The Soling European Championships at Fraglia Vela Riva close with the undisputed success of the Hungarians (already twice World Champions) Farkas, Vezer, Csaba after four sunny days of nostalgic sailing with varied windy conditions: from 7-8 knots to 22-23 knots on day two.
Overwhelming victory for HUN-11, the team helmed by Farkas Litkey, which after nine races left their opponent 12 points behind with the constant results of 1-2-2-2-3-7-8 (and 12 excluded). However, the battle for the top three has been thrilling until the last day of regattas.
The forty Soling teams which competed on Lake Garda and brought back to Garda Trentino their elegant and vintage outlines remembered the enterprises of the Italian teams at the Olympic Games of the past and, more generally, on international level - as it was for the Fraglia’s Gianni Torboli, who met again some of his opponents of the Los Angeles/Savannah Olympic Games. In fact, the Soling class was on Olympic programme from 1977 to 2000, and as math race from 1992 to 2000.
The final ranking mirrors the top three of the Saturday provisional results, i.e. the Austrian Felzmann-Felzmann-Schuh are second, and the Ukrainian Yuskho-Pichugin-Severianov are third. These two teams competed neck to neck until the last race, sharing the final equal score.
Thanks to a great final (1-1-1-5), the Canadian team formed by Peter and William Hall and Ross Findiater placed fourth, only one point away from the podium. They showed off their best abilities to sail with lighter wind as it was on the last two days.
All participants were satisfied with the event organisation led by the Committee President Carlo Tosi and coordinated by the Fraglia Vela Riva staff, who allowed them to sail all the nine races as scheduled.
by Fraglia Vela Riva
The Dutch were preparing thereselfs for the World Championship 2017 in Muiden, Holland, nearby Amsterdam. With a fine 6, 21, 32 and 37, it's clear that they need more practice to win their WC Soling 2017. (By Hans van Gent)
