Optimist World Championships Overall

Martinique - Les Trois Ilets
14-25 July 1999

Pressich Retains His Title In Style

Mattia Pressich sailed a faultless race today and crossed the line first to claim his second Optimist World Championship and underline his domination of the class. The mercurial young Italian crossed the line without celebration and quietly sailed over to his team manager Marcello Turchi.

‘We’re delighted’, said Turchi. ‘It was a great result . Pressich is very speedy and very strong. He is different from other boys who are sensitive to tactical racing. He doesn’t study anything, he just wants to go fast. He can win from the left, from the right, through the centre, it’s no problem to him’.

The most remarkable aspect of today’s race was that Pressich managed to hold his nerve during a two hour postponement while the breeze filled in and then through three general recalls. As Turchi explained : ‘His problem is the start because he is a nervous character. If he can make a clean start, his speed will do the rest’.

The third group start, also recalled, saw Stipanovic badly boxed in and he rounded the first mark well down the field. Either disheartened or unable to do anything about the situation, the Croatian sailed unremarkably round the course and and finished 36th - his second worst result of the regatta. As he ronded the second mark he must have seen Pressich tacking up to the finish line and known that his championship chances had gone. Stipanovic finished second overall and the young Croatian remains an excellent prospect.

Though Pressich was singularly unaffected by the delay to the first group start, third placed Alberto Piaggio of Peru clearly felt the need for a flyer a little too strongly. The third general recall saw Piaggio and several others black flagged, ending his theoretical hopes of glory. Top Portuguese sailor Mario Coutinho showed more control and finished third, swapping overall positions with the Peruvian.

Ignacio Zalvide of Spain finished fifth to secure the overall fifth position he occupied going into the last race and his countryman Jaime Tous claimed fourth to finish ninth overall. Anton Dahlberg has sailed extremely well throughout the regatta for Sweden and he finished a well deserved sixth. Diego Zimmerman finished seventh overall to join fellow Peruvian Piaggio in the top ten, with Argentina’s Lucas Calabrese finishing tenth to claim eighth place overall. Towards the end of the championship Horoshi Takahashi of Japan found the consistency he had been looking for and he claimed the final place in the top ten.

Pressich, however, is clearly someone very special. The margin of his victory is remarkable and his scorecard a dream. If he carries this outrageous form into the 470 class - his Optimist days are over - then an Olympic medal in 2004 is an entirely realistic prospect. He is Mattia Pressich - remember the name because you will certainly be hearing it again.

Provisional Championship Results:

1 Mattia Pressich Italy
  2.9.DSQ.1.1.3.1.1.3.11.12.3.6.27.1 54 
2 Tonci Stipanovic Croatia
  1.2.4.2.14.3.11.4.1.6.46.9.1.23.36 81 
3 Mario Coutinho Portugal
  4.4.61.41.1.3.1.1.OCS.3.2.4.3.12.3 82 
4 Alberto Piaggio Peru
  3.16.5.4.3.16.4.2.2.3.23.13.4.11.DSQ 86 
5 Ignacio Zalvide Spain
  2.56.1.15.5.1.21.49.4.13.2.18.4.17.5 108 
6 Anton Dahlberg Sweden
  38.9.1.32.2.11.6.14.4.4.26.5.14.17.4 117 
7 Diego Zimmerman Peru
  11.11.32.6.9.4.7.3.18.29.11.13.5.7.13 118 
8 Lucas Calabresse Argentina
  21.30.2.2.2.17.3.7.1.42.4.31.1.33.10 131 
9 Jaime Tous Spain
  10.8.2.14.6.58.25.6.2.35.7.2.11.46.4 132 
10 Hiroshi Takahashi Japan
  20.8.3.4.36.21.13.5.12.20.1.5.20.8.16 135