5th Autumn Optimist Meeting 45th Ezio Torboli Trophy at Fraglia Vela Riva - Overall
by Elena Giolai 17 Oct 2022 11:08 BST
14-16 October 2022
The 5th edition of the Autumn Meeting Optimist-45th Ezio Torboli Trophy, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva in collaboration with FIV and the Garda Trentino Vela Consortium, has come to an end.
It was particularly gripping, at an international level and with medium-light wind conditions and thick fog, which made the autumn edition of a Meeting decidedly on theme, which if it is not like the Easter one with over 1200 participants, had the same junior category winner and five nations in the top five male, to show the internationality and technical level of the regatta!
Moreover, from this year, on the occasion of this event that attracted 360 youngsters from around twenty countries, the Italian Optimist class awarded the prize in memory of Norberto Foletti (unforgettable secretary of the Optimist class Italy for 25 years), to the Italian athlete who distinguished himself at international level during the season, with particular attention to the youngest in the category.
An edition therefore rich in sport and messages. Seven races for the juniors, which right from the first day saw the Ukrainian Sviatoslav Madonich (6th at the Optimist '22 World Championship) take the lead, but after the final races he did win, but with just one point ahead of a very good Alberto Avanzini (CN Bardolino), who nibbled away at the Ukrainian, finishing an excellent second place overall.
Nice comeback by the American David Coates (Lauderdale YC), one of the athletes who are selected in the USA to participate in the most important events organised on the Upper Lake Garda. Fourth the Norwegian Hopstock and fifth the Spanish, first female, Blanca Ferrando Babe, who preceded Anna Chiara Merlo (LNI Mandello) and the Fraglia Vela Riva's Victoria Demurtas. Eighth, but first born in 2011, was Jespoer Karlsen, winner of the 'Al Porto' Trophy, as the best classified among the youngest of the junior fleet (this year those born in 2011). Also in the same category was Artur Brighenti, who was awarded the Norberto Foletti prize by Optimist Class Italy, presented by his wife Lisetta.
Erik Scheidt and Jesper Karlsen, both athletes of Fraglia Vela Riva, contributed with their respective seventh and eighth places, to win the Torboli Trophy, awarded to the club with the best two helmsmen in the junior and cadet categories.
Cadets saw the victory of Vittoria Berteotti, first overall, ahead of two other young girls, Mia Paoletti (Portocivitanova) and Ginevra Rovaglia (CN Bardolino); William Osipovs, a member of Fraglia Vela Riva, with his fourth place added to the points gap to make the club win the Torboli Trophy, confirming once again that Fraglia Vela Riva is at the top of the Optimist field.
Garda Trentino will be the theatre in the coming weeks for the last two international events of the season: the first, organised by Fraglia Vela Riva from 23 to 26 October, features a super final stage of the 29er Eurocup with a probable 140 entries, while the second and last is organised by Circolo Vela Torbole and is still dedicated to the very young Optimist class, with the customary Halloween Cup, in which over 500 helmsmen will take part. Electric buoys with GPS virtual anchorage managed by the Garda Trentino Vela Consortium are always used in all events.
Full results here