This year Sopot hosted the very first European Championship of the new Youth Olympic windsurfing class, the Techno293 Plus. 46 competitors from 13 countries competed in the regatta. During the five days of racing the race committee managed to conduct all 15 planned races including a marathon race and slalom. Proving that the class is versatile and suitable for different race formats. [more]
The Open category was dominated by Marcin Urbanowicz. Marcin, the ERGO Hestia Sopot Sailing Club local won most of the races and triumphed in the championship with a 33 point advantage over the second Leung Po Hei from Hong Kong. Third on the podium was Kristian K Wendelborg from Norway.
Marcin Urbanowicz, the European champion: “The regatta was great in every possible way. The wind conditions were really good. The wind was onshore, which means it was more predictable. The race committee worked very well, the races were on time and we didn’t need to wait too long for each start. Combining slalom, long distance and course racing in one event was a new experience for me. It turned out really well. Congratulations to the younger competitors, who sailed really well at this regatta.”
In the women’s category silver and gold went to Marcin’s teammates. Weronika Marciniak was second, first in under 19s, and Karolina Lipinska won the regatta with a huge point advantage over her colleague. Third was Mak Cheuk Wing from Hong Kong.
“I didn’t know the competitors and I don’t think I have ever raced against them,” said Weronika. “During the regatta we had all sorts of conditions, from very little wind to strong wind. I prefer when it is windy. I concentrated on beating the sailor from Hong Kong and the fight for the podium position was decided only in the final race. The first race today was in lighter conditions and Mak Cheuk came in first and I was sixth. After this race the point difference between us was just a couple of points, so the last two races had to decide. It all ended well for me.”
The windsurfing action is not over in Sopot though. In just two days over 300 young sailors will start racing in the Techno293 Europeans.
Results
Open Men:
1. Marcin Urbanowicz (Poland)
2. Leung Po Hei (Hong Kong)
2. Leung Po Hei (Hong Kong)
3. Kristian K Wendelborg (Norway)
Open Women:
1. Karolina Lipinska (Poland)
2. Weronika Marciniak (Poland)
3. Mak Cheuk Wing (Hong Kong)
Europeans Overall Men:
1. Marcin Urbanowicz (Poland)
2. Kristian K Wendelborg (Norway)
3. Jakob Ruud (Norway)
Europeans Overall Women:
1. Karolina Lipinska (Poland)
2. Weronika Marciniak (Poland)
3. Manon Benassem (Spain)
U19 Open Boys:
1. Leung Po Hei (Hong Kong)
2. Kristian K Wendelborg (Norway)
3. Jakob Ruud (Norway)
U19 Open girls:
1. Weronika Marciniak (Poland)
2. Mak Cheuk Wing (Hong Kong)
3. Manon Benassem (Spain)
U19 Europeans boys:
1. Kristian K Wendelborg (Norway)
2. Jakob Ruud (Norway)
3. Richard Geiger (Hungary)
U19 Europeans girls:
1. Weronika Marciniak (Poland)
2. Manon Benassem (Spain)
3. Lucy Grayston (Great Britain)
