Podium Places for Team GBR.
Rising windsurf star Sam Sills secured his second top class podium finish of the year as he kept his focus to take silver at a severely wind affected 2008 Bic Techno 293 European Championships in Italy.
Sills, a member of the RYA Techno National Junior Squad, headed a team of 12 RYA Team GBR youngsters in Italy.
Having got his year off to a perfect start with Techno 7.8 class gold at the IV Bay of Cadiz New Year Regatta, Spain, Sills settled for Europeans silver at Civitavecchia as heavy winds saw all but one of the scheduled four days’ of racing cancelled.
With no racing on days one or two, Sills, the reigning Bic Techno 6.8 World champion, sealed a men’s Bic Techno 7.8 series record of 1-2-11 when racing eventually got underway in torrid conditions on Easter Sunday.
And with the wind once again forcing the organisers’ hand on Monday, the 14-year-old schoolboy from Launceston, Cornwall was left to collect the silver medal that Sunday’s results had earned him.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Kieran Martin, from Stoke, was awarded a third place and bronze medal for his exploits in the two men’s 6.8 fleet races that were completed but as not enough races were sailed in that class to constitute a series, the Championship title was not awarded.
Twickenham’s Joanna Evans, 15, claimed the most notable result for the RYA Team GBR girls, finishing fourth in the women’s 7.8 class.
GBR results
Men’s Techno 6.8
3rd Kieran Martin
6th Stuart Hards
9th Joe Bennett
12th Jack Plummer
Men’s Techno 7.8
2nd Sam Sills
14th George Bowles
15th Matthew Brown
27th Connor Bainbridge
31st Chris Dowson
35th Charlie Money
50th Jack Brooks (DNC)
Woman’s Techno 7.8
4th Joanna Evans
9th Nikki Granger
14th Becky Plummer
18th Amy Kenmuir (DNC)
18th Sophie Bailey (DNC)
Full results (PDF) here.
Links
The gallery has lots of photos.
Have a look at the event website and the international Techno class website too.
Vincenzo Baglione has once again generously let us use his photos, so he more than deserves a plug for www.albaria.com and this year’s World Festival on the Beach
Thanks
Sailors: Amy, Chloe, Jack and Sophie didn’t race but were always there to help those who did.
House Parents: Lynn, Rudi and Richard.
The Week as it Happened …
Tuesday - Base Camp
Early morning flight. Arrived in Civitavecchia at midday to overcast conditions.
About 20 boards already here and out on the water practising. The rest of today is a kit preparation day for Team GBR. Sailing tomorrow.
Twelve sailors in the official GBR squad: Sophie Bailey, Connor Bainbridge, Joe Bennett, George Bowles, Jack Brooks, Matthew Brown, Joanna Evans, Stuart Hards, Kieran Martin, Becky Plummer, Jack Plummer and Sam Sills.
Four independent GBR sailors expected in the next couple of days: Christopher Dowson, Nicola Granger, Amy Kenmuir and Charlie Money.
Coaches are Isy Hutchinson and Alex Griffiths. Get well soon Ian!
Wednesday - Light Wind Training.
Sunny.
75 boards out on the water today training in 5kts. Perhaps 150 boards for the competition.
Thunderstorm is forecast for Friday or Saturday … locals think maybe tomorrow.
Thursday - Colder than it looks.
Thunderstorms inland last night. 140 Boards registered. Training this afternoon in the sun - 15kts of very chilly wind.
Opening ceremony this evening. The town band was assembling as the last sailors left the water. Plan for the rest of the day: Parade, Pasta and Peroni (sailors miss out on the Peroni).
Friday - Day One - No Racing.
Boards on the line at 11:30 but sent back to shore without a start when the wind reached 20-25kts.
Swell increased over the lunch period. One shortboard managed to get out to play just outside the harbour entrance but racing was abandoned for the day at 14:00.
Saturday - Day Two - No Racing.
More waves. No Sailing. Did Roma.
Rather Damp.
Sunday - Day Three - Racing In The Rain.
Two races for the 6.8 fleet and three races for the 7.8 and raceboard fleets in increasing wind, finishing in a squally 20-25kts.
Monday - Final Day - No Racing
Sea condition prevented racing today. A disappointing end for the 6.8 fleet which has had only two races.
Nonetheless encouraging for Team GBR overall with a brilliant set of results from a new young squad.
Sopot here we come …