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Ed Wright crowned Finn European Champion
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| Finn European Championship - Ed Wright crowned Finn European Champion |
| PALAMOS, SPAIN-(30-9-2006) “Just about time!” declared Ed Wright. The new Finn European Champion has made a rocket debut in the Finn class. Starting the Finn only 18 months ago (with two 3rd places in Miami and Hyères) the Team Skandia GBR sailor has demonstrated throughout the regattas his skills but also his determination to go further in his achievements. This year Ed Wright won the French Olympic Week in Hyères, place 2nd in the Holland regatta and 3rd in the Finn Gold Cup in Split!
In Palamos, Ed Wright has taken the lead of the regatta from the second day. Despite a 43rd scored in the first light air race, Wright has sailed at his best in all conditions scoring 7 top 6 results and winning 2 races.
Second in the Championship is Guillaume Florent. The French has come back to sailing after one year break that proved positive. Florent finishes in 5th place in Hyères, 6th at the Finn Gold Cup in Split. This is his highest achievement in a Finn major event after a Bronze medal in the 2004 European Championship in La Rochelle. “I am extremely satisfied with my results” declared the French while packing his boat. Florent has demonstrated his skill in all range of conditions, won 2 races in the breeze and light wind and only placed in the top 13 in every races!
The Bronze medal in the championship goes to Marin Misura. “After my bad results in the Finn Gold Cup in Split, I am really happy. This is like winning for me!” The 24 years old Croatian had a good start this year after placing 2nd in Hyères and 3rd in Kiel. However, he missed his chance to perform at home ranked 26th overall in the 2006 Finn Gold Cup.
The medal race was blessed with good and steady wind that reached 13 knots at the start. Johan Tillander (SWE) took a rocket start in the middle of the line and sailed the first beat in front of the fleet on the left side of the course. Gasper Vincec after starting on starboard to the right tacked straight away to go also to the left of the course. Among the top 5 sailors (the medal potentials), Jonas Hoegh-Christensen was the only one to chose the right of the course. “We had some practice before the race and all the time the right side was better with more pressure!” Unfortunately for the Dane, the boats coming from the left came in front at the top mark with Johan Tillander leading the group made of Gasper Vincec (SLO) and Guillaume Florent (FRA) closely followed by Ed Wright who didn’t loose sight of his direct opponent during the all race! The placing didn’t change much. The start and the first choice on the beat are preponderant in a 30 minutes race. The ten finalists were supported and cheered up by the rest of the fleet who had convened around the race course waiting for the start of their last race that will determine placing from 11th onward as well as the Juniors European title.
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Source: Event Media |
