Dun Laoghaire (IRELAND) – 14 August 2021
All of the 230 sailors, from the 31 competing nations, returned from Dublin Bay this afternoon after six testing days of world class racing and all were winners in one way or another. Many improved their skills, some pushed for the podium, all experienced world class competition, but as the regatta closed, we crowned the 2021 ILCA 4 Youth World Champions.
No one said it would be easy but the variety of wind conditions, stunning list of top-class entrants and racing that was at the highest level ensured the victors were deserved of their hard-fought world titles.
Only one race was possible for all but the Girls gold fleet today as the lighter conditions toyed with the race committee but didn’t provide the required stability to complete the 12th and final race. As the fleets were heading for Dun Laoghaire harbour Martins Atilla (LAT) and Emma Mattivi (ITA) were preparing themselves for the jubilant celebrations that would greet them shoreside. Both now have their places set in history as the 2021 world champions in the ILCA 4 class. Emma and Martins had already shown they were worthy contenders, and both were overnight leaders as racing began today. Cool heads, impeccable race management and perhaps leaning on the single discard that was available was enough for these deserved champions to lift the title for 2021.
Final ICLA4 Youth World Championship Results;
Girls Gold: 1st Emma Mattivi (ITA), 2nd Petra Marednic (CRO), 3rd Gaia Bolzonella (ITA), 4th Claudia Adán Lledó (ESP), 5thAnnemijn Algra (NED), 6th Roos Wind (NED), 7th Johanna Böckl (AUT), 8th Gabriëla Groenewegen Van Der Weijden (GRE), 9thGiorgia Bonalana (ITA), 10th Alina Iuorio (ITA).
Boys Gold: 1st Martins Atilla (LAT), 2nd Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE), 3rd Massimiliano Antoniazzi (ITA), 4th Joan Ravie (ESP), 5thHidde Wapstra (NED), 6th Hidde Schraffordt (NED), 7th Max Frank (NED), 8th Daniel Cardona Balsa (ESP), 9th Can Veysel Kaska (TUR), 10th Miguel Sancho (POR).
Girls Silver: 1st Cristina Castellanos (GUA), 2nd Arwen Fflur (GBR), 3rd Donna-Tinke Huijsmans (NED), 4th Léonie Baudet (SUI), 5thIsabella Mendoza Cabezas (USA), 6th Anna Vasilieva (USA), 7th Ava Anderson (USA), 8th Paula Bestard Mayol (ESP), 9th Cannelle Opstaele (BEL), 10th Mikaela Panagopoulou (GRE).
Boys Silver: 1st Benjamin Reeser, 2nd Oisín Mac Sweeney (IRL), 3rd Antonio Pascali (GBR), 4th Karel Ratnik (EST), 5th Jacob Zils (USA), 6th Keijiro Kikkawa (GBR), 7th Andrea Dubois (SUI), 8th Florian Vreeburg (NED), 9th Connor Demming (USA), 10th João Pacheco (POR).
U16 Boys: 1st Alexandros Eleftheriadis (GRE), 2nd Hidde Schraffordt (NED), 3rd Dionysios Kalpogiannakis (GRE)
U16 Girls: 1st Adriana Castro (ESP), 2nd Audrey Foley (USA), 3rd Signe Brinkert (NED).
Irish Girls: 1st Eimer McMorrow Moriarty, 2nd Anna O’Connor, 3rd Hannah Dadley-Young, 4th Sienna Wright, 5th Iseult Hogan, 6thElla Dempsey, 7th Una Connell, 8th Emma Lynch, 9th Megan O’Sullivan, 10th Isabel Mc Carthy.
Irish Boys: 1st Rocco Wright, 2nd Archie Daly, 3rd Luke Turvey, 4th James Dwyer, 5th Oisín Mac Sweeney, 6th Darragh Collins, 7thChristian Ennis, 8th Oisin Hughes, 9th Russell Bolger, 10th Patrick Bruen.
An extra special mention must go to all who made this event possible. ILCA, the Royal St. George Yacht Club, The National Yacht Club, Dun Laoighaire Rathdown County Council, Fáilte Ireland, CH Marine and Irish Sailing to name but a few. It takes a team and the 200+ volunteers that provided endless support to the sailors played a vital role in ensuring this event was a success and showcasing what Ireland has to offer as a world class destination and sailing venue.
Kudos to Ian Simmington (Event Organising Committee Chairman) and Con Murphy (Principal Race Officer) for offering their time, dedication to getting the job done, services to sailing and in helping to develop the next generation of budding Olympians, International Champions and sailing ambassadors.
Lastly, to the ILCA sailors. From the practice race to the final race today, from early morning starts until late evening finishes and even when the conditions were at their most fierce, you showed why the sport of sailing is the sport of champions. Sailors were keen to help each other, happy to sharing a joke and always looked out for one another. The Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire Harbour was buzzing all week with fun, smiles and the enjoyment that comes from a community of brilliant young people enjoying the elements and testing their sailing skills to the maximum and this is what it’s all about!
Vilamoura, Portugal is the host for the 2022 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships and we hope to see everyone there with the same enthusiasm, spirit and desire to champions.