59 athletes from 13 nations competed yesterday on the first day of the IFCA Fin Slalom European Championships in Hvide Sande, Denmark. The morning began with sunshine and promising wind forecasts, but shifting wind directions and seaweed in the water caused significant delays to the start. It was only after the lunch break that the wind stabilised at 12 to 17 knots, allowing the long-awaited start of the races. Conditions improved steadily as the afternoon progressed, allowing the race committee to give the go-ahead for the first elimination rounds. The wait had been worth it – the athletes were greeted by ideal slalom conditions, which made for fast and spectacular races.
The men’s fleet completed two elimination rounds, whilst the women managed to finish four races. In the women’s event, Jenna Gibson took the lead in the rankings with three wins. The British sailor put in consistent performances and made the most of the freshening breeze. Justine Lemeteyer follows in second place with one win, just ahead of her training partner Mae Davico in third. Femke van den Veen from the Netherlands is in fourth place, whilst Charlotte Philip from France rounds off the top five.
Richter in second place, Prien in fifth
In the men’s event, Brendan Lorho dominated both heats. The Frenchman prevailed against a strong international field and leads the overall standings after the opening day with one win and a fourth-place finish. Anton Richter is in second place ahead of Taty Frans from Bonaire. The Dutchman Thijs Hanemaaijer is in fourth place, whilst Nico Prien rounds off the top five. After finishing tenth on the opening day, he went on to win the second elimination round.
Despite the long wait, the atmosphere on the beach remained positive throughout. The athletes used the time to check their equipment and hold tactical discussions. When the wind finally picked up, there was soon plenty of slalom action on the water. The race organisers were pleased with how the first day of competition had gone. The conditions in Hvide Sande provide a good foundation for the remaining days of racing at the European Championships.
All the information and results can be found at ifcaclass.com
