SWEDEN V SPAIN SET FOR A MEDAL RACE SHOWDOWN
17 Sep 2022Anton Dahlberg & Lovisa Karlsson (SWE) delivered consistency yet again in Saturday’s two gold fleet races on day five of the 470 European Championships in Çeşme, Turkey. The Swedes will go into Sunday afternoon’s medal race knowing they can’t do worse than silver. The only team who can take gold away from them are their Spanish rivals,
SPANISH WIN KEEPS THE DUEL ALIVE
In the first race of today’s session there was a 20 degree windshift soon after the leeward gate which caught a lot of teams unawares and shook up the running order. Jordi Xammar & Nora Brugman (ESP) could only manage 14th out of the 26-strong gold fleet, which put the pressure on the Spaniards to come good in the final fleet race. They duly delivered a race win and have limited the deficit to the golden Swedes to 6 points. In a double-points medal race, 6 points in variable conditions is quite achievable for the Spanish, but Sweden will be able to concentrate very closely on their only remaining threat for the top of the podium.
“We need to look at the points and sit down to talk about things this evening,” said Dahlberg, “but it’s quite possible we will be looking at a match race with Spain tomorrow.” For the Spanish it is more complicated because they still have to look over their shoulder at the ever-improving Italians - Giacomo Ferrari & Bianca Caruso - who could yet steal silver from Xammar & Brugman. “The Swedish are in a match race but we are still in a fleet race,” laughed Brugman. With that said, the gap back to the Italians is 15 points so Ferrari & Caruso will have their work cut out to attack for the silver. Especially because the gap between 3rd and 8th place is only 11 points.
BIG BATTLE FOR BRONZE
The most likely scenario for tomorrow’s 10-boat final is a feisty scrap for the bronze medal between Italy, another Spanish team, France, two German crews and one from Israel. “We are still thinking of going on the attack though,” promised Ferrari despite the big threat over his shoulder. “It’s how we like to race, looking forwards.”
While Silvia Mas & Nico Rodriguez (ESP) slipped off the podium today they are well placed to take back bronze from the Italians. “It was a tricky day for us,” said Mas. Maybe we were not very fast reacting to the changes in the wind and the challenge of the day. But well, we are still happy with our week, we take away a lot of notes for learning as a new team. We are happy to be sailing here and we’re still in with the chance of a medal.”
Today was the conclusion of all gold and silver fleet racing. Finishing strongly in silver fleet were Diogo Costa & Carolina Joäo (POR) who won by 15 points from China’s Wenju Dong & Yani Xu.
WATCH SUNDAY’S MEDAL RACE - LIVE
Sunday’s medal race is scheduled for 1300 hours local time in Çeşme, Turkey. To watch live coverage of the 10-boat final, go to 470.org
Live stream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc9KXswo9ZM
written by Andy Rice
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