122 RS:X youth sailors from 17 countries registered for the 2013 Enel RS:X Youth World Championships being held in Civitavecchia, Italy between 20-26 October. [more]After completing registration and the practice race all participants gathered in the Club to parade among music and colours along the streets of Civitavecchia to City Hall where they were welcomed by Pietro Tidei, Mayor of Civitavecchia. After welcoming speeches the Event was officially opened by Marietta Tidei, member of Italian Parliament.
The first day of racing was marked out by 15 knots of wind (10 in the afternoon) and high waves. These weather conditions allowed the Race Committee to give the start to 9 races (three for each men’s fleet and three for the women’s fleet).
Italian windsurfer Manolo Pochiero (ITA-16), who won two races and took second place in the third, was top of the overall ranking with only 4 points. Second position for Bautista Saubidet Birkener (ARG-401) with 5 points, thanks to two firsts and a third place. Five points also for Mattia Camboni (ITA-88), who conquered the third place on the podium, taking two second places and a victory.
As for women, in the afternoon they disputed three races with a less strong but very gusty wind. At the end of the day Hadar Heller (ISR-9) from Israel, led the ranking with 12 points, having arrived in second, third and seventh position. Second place for Marta Maggetti (ITA-157) with 17 points (first, second and ninth placements). Berenice Mege (FRA-295), under-17 athlete, took third place with two victories and a 16th place.
On day two, each fleet sailed three more races in almost perfect sailing conditions – sun, warm temperature and about 8 knots during the women’s races, slightly stronger, 14 knots, in the afternoon for the men’s races.
Argentinian Bautista Saubidet Birkner (ARG-401), won the first race and took third and fifth place in the other two, rising from the second to the first position in the overall ranking, with 9 points. 9 points also for the second competitor, Daniele Benedetti (ITA 60), thanks to a second, a first and an eighth place. The Italian flag was also on the third step of the podium, where we find Mattia Camboni (ITA-88) with a third and two sixth places. After six races sailed, qualifications to silver and gold fleet closed.
Top of the ranking in the women’s fleet was Hadar Heller (ISR 9), who took a first and two third places and remained in the lead, with 12 points. Marta Maggetti (ITA-157) was in second position with 16 points, having taken a first, a third and a fourth place. Last step of the podium for the very young Emma Wilson (GBR-961), who arrived 21st, 10th and 2nd in the races of today. She was also the first in U-17 ranking.
Day Three was a scheduled Rest Day. Sadly the Race Committee had to cancel racing on Day Four because of bad weather conditions, a rainy day with lightning and almost no wind. Competitors should have faced the first day of final races: men divided in two fleets (gold and silver) and women in a single fleet.
The Committee will try to give the start to 3 races for each fleet on the final day. These races will be decisive to qualify for the Medal Race that will be sailed on Saturday and will determine the World Champion. Having seen weather forecast, the first start has been scheduled for 9:30.
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Official websites of the event
RS:X Class: http://www.rsxclass.com/
RS:X Youth Worlds Civitavecchia: http://www.rsxclass.com/2013youthworlds
RS:X Youth Worlds Civitavecchia – Local: www.rsxyouthworlds.it/
Social network:
Facebook RS:X Class: www.facebook.com/rsxolympicwindsurfing
Facebook RS:X Youth Worlds Civitavecchia: http://www.facebook.com/rsxyouthworlds
Twitter: @RSXCLASS
YouTube channel for live tracking: www.youtube.com/sailingandtravelTV
