Garda gold and bronze for GBR crews
Written by RYA | 12 May 2014
Podium finishes in SKUD and Laser events at first EUROSAF series regatta
British sailors secured two podium finishes from three classes at the opening leg of the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup at Lake Garda (7-11 May).
Five-time World Champions and Paralympic bronze medallists Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell took top honours in the SKUD class at the Garda Trentino Olympic Week, winning six of their nine races to claim gold over the host’s Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti.
Nick Thompson couldn’t quite overhaul Jean Baptiste Bernaz in the final medal race for the Laser class, and had to settle for bronze – his second podium finish of the year – just three points behind the Frenchman in the silver medal spot. Brazilian Olympic legend Robert Scheidt led the way in the men’s 79-boat fleet, claiming gold with a 21 point margin.
The 49erFX class was the only other to see any British entries, with Kate Macgregor-Katrina Best the top British Sailing Team crew in eighth overall and Charlotte Dobson-Sophie Ainsworth in 12th. Strong winds prevented the women’s skiff fleet from seeing any final day medal racing action on Sunday, with victory in the class going to Brazil’s Martine Soffiatti Grael and Kahena Kunze.
Click here for full results from Garda Trentino Olympic Week across the 12 Olympic and Paralympic classes.
The EUROSAF Champions Cup series moves on to the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Netherlands (20-24 May) before heading to British shores at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth and Portland (2-6 June).
The 2014 series winds up at Kiel Week, Germany (21-25 June). Entries are still open for all remaining stages of the series - click on the event links for more details and to enter.
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