ISAF YOUTH WORLDS MEDALLISTS HEADING TO VALENCIA

Stepping up to the 420 Worlds

Brazil’s Tiago Brito and Andrei Kneipp added their names to the Sail First ISAF Youth World Championship gold medallists as racing concluded in Limassol, Cyprus on Friday, whilst Carrie Smith and Ella Clark (AUS) had wrapped up gold with a day to spare.

420 Boys
Brazil’s Brito and Kneipp took the final gold medal to be decided in Cyprus in the 420 Boys event and were pleased with their accomplishment, “This is the first time a Brazilian has won a gold medal in the double-handed boys,” said Brito. “We trained really hard before and we are very happy and emotional.”

The pair had a seven point lead coming into the final and despite discarding their 21st they picked up on the last day they won by two points.

Italy’s Matteo Pilati and Michele Cecchin took the final race win and subsequently overtook Portugal’s Diogo Pereira and Pedro Cruz to take silver. The Portuguese took bronze.

420 Girls
Carrie Smith and Ella Clark (AUS) were prepared for a last day fight for the gold after coming off the water on the penultimate day but after Italy’s Ilaria Paternoster and Benedetta di Salle received a non-excludable discard from Race 10 the Aussies had the job done could enjoy the final day on the water.

“We’re pretty excited,” said Smith, “It’s been a long time in the making and this regatta has just been perfect and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

Clark added, “It’s been a really good regatta for us. This was our third and final shot at this regatta and to come out as World Champions, especially with a race to spare, we’re stoked.”

Image: 420 Girls medallists © Icarus Sailing Media

In recent years it has become a tradition for the Australian Youth World team to lift their golden sailors off the water and Smith and Clark were head and shoulders above the rest, “We saw it with Mark [Spearman] last year and didn’t think they could do it with a 420 and with us on it but it was awesome and a great feeling.”

The Italians dropped to fourth overnight so had some work to do on the final day to pick up a podium spot. They worked hard winning the final race and the results went their way as they picked up bronze. Silver went to Chile’s Nadja Horwitz and Carmina Malsh.

Stepping up to the 420 Worlds
Many of the newly crowned medallists from the SailFirst ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships will be taking a few days break, before heading back out on the race track to face each other again at the 2013 420 World and Ladies World Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Form indicates that the medallists from the ISAF Youth Worlds should perform well at the 420 Worlds, but that is not always true to form. Last year's ISAF Youth Worlds gold medallists in the 420 girls, Ilaria Paternoster and Benedetta di Salle (ITA), finished 5th at the 420 Worlds in Austria. Competing in two elite events back to back is exhausting and a different competition format can all take their toll.

The ISAF Youth Worlds 420 Girls gold medallists Smith/Clark (AUS) will not be at the 420 Worlds, but the Chileans and Italians will. The two teams are well known to each other having competed together at international events for the past few years. Advantage to Chile last year, with Nadja Horwitz and former crew Sofia Middleton claiming silver.

All three of the 420 Boys medal teams at the ISAF Youth Worlds will be at the 420 Worlds, so game on second time around for Brazil’s Tiago Brito and Andrei Kneipp, Italy’s Matteo Pilati and Michele Cecchin and Portugal’s Diogo Pereira and Pedro Cruz.

Other Info ...
• 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship news
• 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship website

Image: 420 Boys medallists © Icarus Sailing Media

20/7/2013 12:48