17 year-old Estonian Karl-Erik Saarm has every intention of claiming the youth title, top of the leaderboard with a perfect score after 9 races, two discards. Brazilian Leonardo Venturini has picked up the two bullets that slipped from Karl-Erik’s grasp but is now seven points behind. [more] Ten points behind, currently in third place on the podium, is Jan Orsatt from Switzerland. Can he hold on to that position?
It is not so clear-cut in the Masters Fleet as Miguel Martinho from Portugal nudges Latvian Preiss into second position on the leaderboard, clear by just one point. These two are having a good battle for the Masters title. Italian Grandmaster Marco Begalli has stepped on to the podium in third place, now a good ten points clear of his nearest rival.
Championship Race 5 was abandoned by the Race Committee on Wednesday afternoon but it has now been reinstated by the Jury who decided it was indeed a valid race.
The local forecast for Friday 4 July suggests 9-16 knots from the NNW and rough seas which should give good racing conditions. It looks a little less for the afternoon as it rotates to WNW. All to play for as competitors jostle for those podium positions.
Event Website: surfingitalygallipoli.com