The EUROSAF Women Match Race European Championship took place last weekend on beautiful Lago di Ledro, Italy. Six crews entered the event, heading for the continental title awarded at the Associazione Vela Lago di Ledro.
On the first racing day the Race Committee, chaired by Carmelo Paroli, in accordance with the International Jury headed by Michael O’Connor, decided to carry on as much as possible with the program as the weather forecast for the second race day wasn’t too promising. They finalized two complete Round Robins and, after a long day of racing, the French crew “Match in Pink” headed by Pauline Courtois (currently top ranked in the world) took the lead, followed by the German Silke Hahlbrock Basedow of HSC Women Match Race. Hahlbrock-Basedow decided to return to the international Match Racing circuit, using the Europeans in Ledro for her comeback. Third for the moment was the British crew of Octavia Owen, the youngest among the athletes.
After a lay day, the Eurosaf Women Match Race European Championship ended on Sunday. The competition lived up to the expectations with the French team respecting the prognostics as the favorite. She won the finals over the German 3-1, both sailing the finals after three consecutive victories in the semi-finals. The British team Athena Racing with the young Octavia Owen at the helm sailed against the Swedish Stockolm Match Race Team, helmed by Sanna Hager, who managed to get on the third step of the podium.
Final Results:
Gold: Match in Pink (Pauline Courtois, FRA)
Silver: HSC Women Match Race Team (Hahlbrocks-Basedow, GER)
Bronze: Swedish Stockholm Match Race Team (Sanna Hager, SWE)