The Optimist of the Valencian Community, representing Spain, hangs the bronze medal in the European Team Racing that has been held these days in Lake Ledro (Italy), August 23 to 27. The Community team, which after winning the National Team at the beginning of July in El Puerto de Santa Maria, obtained the ticket for the international event, has been formed by Pedro Adán (CN Santa Pola), Elena Pérez (CN Jávea), Marta Ferrando and Eduardo Reyes, both from the RCN of Valencia, under the orders of coach Fernando Puig.
A metal that could have had another color, but the wind conditions in Ledro were not the best, not only for Spain but for all the teams. The national team, made up of four sailors from the Region, managed to close the first Round Robin (series of group matches, all against all) with good results and feelings of going further.
In the second Round Robin, in which the 8 best teams were already classified, of the 16 that started the comxicotetion, the wind began to show its worst side, leaving the fleet unable to compete in groups C and D, so that the committee chose to give as valid results those obtained in Round Robin 1, as it was not possible to complete and close the series of matches.
This weather situation left them unable to make way for the semifinals, xicotet final and the grand final. With the results obtained in the first series of matches Italy took the gold, while Poland hung the silver and Spain the bronze.
Spain, represented by the team of the Sailing Federation of the Valencian Community, achieved 11 wins in that first installment in Ledro, losing only 4 matches, against Italy, Poland, Great Britain and Finland. In their triumphs, those achieved before powerful rivals stand out, in the case of Germany, Switzerland, Greece or the always complicated and very prepared for the Italian event such as Turkey, which finished fourth on the podium.
