GBR Team make history at Optimist World Championships on Lake Garda
by Alan Williams 6 Aug 2013 11:42 BST
15-26 July 2013
The Optimist World Championships this year were held in Riva del Garda. The top five sailors from 58 countries did battle for the individual world championship and world team racing championship.
The team of Milo Gill-Taylor, Max Clapp, David Labrouche, Robbie King and Benno Marstaller had a good start the worlds, which were sailed in the famous Ora breeze. The fleet was split into 4 flights and were re- flighted daily. We had 3 in the top 20 after the first 6 races, an race win, a black flagged race win and a string of results in the top 10.
Then came 2 days of team racing, 2 courses and 48 teams competing in 4 boat team racing. It was a double elimination event, lose 2 races and you are out. The aim of day 1 was to qualify for day 2. GBR beat Czech, lost narrowly to Tur and then beat AUS and finally GRE to progress to day 2 after a veey long day on the water.
Day 2 started off with a win against SPA and was quickly followed up by beating previous world champions PER. Then came a quarter final against current world Champions SIN who we lost to.
We then dropped down to the losers route and overcame TUR and then came up against the much fancied BRA who were dispatched on the finish line. That race secured the bronze medal.
Then we were in the semi- final against home team ITA. We even had supporters on the water cheering from the side-lines.
Going round the final leeward mark of the standard team racing course GBR were 1,3,4,5 and looked unassailable but as is the way with these things defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory and the team had to settle for a well deserved bronze medal, and in doing so made history for GBR Optimist sailing who have never medalled before in the team racing.
In the final 3 days of the individual racing the wind came from well left the locals call it the 'Venetian', and despite for good results the team couldn't find the consistency of the first half of the event, David and Max both had black flags and some races were finished on beam reaches at the leeward gate or in no wind.
Overall all of the team finished between 40 and 80 out of the 250+ sailors, have some great memories and some great prospects going forward. Thanks to RYA, IOCA,the parents and Jen for being so supportive.
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