The ‘golden’ team in the Open Category: the USA Crew
LAGO DI LEDRO – The U.S. crew skippered by Nevin Snow is the winner in the Open Category of the 7th edition of the World University Match Racing Championship competed on Lake Ledro. Despite the opposing team – led by the Australian Samuel Gilmour – who was the favorite of this WUC as well as title holder from the last edition in Nice in 2012, the Americans competed in a magnificent race today winning the final.
“We have been favored by optimal weather conditions”, said the U.S. Skipper. “We have captured the best wind, we went faster and reached the finish line first. The satisfaction of winning fighting a sailor of the caliber of Gilmour is really great. Congrats to my crew, with whom there was a great team effort.”
“I have to recognize that the Americans have been able to sail with great speed”, commented Gilmour. “And theirs is therefore a deserved victory. Despite the second place, my crew and I return home happy. It was really an exciting Championship.”
The bronze medal went to the French team of Pierre Quiroga while 4th place went to the team of Japanese Ichikawa Kohel. The Italians of Valerio Galati, in the match for 5th place, lost competing against the second team of Singapore ( Sean Lee), resulting in the 6th position for the host team in the final ranking.
The GBR ‘Golden Crew’
In the Women’s Category, the gold was captured by the British crew of Annabel Vose, leaving the French headed by Pauline Courtois in second place, while 3rd place went to the Brazilian team of Juliana Motta Poncioni, winners of the WUC in Nice in 2012. The 4th spot was for Singapore (Denise Lim). Fifth place finally to the Italians (Federica Wetzl).
Optimal weather conditions: sunny and very bright for this latest series of races, with light winds – intensity between 3 and 5 knots – to start the day, then increased between 7 and 8 knots, and then declined again to 5.
In the evening, the awarding ceremony and the closing of the event took place with the handover of the FISU flag to the next host of the WUC, i.e. Australia, the country that in 2016 will host the 8th edition of the Championship.
FINAL RANKING
(Source: Paola Malcotti, Media WUCOC)