Stage set for finals at 2018 Optimist World Championship at Famagusta Nautical Club
by Optimist Worlds 2018 1 Sep 2018 10:43 BST
27 August - 6 September 2018
2018 Optimist World Championship © Matias Capizzano
The Qualification Series is complete at the 2018 Optimist World Sailing Championships, taking place in Limissol, Cyprus. After the completion of six races the 258 sailors from 58 Nations have now been sorted into the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Emerald fleets.
On top of the leaderboard at this point in the championship is defending 2017 Optimist World Champion Marco Gradoni (ITA) with six 1st place finishes.
Marco has been competing neck and neck with Stephan Baker (USA) the three time Optimist North American Champion for the past three days. They were first and second going into today's racing but Stephan's 12th place finish in the first race of the day pushed him back to 3rd overall and tied in points with Panwa Boonnak (THA) who is lying in second.
These are the top Optimist Sailors in the world and each has qualified to be at the event. The top 5 boats are only nine points apart, which indicates just how tight the racing is. There is no chance for error.
Only one point behind Baker in fourth place overall is Richard Schultheis (MLT) followed by Tommy Sitzmann (USA) in 5th.
The stage is now set for the final series to start in two days' time after 48 nations go head to head in the team racing part of the World Championship.
The teams will now need to change gears and compete as a team of four boats for the World Team Racing Championship title that will be contesting over the next two days. Defending World Team Racing Champions, from USA will be the team to beat.
For more information and official results visit event website.