Shoreacres, TX, USA – Two more races were completed on the third day of the 2022 ILCA 6 Youth World Championship. With clear skies and a building sea breeze on Galveston Bay, the 200 boats launched and started on time for the first warning signal at 1400. In a strong thermal breeze of 15 knots, there were some aggressive starts, which led to general recalls and a few disqualifications. The competitors on the outer loop of the trapezoid, closer to the ship channel, enjoyed surfing the occasional freighter wake.
In the women’s fleet, the top three competitors remain the same as Day 2. Eve McMahon of Ireland, the 2022 Youth Sailing World Champion, defended her well established lead and locked in two more bullets. Germany’s Linda Hensel still holds second, but is tied for net points with Croatian Tea Peteh who finished with a second and third place. Both have shown consistent strong performances at the event so far and are keeping competition tight, as is Spain’s Marga Perello who sits just three points behind in fourth.
In the men’s division, there was a shift in the leaderboard as Italian Mattia Cesana won both of his fleet’s races and moved into first overall tied for net points with New Zealand’s Caleb Armit, who finished with a second and first yesterday. Sweden’s Erik Norlén climbed into third overall with a fourth and first yesterday, to sit just five points behind Armit. Ireland’s Fiachra McDonnell holds fourth overall with just a three-point separation.
Last night there was a midweek party done in full Texas style, with a poolside DJ, a BBQ buffet, two longhorn steer for photo ops, and a mechanical bull to test rodeo skills (although some coaches were likely reluctant about letting their charges try riding midway through the regatta!).
This completes the Qualifying series for the event, and today the sailors will move into the Final series. All of the competitors in the women’s fleet are racing for the championship, but the men’s division is divided into gold, silver, and bronze fleets based on current scores, and the top-ranked competitors in gold will be racing for the championship. Two races are scheduled for today.
For updates, results, and media reports, see event website and photos.
Women
Eve McMahon (IRL) – 6 pts
Linda Hensel (GER) –14 pts
Tea Peteh (CRO) – 14 pts
Marga Perello (ESP) – 17 pts
Carys Attwell (GBR) – 27 pts
Men
Mattia Cesana (ITA) – 6 pts
Caleb Armit (NZL) – 6 pts
Erik Norlén (SWE) – 11 pts
Fiachra McDonnell (IRL) – 13 pts
Robert Meek (USA) – 17 pts
Photos by Eric Andresen
