Megan Pascoe wins the 2.4mR World Championship at Yacht Club Italiano
by Megan Pascoe 6 Nov 11:10 GMT
12-18 October 2019
Megan Pascoe wins gold at the 2.4MR Worlds in Genoa, Italy © Martina Orsini / YCI
Earlier in October, three boats from Frensham travelled to Genoa, Italy for the 2019 International 2.4mR World Championship. The fleet was made up of nearly 100 boats from over 10 countries. The fleet included five past world Champions and many boats that competed at the Rio Paralympics.
It was expected that winds were going to be light but the wind gods had other ideas. The first day was called off due to big seas and strong winds.
On the second day the fleet launched into a big sea and a building breeze. Three races were held with many of the fleet struggling with the conditions as the wind increased. All three Frensham boats were still standing with 2016 World Champion Megan Pascoe leading the fleet with 4 points. Kate Hedley and Nev Millard were comfortably in the mid fleet with both having a result in the low 20's. After a fun trip to the aquarium it was time to prepare for the next day.
A very long third day saw two races after a break between races for a rain squall. After five races the results were getting interesting with many of the fleet getting maximum points for either not finishing a race or being disqualified for being over the starting line early. After 6 races we could throw out our worst race, but with many of the fleet getting maximum points in two or more races those with a good score line had the advantage. At the top of the fleet Megan was still leading but with two time World Champion Marko Dahlberg from Finland very close behind. It was going to be a final day show down between the two. Both Kate and Nev were sitting steady in the middle of the fleet even with Nev starting too early in the 5th race.
The fourth day saw the breeze right at the top of the fleet's limit. After a short delay the fleet set off. Megan managed to win the race with Marko in third which, looking like there was only going to be one more race, gave her a second world title. The seventh and final race was a fun way to end with a large rain squall taking out most of the fleet. Kate and Nev survived and made progress finishing with results in the 30's. Overall putting Kate in 39th and Nev in 40th. It was the breeziest and waviest weeks the fleet has seen at a Worlds in a long time, as Kate says she needs a T-shirt saying "I survived Genoa". She and Nev definitely did more than that with very respectable results.
For Megan it was great to win after taking the silver medal in Sweden last year. Winning her first title in Australia it was impressive to win in Europe with all the major players attending. Megan is the only Brit and only female to win the title and amongst only a few to win the title more than once. All three competitors are looking forward to the winter series that started last week and are hoping for lighter winds.