Hedvig and Hugo Liljegren extend their lead into final series
Against the picturesque backdrop of Saltsjöbaden, the sailors navigated the challenging shifty and gusty conditions, truly testing their abilities, determination and resilience. Hedvig and Hugo Liljegren once again showed their patience and ability to fight back, turning a difficult first race into a 10th position. With a top 5 rounding in race two of the day, they sailed carefully in the pressure to convert it to a race win by a substantial margin, and a four point overall lead overnight.
Irish sailors Ben O’shaughnessy and Ethan Spain also sailed spectacularly in the shifty conditions picking up a 2, 1 leaving them in second place overall overnight and first Men’s team ahead of Hugo Revil and Karl Devaux from France.
Whilst the results manager from SailWave divided the fleets into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Emerald for the remainder of the regatta, the sailors relaxed and made their way to the bath house built around 1925 in the grounds of the Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden. Served a traditional dinner of Swedish meatballs, sailors and coaches were treated to an exhilarating display by one of the professionals preparing for ‘The Death Jump’ event to be held at this venue on Saturday. Those who dared were then invited to try some jumping with expert technique coaching and a very unique way to enjoy bathing in the Baltic sea!
The International 29er fleet had a bumper extra curricular schedule today and were extremely privileged to have a visit from The Swedish Challenge, powered by Artemis technologies. On site with two foiling AC40 simulators and two foiling Waszps, sailors were given the unique chance to try foiling at speeds of up to 40 knots both on and off the water.
With just three more days of finals, racing will be closer than ever and The Royal Swedish Yacht Club is abuzz with excitement. As the finest young sailors from across Europe and beyond, converge on the race course for more high-octane, fierce competition; thoughts are beginning to turn towards the crowning of the 2023 European Champions in the Men, Women and Open fleets.
The Royal Swedish Yacht Club is ensuring that this event is not only a testament to the skill of these young sailors but also a celebration of the global sailing community. Beyond the racing, the 29er European Championships is fostering international friendships and cultural exchange among the youth sailors. The event brings together sailors from diverse backgrounds, providing an environment where shared passion and mutual respect transcend national boundaries.
