amazing. Well done to all our competitors who have all fought their closest rivals with such spirit and made new friends along the way.
FINAL RESULTS: Boys u17 / Boys u15 / Girls u17 / Girls u15 / RACEBOARD
