Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 LEADERBOARD

India Page-Wood wins Optimist Europeans at Bourgas, Bulgaria

by Kristine Page-Wood 7 Aug 2017 12:50 BST 30 July - 6 August 2017
India Page-Wood wins the Optimist Europeans in Bulgaria © Kristine Page-Wood

After 5 days and 30 hours on the water in scorching heat in Bourgas, Bulgaria, India Page-Wood (GBR 6459) of Hayling Island SC and Grafham Water SC takes the European Optimist title. The first British female to win this title and first British sailor since Nick Thompson won in 1999.

The final day at the 2017 Optimist European Championship delivered another perfect day on the race course. Racing was scheduled to start an hour earlier in an attempt by the Race Committee to get two races completed for all fleets before the 3:00pm deadline.

The very predictable thermal winds arrived on schedule, however only two races were completed for the Girls Gold fleet and Boys Gold and Silver Fleets.

Stefan Yuill (SRB) finished the day off with a 2nd and 18th (his drop race) to hold on to his 1st place overall position in the Gold Fleet. As he is also the top European competitor, he has been crowned the 2017 Optimist Boy European Champion.

Igor Kuczys (POL) stuck close to Yuill all day as he had finishes of 3rd and 16th in both races to finish 2nd overall and the 2nd European. He discarded an early 16th place however, this was not enough to overtake Yuill as he ended up 12 points behind.

Eight points behind Kuczys and third overall and 3rd European was Iakovoz-Dimitrious Dede-Sntentopoulos(GRE) who had 15th and 7th place finishes today for a total of 50 points.

Saturday's leader Can Erturk(TUR) had a tough day. He was disqualified from the 1st race after being protested, to drop him to 7th overall. Another early leader Santiago Palkin (ARG) finished up 9th overall.

In the Girls Gold Fleet, Donna Mazzuchhelli (ARG) dominated the first place podium spot all week long and ended up 26 points ahead of the second place sailor India-Page Wood (GBR) to give her the Overall Girl Champion at the event. As she is from Argentina, she could not be crowned the 2017 Optimist European Champion. That honour went to India-Page Wood from Great Britain. She sailed consistently on the final day to finish with a 5th and 6th place in the last two races to put her 24 points ahead of 3rd place overall and 2nd European Natascha Rast (SUI).

Natascha was tied in points with Johanna Schmidt (AUT) who finished 4th overall and but ended up on the podium as the 3rd place European.

The 2017 Optimist European Championship wrapped up Sunday in Bourgas where 261 sailors from 44 countries had five days of excellent racing. Competition was fierce in all of the fleets and every sailor is congratulated on their performance.

Full results can be found here.

Related Articles

The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy preview
A sustainable regatta that will see sailing boats take to the Atlantic coast of Portugal Organised in partnership with the Clube Naval de Cascais, the sustainable regatta will see a large number of sailing boats take to the Atlantic coast of Portugal, to raise awareness and important funds for marine conservation programs. Posted on 24 Apr
Optimist Brits abroad
It's an exciting time to be an junior sailor The one thing that separates the Optimist from other junior and youth classes is the sheer number of events that sailors can attend. If one so desired, you could find a major Optimist event somewhere around the world for every week of the year. Posted on 12 Apr
Gill Optimist Spring Championships at Draycote
A thrilling display of competitive sailing featuring three fleets The Spring Championships held at Draycote Water over the weekend of 16th & 17th March were a thrilling display of competitive sailing, featuring three fleets: the Main fleet, Racing Regatta fleet, and a newly introduced Coached Regatta fleet. Posted on 1 Apr
Matteo Barker wins Toyota Opti Nationals in Picton
Matteo Barker is the 2024 NZ Optimist Champion in the just concluded Toyota NZ Nationals Matteo Barker is the 2024 NZ Optimist Champion in the just concluded Toyota NZ Nationals sailed at Picton in the the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. Posted on 31 Mar
Optiorange 2024 at Valencia overall
Strong winds result in no racing on the final day In the women's category the title goes to the Greek Maria Anna Makri, while in the SUB13, Cengiz Eren Guvenc and Ahnieshka Madonich climbed to the top of the podium at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia. Posted on 3 Mar
Optiorange 2024 at Valencia day 3
Greeks Panagopoulos and Makri lead into the final day Third day at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, a day that has been marked by the strong wind, with an average that has ranged between 15 and 25 knots of intensity, reaching peaks of 32 knots of intensity at the end of the day. Posted on 2 Mar
Optiorange 2024 at Valencia day 2
Qualifying series codes with Greek Panagopoulos leading overall The wind has conditioned this second day, with only one race completed but allowing the final series to start with the 102 best in the gold group. Posted on 1 Mar
Optiorange 2024 at Valencia day 1
Maria Anna Makri and Mehmet Erkut Budak emerge as first leaders The first of the four days at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia closes with three races, a lot of equality and the favorites at the top of the table. Posted on 29 Feb
Optiorange 2024 at Valencia registrations close
528 sailors representing 29 countries are set for racing The official registrations for the regatta organized by the RCN of Valencia are closed with 528 sailors representing 29 countries. Posted on 28 Feb
Optiorange 2024 Preview
530 Optimists from 29 countries coming to Valencia The regatta of the RCN of Valencia, in its sixth edition and held from February 28th to March 1st, beats a record of participation. Posted on 27 Feb