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09 Jun 2009

Croatia and Italy Set Opening Lead At 470 Europeans

© Organizing Committee

2009 Open 470 Class European Championships for Men/Mixed and Women
5-14 June, Lake Traunsee - Austria

The first three races of the 2009 Open 470 Class European Championships for Men/Mixed and Women were completed today on Lake Traunsee in Austria. The events are the first International 470 Class Championships in the Olympic Quadrennium on the way to the Olympic Sailing Regatta of London 2012. After day one, Sime FANTELA and Igor MARENIC from Croatia take the lead in de Men’s 470 event. Giulia CONTI and Giovanna MICOL from Italy take first place in the Women’s event, sharing 8 points with Ai KONDO and Wakoko TABATA from Japan.

Because the weather predictions for the coming days were not promising, the Race Committee decided to have three races today to secure the schedule of qualifying series which demands six races. After a few hours of postponement, racing got underway in a steady 9-14 knots afternoon breeze.

The 470 men’s fleet of 82 crews from five continents started in two groups. The 470 women‘s with 39 crews, also from five continents, in one fleet.

During 7 days of racing, a total of 121 crews from 30 nations will battle for victory in the Men’s and Women’s Open events. Crews representing nations from Europe and the Mediterranean basin will compete for the Championship titles.

Men’s 470
Sime FANTELA and Igor MARENIC (CRO) managed to be the most consistent with a serie of a 2nd place in race one, a bullet in race two, and a 7th place in today’s last race.

Eyes are focused on the development of Mathew BELCHER and Malcolm PAGE from Australia. PAGE won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta with Nathan WILMOT. BELCHER and PAGE have been rivals for years in separate teams fighting for a spot on the starting line at the Athens 2004 and Qingdao 2008 Olympics. At the end of last year, they announced to team up and make a run for another Gold Medal for Australia. BELCHER and PAGE end day one in 4th position.

Nicolas CHARBONNIER, a legend in the 420 class and Bronze Medalist of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta, teamed up with Baptiste MEYER-DIEU and end the day in 5th position, closely followed by the #1 World Ranked Dutch COSTER brothers in 7th position with an only 3 points difference.

#2 on the World Rankings, Gideon KLIGER and Udi GAL from Israel, being part of the same group of top performers of at least the last eight years, make an early start (OCS) in race 3, and get disqualified. The same for Nick ROGERS (GBR), on his way in a 4th Olympic campaign, after a three times campaign with Joe GLANFIELD, now showing at the starting line with Pom GREEN. They end the day in a disappointing, respectively 28th and 46th position.

Women’s 470
Sylvia VOGL and Carolina FLATSCHER, currently ranked 5th on the ISAF World Rankings, won the European title on Lake Garda last year, and now defend their title on home waters.

It’s odd that the two women’s crews who were subject in last year’s rumors to be medalists at the 2008 Olympics, now take first and second place in this first Olympic Quadrennium’s International 470 Class Championship, with a same amount of 8 points.

Giulia CONTI and Giovanna MICOL from Italy (#3 World rankings), now taking the overnight lead, and Ai KONDO and Wakoko TABATA from Japan (#2 World Rankings) taking next position, must be the Women to watch, not only during this event, but during the entire Olympic Quadrennium.

Both teams will be preparing their game before other experienced teams will make their return into the 470 class, which mostly happens two years or earlier prior to the Olympic Games.

But not only top crews who maintain silence at this moment will be a threat. Within the 470 juniors, a lot of youth talents have announced their presence.

Examples are Tara PACHECHO and Berta BETANZOS from Spain who make excellent progress by not missing one medal race in a major event this year. PACHECHO won the 420 Class Ladies’ World Title in 2006. With her current crew, they debuted in an International 470 Class championship at the 470 Worlds of 2008 and now take a 5th place overall.

Germany seems to be eager to dominate the Women’s 470. Two German crews currently occupy top ten spots. Germany has been strong the last few years in the Women’s 470 Europeans. Stefanie ROTHWEILER and Vivien KUSSATZ ruled the Women’s 470 Europeans in 2006 and 2007 before they lost their title to Austria in 2008.

Racing in the qualifying series continues tomorrow. Full results are available at the event web site: www.traunseewoche.at

Schedule 470 Men and Women:
8-10 June Qualifying series
11- 13 June Final series
14 June Medal Race

Note for Editors
For more information and media enquiries, please contact the International 470 Class Association: office@470.org or visit the official International 470 Class web site at: www.470.org

More Information
Photos 
Full results Men and Women