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In the ISAF Grade 3 regatta with valuable ranking points on offer, it was mission accomplished again for Maksymilian Wojcik and his team composed of Lukasz Grodzicki and Hanna Idziak. The Poles won the European Team Championship for a second time overcoming Argentina in the final.

After starting quietly in the first phase of the continental event, the three sailors from the red and white flagged team finished third in the qualifying rounds but in the semi-finals found a rock called Italy, represented by Federico Esposito, Marcantonio Baglione and Manfredi Misuraca.

It wasn't easy but Wojcik & company beat the Italians 2-0, by putting in so much determination on the water and winning strategy in the special duel against the blue flagged team. Both national teams were trying to register their name in the recent history of European Team Championships for the second time.

The second semi-final between Argentina and France saw success for Reutemann, Berard Becker and Lopez who, after the exploits of the previous day when they took the leadership in the first two round robins, to go straight to the final.

With a constant wind from the North, even if it was lighter than the two previous days, the final between Argentina and Poland brought victory to the European team thanks to the superb preparation and the strong will to win in a competition considered a classic.

In the final for third and fourth place between Italy and France, the Italians had been penalised by the lack of a female element in the team: after having won the opening duel, they lost the second one and in the last few meters of the third lost the possibility to win and take the bronze medal.

"We had problems with the Poles which did very well - said Federico Esposito - They deserved to win and they did it. We missed primarily the presence of a woman in the team and so every time we were always forced to make a first or second or a first and third against opponents as the Poles who are among the first ten in the world. What a pity for the last challenge against the French team, however they were good races, exciting and very interesting especially for my young teammates Marcantonio Baglione and Manfredi Misuraca who fought very well and have improved a lot. "

In the European Team Championships reserved for Techno 293 boards, France dominated by winning the first stage and passing the young Russians in the semi-final, before defeating the Italian team composed of Veronica Fanciulli, Matthew Camboni and Daniele Benedetti in the final. The Italians had previously prevailed in the semi-finals against Great Britain with sisters Imogen and Saskia Sills and Max Bushell.

The final for third and fourth place was a success for Russian Ayvazyan, and Zagaynov Elfutina, already winners in the Cadiz European Championships in January.

Closing the European Team Championships, the Sicily Grand Prix is the classic individual race of the World Festival on the Beach, this year with 89 participants on the water.


European Team Championships for RS:X

1. Poland (Maksimiliam Wojck, Lukasz Grodzicki, Hanna Idziak) 2. Argentina (Mariano Reutrmann, Martin Berardo, Jazmin Lopez Becker ) 3. France (Pierre Noesmoen, Marc Noesmoen, Noemi Gilicze) 4. Italy (Federico Esposito, Manfredi Misuraca, Marco Baglione)

European Team Championships for Techno 293

1. France (Humeau Clidame, Labat Maxime, Chaillot Albert) 2. Italy (Daniele Benedetti, Mattia Camboni, Veronica Fanciulli) 3. Russia (Eugeny Ayvazyan, Andrey Zagaynov, Stefaniya Elfutina) 4. Great Britain (Max Bushell, Imogen Sills, Saskia Sills)