O'pen Skiff EuroChallenge 2019 - Day 1
by Jeremy Boyce 25 May 2019 18:25 BST
23-26 May 2019
2019 O'Pen Bic EuroChallenge © Robert Hajduk
Welcome back to the O'pen Skiff EuroChallenge 2019, the second of three rounds of the EuroChallenge. More fun and smiles, giving young sailors the chance to compete at high level on quality boats that make the playing field level for everyone.
After the opening round in far-off Palermo, Sicily, where local sailors took their turn in the spotlight, the caravan has pitched up for the second round in a very fitting location, Sopot, Poland.
Sopot Sailing Club has a long history of putting its emphasis on encouraging in and bringing on the young, future stars of senior and Olympic classes, a perfect fit with the O'pen Skiff formula that has been so successful over the last ten years, ensuring the future of the sport. Where other classes and sponsors try to buy instant success, O'pen Skiff, and the Sopot club have a longer-term view. And let's not forget, O'pen Skiff sailing is gender equal, boys and girls competing together.
55 youngsters representing four different countries have made the trip to Poland for the ERGO Hestia EuroChallenge. The opening day was particularly tricky, with almost no wind until late in the day when eventually the race committee were able to run 3 rounds of racing for each division. Big up to the committee and to the sailors for their patience and their "go-for-it" spirit despite the taxing conditions.
In the U13 class, it's an Italy 1-2-3 overnight, with Domenico Pio Schiano Di Scioarro, Luigi Veniero and Lorenzo Cerriello leading, but not by far from home-girl, Poland's Aniela Frackowiak.
In the U17's, there's a more international tussle for the podium spots: Poland's Kacper Bak leads, but there's a chasing pack comprising Manuel De Felice (Italy), Balazs P.Szolomayer (Hungary), Igor Rudek (Poland) and Frederic Schuele (Germany), with the closest placed girl, Italy's Alessia Tiano in 6thplace.
The event closes on Sunday 26th, so there's plenty of time for everything to change, including the conditions.
Full results available at eurochallenge2019.openskiff.org/results/sopot