The second day of racing at the European Championship of Marina di Carrara, an event hosted by the Club Nautico Marina di Carrara from June 29 to July 5, has concluded. After the cancellation of the racing on the opening day due to the lack of wind, today the weather conditions allowed the first official trials of the event to be held.
The men’s and women’s fleets completed three races each, sailing in a steady 6-7 knot wind and a heading of 240-250 degrees. The Italian team produced significant results, taking several wins in today’s partials.
From the provisional rankings, in the men’s fleet, Artur Brighenti, of Acquafresca Sport Center, is in first position (2-1-2), followed by Croatian Maro Uroda (2-4-1) and Japanese Shoi Fujita (3-2-3). Cristian Castellan, of Società Triestina Sport del Mare, is fourth (5-3-2), fifth is Brazilian Manuel Bragança (1-10-4).
Excellent races for Jesper Karlsen of Fraglia Vela Riva, in ninth position (7-5-6) and for Giovanni Montesano of Sirena Klub Nautico Triestino (3-19-3). Mattia Valentini, of Club Nautico Marina di Carrara (16-12-9) and Giulio Mattanini, of Circolo Vela Torbole (22-12-4), are respectively in twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh position. Fifty-first position for Alessandro Menghini, of Club Velico Trasimeno (34-16-5).
In the women’s fleet, both Anna Merlo, of the Lega Navale Italiana Mandello del Lario, (5-1-8), and Bianca Marchesini, of Fraglia Vela Malcesine, (6-3-5), started well, respectively in fourth and fifth place. Today’s day saw the victory of Margaux Nguyen-Minh, of Hong Kong, (1-2-2), followed by Croatian Vita Erceg (2-4-2) and Brazilian Laura Neves (4-5-3).
In eighteenth position, Sara Anzellotti, of the Lega Navale Italiana Ostia (13-11-15), Irene Faini, of the Centro Nautico Bardolino, is twenty-fifth (24-17-11), Julija Albrizio, of the Società Triestina della Vela, is twenty-ninth (17-17-20) and Sofia Bommartini, of the Fraglia Vela Malcesine, is fifty-first (33-7-38).
Anna Merlo commented: “I faced the day well, finishing all the tests in the leading group and winning the second test. I always started on the pin, taking advantage of the wind shifts on the left side of the course. In the other tests, I finished the first in fifth position and the third in eighth. The Croatian athletes are in great shape, as is the Ukrainian in the other battery.”
“Today was a complicated day, with very fluctuating wind. I finished the first test in third position, but in the other two I finished nineteenth and third. Tomorrow is another day, and I will try to learn from today’s mistakes to improve,” said Giovanni Montesano.
Marcello Meringolo, national coach of the class: “The day was definitely positive, a good start to the championship. We don’t let it get to our heads but we continue to work with maximum concentration, essential to get to the end of the championship successfully.”
Simone Gesi, analyzing the day’s performances, added: “Today’s balance is very positive, with more stable conditions in the first two tests, while the last one was more challenging due to significant oscillations and the arrival of two storms. Both the boys and the girls interpreted the wind and the current well. We are very satisfied with the results and the performances, both of the Italians and the foreigners.”
Three more races are scheduled for the third day of racing, at 12 noon.
