2024 Optimist European Team Racing Championship

 

Two very different weather conditions marked the third day of the 2024 European Team Racing Championship. Storms in the morning quickly gave way to ideal conditions on the water with sun, a flat sea and 10-knot easterly that held on till cloud cover returned. Once again the Turks dominated the ranking but will have to be on their guard against the Greeks who made a spectacular comeback.

 

 

Home stretch

The Round Robin phase that ended yesterday saw the teams divided into two group: the top eight in the Gold round and the other eight in the Silver. On Friday, 42 of the 56 matches scheduled were completed. Tomorrow morning, contestants will continue the process to establish the final ranking in the Gold group, with the top four going through to the semi-finals and final.

 

Trend confirmed

Having already won 19 of their matches since the start of the event the Turkish team continue to rise like cream to the top, closer each day to the coveted European champion title. Their mastery of the format is keeping them ahead of their opponents. Seamless communication and impeccably controlled starts are behind this well-oiled team machine who look unstoppable. Meanwhile, there is everything to play for in the rest of the podium.

 

Irresistible rise of the Greeks

The big surprise of the day was the Greek team who came up trumps in superb style, rising up the ranks to lie 2nd in the provisional ranking this evening. Behind them, a battle for 3rd raged between Italy, Poland and Spain, with the Italian team managing to stay the course to take 3rd.

 

All will be revealed tomorrow as the semi-finals and finals decide once and for all the 2024 Champion.