A record 261 young windsurfers, from 25 countries representing 4 continents, have been in action
at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (UK)- the host venue for the 2012 Olympic
Sailing Games. The 2009 Techno 293 World Championships, the premier event for junior racers,
attracted event debuts for competitors from Argentina, Canada, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Peru,
Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, and USA.
The thrill and excitement surrounding participation in the event was summed up by one member
of the american team – “It is very, very exciting being among the first group of young Americans
coming through and taking part in this event. We all look up to the top British and European
sailors and to be competing at this incredible venue against the best young European sailors is a
great test for us and a fantastic experience.”
Meanwhile, an experienced spanish sailor summed up the hopes and aspirations on
many – “There is nothing better in windsurfing than planing when there is good wind,
going really fast, and we hope that we will be doing a lot of planing this week!”
He was not to be dissappointed, although -»Breezes gusting over 40 knots made racing
an impossibility on day five…» This only increased the tension around the race venue as
- «It means that the race for the 2009 IWA Junior World Championships titles go down to
the wire with all medal positions being decided on what is set to be a thrilling final day
of racing…»
Great Britain’s windsurfers are riding a crest of a wave after landing Three of the four World titles
up for grabs on the final day of the Championships.
Sam Sills, 16, romped to glory in the BIC Techno Under 17 boys’ division while 14-yearold
Kieran Martin and Sam’s sister Saskia Sills, 13, ensured Britain enjoyed a golden
whitewash in the Under 15s’, taking the top prize in both the boys’ and girls’ events at
the RYA Events-run Championships.
There was further medal joy for the host nation as Saskia’s twin Imogen took Under
15 girls’ silver following a ding-dong battle with her sister for the crown all week while
Adam Purcell (Under 15 boys)claimed a bronze medal.
Veronica Fanciulli’s (ITA) dominance of the Under 17 girls’ fleet was transformed into a gold
medal today, and Gonzalez Ruiz (ESP) clinched the Techno Open title.
For Sam Sills, the 2009 Techno Under 17 title is his second World crown, Sills having won Techno
Under 15 gold in 2007. Sills was also crowned 2009 Techno Under 17 European Champion in
Lacanau, France in April. He was the standout act in the fleet, leading from day two and picking
up no fewer than eight race wins in his 11-race series as Mateo Sanz Lanz (ESP) wins silver and
Louis Giard (FRA) bronze. However the laidback Brit insists victory wasn’t as easy as it looked.
He said “It was a really tough competition the fleet was double the size of the Europeans
and the standard’s been really high. I’ve been really pleased with my speed this week
and have managed to stay consistent and with safe starts. I didn’t want any letter scores.
“I really wanted to nail this event with it being my last on the Techno and in Britain.
People may have expected me to do well but I try not to let that pressure bother me
and I actually tend to do better when the pressure’s on a bit. The whole British team has
performed and made a big statement here so I am really pleased.”
Kieran Martin is another 2009 World and European Champion – he enjoyed a close battle with
Albert Chaillot (FRA) during the early exchanges of the week but after taking a six-point lead into
the last day, Martin’s final day scores confirmed victory with Chaillot second and Martin’s RYA
Team GBR team mate Adam Purcell putting on a great show for bronze.
The Sills twins, also both medallists at the Europeans, swapped the lead over the course of the
regatta before a nail biting final race climax saw Saskia snatch the gold ahead of her sister.
Veronica Fanciulli was also untouchable from day two and the 2009 European
silver medallist made no mistake taking gold this time out enjoying a 14-point final
advantage over Clidane Humeau (FRA) in second with Hadas Zaga (ISR) in third.
Italy also enjoyed success in the BIC Techno Under 15 girls’ class where Marta
Maggetti won bronze, the only non-British sailor to get into the top five in that
division… while Sara Martel and David Valliverdu ensured it was a medal cleansweep
for Spain in the Techno Open.
Visit http://www.techno293.org/page0074v01.htm for full results, photos, and daily reports of the
2009 Techno 293 World Championships.