Zoe pleased with her second place in La Palma
The Princesa Sofía Olympic classes Regatta kicked on last week after a slow start on Bay of Palma Mallorca. This is the first Sailing World Cup of 2023’s four regattas along with the Allianz Regatta (The Netherlands), the Semaine Olympique Française (Hyères, France) and Kieler Woche (Kiel, Germany).
All the top level Olympic sailors were competing with 15 months to the big event in Marseilles.
At the top of the hot ILCA 6 fleet new mum Marit Bouwmeester NED who is looking for a fourth Olympic medal after gold in Rio 2016, silver in London 2012 and bronze in Tokyo 2021 showed the way with consistent performances to win before the medal race was sailed. WA’s Zoe Thompson had a great series and a second in the medal race for second overall from the number two Netherlands sailor Maxime Jonker.
The ILCA 7s proved to be a walk in the park or a cruise on the bay for Mick Beckett GBR who won with a race to spare after a very consistent series. While daylight was second it was all very close after that with New Zealand’s George Gautrey finished next a point ahead of Croatian Tonci Stipanovic. Tom Saunders NZL was 5th and the best Australian Matt Wearn who finished second in the event last year was 7th.
The event web site is Here.