English Harbour, Antigua (July 15, 2019) – Italy’s Marco Gradoni won both races today to win the 2019 Optimist World Championship for the third consecutive year.
Competitors battled it out on the water in Antigua amid high winds and a punishing current in an intense day that saw elation for some and disappointment for others.
A small craft advisory earlier in the day saw the bronze and emerald fleets relegated to the sidelines. The Antigua Meteorological Office had predicted gusts as high as 28 knots and waves up to three metres, causing race chiefs to cancel races for the lower two fleets.
But the weather was no match for the 15-year-old Gradoni whose “perfect performance” propelled him to an electrifying finish, 19 points clear of his closest competitor.
This year’s competition was Gradoni’s last, but he added that he hoped to eventually make a career out of sailing. Italy’s coach Marcello Meringolo said: “Today was difficult because there were many guys who were very strong but Marco performed perfectly.”
A few false starts had increased the tension among the young competitors.
“That made it hard but Marco started very easy and free. They were perfect conditions for him and he got to the finishing line fast,” Meringolo continued.
“This is the third time Marco has been World Champion so he has written history for the Optimists class; it will be very difficult to beat that record.
“I hope he will continue with the sport and go on to the Olympics.”
The championship was a particularly proud one for Meringolo with Team Italy also securing first place in team racing. “This is a story not just for Marco as an individual but for the whole team,” the coach added.
Malta’s Richard Schultheis, who had been in the top spot for the first two days of fleet racing finished second.
“Today was the final day so I just tried to keep my position and stay on the podium. I did not push too much and I sailed safe,” he said, and while only 14, this year is likely to be the last event.
“I have sailed in the Optimists for several years and now I would like to move on,” he said, adding he hoped to venture into faster WASZP foiling.
Delight at securing third spot was palpable from Spain’s Jaime Ayarza, 13.
“I am feeling great because I had really good results and I am really happy,” he said. “My objective was to enter the top 30; I didn’t think I would get so high. It was quite windy and difficult today but I managed to finish well.”
Ayarza is now looking forward to next year’s championship which will take place in Italy’s Lake Garda.
“I hope to come next year and try my best and be in the top five. I think it would be really difficult to become a professional sailor but if I have the opportunity I will,” he added.
Spain saw additional success by claiming the top placed girl; Maria Perello, 14, finished in 25th position in the leader board.
In fourth place overall was Turkey’s Can Erturk with South Africa’s Ian Walker March in fifth.
After the qualifying stage of the Optimist World Championship on July 8-10, the fleet racing took a pause as the Optimist Team Racing World Championship was held July 11-12. The fleet racing championship resumed on July 13-15 with scores from the qualifying round being carried forward to determine the final results.
The 2019 Optimist World Championship attracted 255 sailors aged 11 to 15 years from 65 nations, beating the previous record of 62 nations set at the 2017 Optimist Worlds in Thailand. Racing was scheduled on July 8-15.
Source: Gemma Handy / sailingscuttlebutt
