Spain’s Jordi Xammar and Nicolas Rodriguez top the men’s fleet in the 2021 470 Class European Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal after a tenth, second and fourth place in the three races on the opening day. Reigning European Champions from France, Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz lead in the women’s division after winning races one and three.
With less than three months to go to the Olympic Games, 81 teams from 25 countries are competing in the last 470 major event before Tokyo. Two months after the 2021 470 World Championship, also sailed in Vilamoura, the European Championship has attracted the international elite of the 470 Class, including 34 out of the 40 Olympic teams.
The 18-strong Women’s fleet saw the reigning European Champions from France, Camille Lecointre and Aloise Retornaz taking two bullets in races one and three, followed by the 2019 world champions from Great Britain Hannah Mills and Eilidh Mcintyre, and the 2021 world champion crew Silvia Mas Depares and Patricia Cantero closing the top three.
The 34-boat fleet in the first ever Mixed European Championship was dominated by Israeli and German crews, Nitai Hasson and Saar Tamir and Theres Dahnke and Matti Cipra, who tied on points, followed by the British crew Freya Black and Marcus Tressler.
The opening day started with a breeze of six to eight knots, picking up during the afternoon and to peak at 12 to 14 knots during the second and third races of the day.
Day 2 has two races scheduled with the first warning signal at 13:00 local time.
Main image © Joao Costa Ferreria
