2019 Optimist African Championship |29 August 2019
The sailors in action yesterday
Angolan Fernando Sapalo shoots into the lead in poor win condition
Only two races out of the three on the programme could be completed yesterday in poor wind condition of around six knots when the wind was expected to blow at a speed of between 10 to 12 knots, but still the Angolans have proven that they can race in almost any circumstances.
At the end of the second day of racing in the Optimist African Championship 2019 off the coast of Ile Persévérance in Seychelles, the positions on the overall standings have changed.
Third overall at the end of the first three races on day one, Tuesday, Angolan Fernando Sapalo claimed first positions in both races four and five yesterday to shoot into the lead with seven points after his worst finish – 10th place in the second race – was discarded.
His compatriot Ronâncio Paulo lost his place as leader but like Sapalo he too has seven points.
In third place is another Angolan sailor, Wilson Camota with 12 points, while his compatriot Luís Vasco, who was second overall on day one, is now in eighth place with 27 points.
Luca Marzocchi is still Seychelles’ highest ranked sailor but has dropped from 12th place to 16th with 59 points, Yves Fock Heng is in 17th position with 60 points.
Six other Seychellois sailors are taking part in the championship and they are ranked as follows:
Fabio Bertola-Thevenon is 26th with 91 points, Dean Mathiot 27th with 98 points, Stephanie Lalande 36th with 122 points, Laurent Contoret is 40th with 141 points, Jakira Radegonde stays in 41st place with 152 points and Travis Ho-Peng stays in 42nd position with 160 points.
In the girls’ ranking, again it is an Angolan – Joana Brito – who is leading. With 25 points, she is seventh overall, three places better than at the end of day one. This is thanks to her worst finish of 33rd place in the first race on Tuesday having been discarded.
The second and third best female sailors are also from Angola. Aline Lourenço is 12th overall with 49 points and Victoria Camota is in 18th position with 72 points.
The sailors will be back at sea again today, but this time they will be taking part in the Optimist team racing African championship.
Individual racing will resume tomorrow with three races followed by the final three on Saturday.
There will also be three races on both Friday and Saturday counting for the Optimist individual African championship. Competition starts at 12 noon.
According to the organisers, if it happens the wind does not blow at the expected speed and races cannot take place, the championship has already been validated as they have been able to complete five races, meaning prizes could be presented to the best sailors on the ranking.
The championship is being organised by the Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) in collaboration with the Seychelles Yacht Club (SYC) and the National Sports Council (NSC) under the authority of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA).
G. G.
