European Champs Wrap-up
WA sailors have completed competition across 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes at the 2018 European Championships in Poland.
After early finals racing had been compromised by difficult weather conditions, the gold fleets enjoyed more favourable conditions over the weekend as the last major opportunity for race practise closed ahead of the up-coming World Championships in Denmark.
49er:
WA sailor David Gilmour and his crew Joel Turner earned a share of 18th place in the 49er class, which was won by a Spanish duo.
Diego Botin and Iago recorded 69.0 nett points for victory ahead of crews from Poland and Great Britain.
Gilmour and Turner managed to sneak inside the top 20, accruing 132.0 points.
49erFX:
WA’s Ella Clark, crewing for skipper Amelia Stabback, similarly posted a top 20 position with the duo fetching 19th place with a total score of 139.0 points.
Norway’s Helene Naess and Marie Ronningen were in a league of their own, winning gold on 59.0 points.
Nacra 17:
Competing as the youngest combination in the fleet and in their first major championships, WA sailors Conor Nicholas and Hayley Clark united for 27th place with 227.0 points.
The pair achieved four top 10 races over the course of the week and will take a great deal of encouragement from their fledgling partnership.
At the pointy end of the regatta, the Italian crew of Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti secured victory on 34.0 points over crews from New Zealand and Spain.