470 World Championship at Sdot Yam Sailing Club, Israel - Overall
by Andy Rice 29 Oct 2022 16:07 BST
24-29 October 2022
German gold, Spanish silver, French bronze
Luise Wanser & Philipp Autenrieth (GER) enjoyed sailing the medal race secure in the knowledge that they had already won the 470 World Championship in Sdot Yam, Israel, a day earlier.
The big drama was the battle for the silver and bronze. Off the start line and up the first windward leg, the teams from Japan and Great Britain made the early running. However, plenty was yet to change.
Spanish fly
Although Camille Lecointre & Jérémie Mion (FRA) started the medal race with a six-point advantage over the teams behind them, the French crew were struggling near the back of the 10-boat fleet at the first mark. Jordi Xammar & Nora Brugman (ESP) on the other hand were second around the top mark and by the bottom of the wavy run downwind the Spanish had flown past the Japanese and into the lead.
There was plenty of place changing going on behind the Spanish who just stretched further into the lead. Lecointre & Mion were up to mid-fleet by the final top mark and within striking distance of taking silver back from the Spanish. Things played into their hands when the Austrians were given a penalty turn for an infringement at the windward mark, giving the French an extra place.
Thunder to elation
The spectator fleet cheered the Spanish as they crossed the finish line but Xammar was not happy, banging his tiller extension on the side deck of his 470. Despite their dominant performance in the finale, it looked like the silver had slipped from their grasp. But as the rest of the fleet poured across the line all at once, it became apparent that the French had slipped back again. Enough to give Xammar and Brugman the silver medal by 3 points from Lecointre & Mion who took bronze.
Xammar’s face turned from thunder into elation as the new reality sunk in. “Today we sailed the way we know we can,” he said. “Last night we set a target to go and out win the medal race and that’s what we did. We have to be happy with our medal, it’s a great achievement even though we know we can do more in the future.”
Not bad for a first regatta together
Even if they had slipped from the silver medal position, there were nothing but smiles from the French who had won a bronze medal together. “This was not just our first Worlds together as a team, this was our first regatta,” said Mion. “We are very happy with how we sailed after just six weeks of training together. Winning a medal at a world championship is never an easy thing so we should be happy with our performance, and we are.” Lecointre had her family with her, including her five-year-old and five-month-old children. “I want to thank everyone who helps us in this campaign. It’s not easy to succeed at this level. It has been a good week, we have really enjoyed our time here in Israel, the people at Sdot Yam have been very friendly and welcoming.”
A good day to be World Champions
Wanser & Autentrieth were fast out of the start line and looked determined to finish with a good result. However, in a port/starboard incident with the Italians, the Germans decided to take a precautionary penalty turn rather than risk anything in a jury decision. This put them to the back of the fleet, but they still sailed with a smile on their faces.
Wanser was all smiles when she was back ashore: “Philipp put it best this morning when he said, ‘It’s a perfect day to become a World Champion today.’” Autenrieth added: “We enjoyed our whole time on the water, it’s paradise here. We’re going to remember this moment for the rest of our lives, and our time here in Sdot Yam.”
Wanser said: “The welcome here has been amazing, from the sailing club and the kibbutz. They have taken care of us all week and come to help us whenever we have asked for it. This was my first time in Israel and I definitely want to come back.”
It has been a close medal race and just missing out on the podium were the reigning Junior World and European Champions Matisse Pacaud & Lucie de Gennes (FRA), with two more German crews finishing 5th and 6th, respectively Simon Diesch & Anna Markford (GER) and Malte & Anastasiya Winkel (GER).
As well as gaining individual victory, Team Germany also won the Nation’s Trophy by a single point from France, with Spain finishing third overall.
This evening the closing ceremony took place at Sdot Yam Sailing Club when the new World Champions were awarded the David Barnes Trophy in memory of the legendary Kiwi 470 sailor who won the Worlds three times back in the 1980s. After the prizegiving it was on to the celebration party in Sdot Yam kibbutz until late into the night.
For more about the World Championships go to 2022worlds.470.org
(top three)
GOLD: Luise Wanser & Philipp Autenrieth (GER), 71 points
SILVER: Jordi Xammar & Nora Brugman (ESP), 82 points
BRONZE: Camille Lecointre & Jérémie Mion (FRA), 85 points