SoPYC sailors have been participating in challenging competitions in Europe, facing off against exceptional sailors from various countries.

  • Flynn Walford and Kiason Puls competed in the 282 fleet Open Skiff Worlds in Rimini, Italy.

  • Ben Robinson took part in the 422 fleet at IQ Youth Europen Championship – Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy.

  • Murray Duthie participated in the 248 boat fleet at the Optimist World Championship – Costa Brava, Spain.

Open Skiff World Championship 2023

The OpenSkiff World Championship concluded with great success and style, thanks to the excellent organization by Club Nautico Rimini, supported by the National and International Open Skiff class staff, and officials from the Italian Sailing Federation and World Sailing. The week-long championship featured 14 intense races in warm weather with light wind and current conditions. The final day saw a pleasant wind variation, adding a dynamic touch to the proceedings.

However, what truly set this event apart was the warm and welcoming atmosphere that prevailed throughout the championship, which is typical at Open Skiff events. The participating teams forged genuine friendships, creating a family-like ambiance that extended from the young participants, including the Under 12s, Under 15s, and Under 17s, all the way to the awards ceremony.

This edition of the OpenSkiff World Championship became the most well-attended in history, with 286 competitors from 14 nations, leaving behind a unique and unforgettable experience.

In the under 15’s (which had 164 competitors split into Gold and Silver)  South Perth’s Kaison Puls who lives in the Christmas Islands but spends summer in Perth came 5th with 2 race wins.  Well done, Kiason.

In the under 17s – SopYC’s Flynn Walford was the top Australian in 10th in a fleet of 64 sailors.

Photos and Images can be seen on the below links

Images

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOzPFu8jaAK5eCAahZMXh-1BzTgaMQR46sz3hYVDtOLPKCAIsBh87Q-zy2CZRbG2w?key=MFZoeGxGUnRORzlDUjVoSkxxS2ZhN1lOQnpRRXNB

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO-7YOIlp7cyI10kYkpTnL0-xwI_i795Q4jahVYQRex245D3GhUtQsGS9j6VBAeBg?key=M3ptWTFFOS0xWTNlVm9XREtvenNwQTlqb295cE53

Videos

https://worlds2023.openskiffclass.org/gallery/videos

IQ Youth European Championship

The iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championships took place in Torbole, Italy. This year’s championship boasts a record-breaking participation of 422 Competitors  – 36 Nations split across Under 17 Male and Female and Under 19 Male and Female.

The event serves as a breeding ground for future windsurfing champions, giving young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. Torbole, known for its consistent winds and stunning scenery on Lake Garda, provides the perfect setting for this exhilarating competition.

Over six days, the young windsurfers competed in thrilling races, demonstrating their speed, agility, and strategic abilities.

The iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championships not only showcases the athletes’ incredible skills but also reflects the international windsurfing community’s commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting the sport. The event fosters camaraderie and lifelong friendships among participants from different cultures.

FSC Harry Joyner finished second in the Under 19s and SoPYC’s Ben Robinson got some amazing experience in his first International Youth Event.  Unfortunately, a breakage on day affected his result, but he managed to work back with several top 10 places in the Silver fleet and has already been out practicing every day since returning home.

Full Details are available on the below links

https://iqyjeuropeans2023torbole.sailti.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall

https://iqyjeuropeans2023torbole.sailti.com/en/default/races/race-photogalleries

Optimist Worlds 2023

In June, Murray Duthie from SoPYC participated in the 2023 Optimist World Championship, competing against 248 sailors representing 56 nations. The championship comprised 3 days of qualifying followed by 3 days of finals. While Murray had an excellent performance on day 1, his results on day 2 during the qualifying rounds affected his chances of making it to the highly competitive Gold Fleet for the finals.

However, Murray finished strongly, achieving a 2nd place finish in race 1, 6th place in race 2, and another 2nd place in the final race. These impressive results allowed him to climb from 109th to 66th in the world rankings and secure an overall 4th position in the Silver fleet. This was a remarkable achievement, especially considering he was competing against the top 248 Optimist sailors globally.

Full Details here:

https://2023worlds.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race