A regatta to remember
Some will remember this regatta for the great racing, some for the hospitality of the hosts at Yacht Club Dyje, Nove Mlyny in the Czech Republic and others for the weather. One thing is certain. It is an event to be remembered.
The Raceboard atmosphere is something exceptional on and off the water. Anastazja Lewandowska our Protest Committee chairperson confirmed this emphasizing that the sailors were not too keen to protest preferring to solve the problems among themselves.
One thing we’ve learnt at this event, is something you would never think is true. Our European Champion Joao Rodrigues from Portugal has never been in a protest. Unbelievable if you think Joao competed in every Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016.
So, how will Joao remember the Europeans?
“After the first two days I had a good lead, yesterday I was struggling a bit. I was trying to cover my closest opponents, but the wind was so tricky, and I didn’t want to take any chances. I wasn’t very happy yesterday to be honest. I wasn’t planning my game, I was kind of lost, but today I felt free and the wind increased also, which made life much easier. On the lake, like this, it is very gusty and you really don’t know what is going to happen. You have to pay attention and look for signs, but I like these conditions and I like the challenge.
The weather also played a role. The first two days were really hard, without the gloves, boots and hats we would really struggle. Today the weather is great and I’m glad it is this way, as my last memory will be this one, wind, sun, fine weather.
How will I remember the event? - Every single time I had some time after the race I was always looking at the castle up the hill. I always like to find something that relaxes me and between races I looked up and thought about the view and what life must have been there centuries ago – and that will be my memory from this event. The castle, can you believe it.”
Quite a surprising memory from Joao, who dominated the event finishing ahead of another veteran Olympian Aron Gadorfalvi from Hungary and Borja Carracedo Serra from Spain.
An even more dominant performance was witnessed in the ladies’ fleet where the local hero Jana Slivova won all but one race. Second overall was Aleksandra Blinnikka from Finland and third Vita Matise from Latvia.
You can find videos, photos and full results on the event website https://europeans2019.raceboard.org and the class will be back with more action in July at the Worlds, which will take place in Germany during Warnemuender Woche.
Podium places by division:
Heavy
4 FABIAN GRUNDMANN GER 3rd EU
3 FERNANDO CONSORTE ARG ROW
2 PETR KUCERA CZE
1 KAREL LAVICKY CZE
Super Veterans
3 RAINER FROHBOSE GER
2 PACO MANCHON ESP
1 PATRIC ROELANDTS BEL
Veterans
3 GRZEGORZ PINKOWSKI POL
2 JORDI BOSCH ESP
1 KAI MANNISTO FIN
Grand Masters
5 MARTIN POSPISIL CZE 3rd EU
4 FRANK SPOTTEL GER 2nd EU
3 RUBEN LOZANO ARG ROW
2 JUHA BLINNIKKA FIN 1st EU
1 JORGE GARCIA VELAZCO ARG ROW
Women Masters
4 ANTONIA DOMINGUEZ ESP Veteran
3 ILONA GRINBERGA LAT Gmaster
2 VIVIANE VENTRIN FRA Master
1 VITA MATISE LAT Master
Masters
4 JAN SKREPEK CZE age div 3rd EU
4 JUHA BLINNIKKA FIN champ div 3rd EU
3 FERNANDO CONSORTE ARG ROW
2 ARON GADORFALVI HUN
1 JOAO RODRIGUES POR
Junior
3 ROBERT KUBIN SVK
2 BENEDEK JANCSO HUN
1 FELIX KUPKY GER
Women Overall
3 VITA MATISE LAT
2 ALEKSANDRA BLINNIKKA FIN
1 JANA SLIVOVA CZE
Overall Men and light
3 BORJA CARRACEDO SERRA ESP
2 ARON GADORFALVI HUN
1 JOAO RODRIGUES POR