BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY…
After yesterday’s big-out, with the weather totally un-feasible for any kind of sailing, it was back to the reality of serious racing on day four here in Michmoret, Israel, as we enter the final phase of the 2019 Techno293 OD European Championships.
And the weather gods smiled a big smile, light to moderate winds blessing all four fleets with near-perfect race conditions as they resumed the quest for European Champion glory.
Today the Race Committee shook it up, and Youth class opened the morning session, with three rounds of competition, everybody on best behaviour, concentrating on their own performance. As they say, “ride your own ride”.
In Youth Girls Israel’s Mika Kafir did exactly that, extending her advantage as her Closest rivals, team-mate Linoy Schwartz and French rider Jade Bruche all battled each other for the other podium spots. Meanwhile, the Youth Boys were on best behaviour and, with seven of the top ten places currently held by Israeli competitors, you might think there was only one possible outcome. It was certainly a big day for Rotem Levi, his skill and consistency carrying him to top spot, ahead of overnight leader, Italy’s Davide Antognoli, but he’s still well in contention and narrowly holding off the challenge of Israel’s Ido Pomerantz in third place.
In Junior Girls it was a strange day, with no competitor able to establish a convincing lead and look likely to win. On the contrary, the spoils were equally shared today and so there are at least five sailors still in contention for all three podium spots. Israel’s Tamar Steinberg is ahead of Spain’s Azul Sanchez Vallejo to take the lead, with Israelis Danielle Ziv and Shir Kravetc sandwiching Russia’s Ekatarina Kovaleva just behind the top two.
In Junior Boys, Israel’s Daniel Halperin looks to have everything under control, leading his compatriot Rom Levi, and Spain’s Mr Consistency, Billy Coll Tulloch going into the final rounds, with Italy’s Federico Pilloni and Britain’s Boris Shaw poised to pounce if either of the other two has a bad hair day.
Tomorrow is the final day, racing should finish a little before the cut off time of 3pm and the forecast is good. So, the Race Committee will be calling an early start for all fleets and we hope to finish the championships on a full schedule, so we can announce the names of our 2019 Techno293 OD European Champions when the closing bell tolls.