When the 49erFX fleet joins the 49er and Nacra17 for the 2019 Volvo Europeans, amongst the battles for Olympic selection will be the defending World Champions. Bekkering/Duetz, (NED) who look to keep their Tokyo 2020 campaign alive.
At the recent Hempel World Cup Series event in Genoa, the Olympic classes were plagued with extremely light and challenging conditions. Winning the 49erFX class was the Dutch team of Odile Van Aanholt and Marieke Jongens. While a single event win won’t make or break your four-year campaign, in this instance it almost could.
The Dutch Olympic selection process takes into account two regattas: the Hempel World Cup Series regatta in Genoa, and the 2019 Volvo Europeans. Dutch competitors receive 10 points for 1st place, down to 1 point for 10th place. Van Aanholt/Jongens received the full ten points for their win. The reigning World Champions of Annamiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz finished the regatta in 9th place. They received just 2 points towards Olympic selection and face a mountain to climb at the 2019 Volvo Europeans if they wish to keep their Tokyo 2020 dreams alive.
© Sailing Energy / World Sailing
The 49erFX gold and silver medalists from the Rio 2016 games look set to continue their battle on the water. Martine Grael and Kahene Kunze (BRA) won the Olympic Gold ahead of Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL). Repeating their Rio 2016 one-two results in Enoshima, Miami, and Palma, Maloney/Meech continually find themselves one step short of their Brazilian competitors on the top step of the podium. Both teams had differing regattas in the extremely light conditions at Genoa, so we’ll put that down as their discards.
For the British Sailing Team, their best 49erFX teams continue to place in the top ten at most regattas. Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth placed 3rd at the 2018 World Sailing Championships, qualifying Great Britain for the Tokyo 2020 Games. In 2019, it has been their teammates and local Weymouth sailors Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey who have been the top performers. While both teams have placed in the top ten at the 2018 World Sailing Championships as well as at Enoshima, Miami, and Palma, Dobson/Tidey have continuously placed higher than Wiegulan/Ainsworth.
© Drew Malcolm / 49er Sailing
The defending European Champions from Norway, Helena Næss and Marie Rønningen have had an inconsistent start to the 2019 season. With a scoreline ranging from 4th to 20th since Enoshima in late 2018, the Norwegians certainly have the skills to make it back to back Championships, but this won’t happen unless they can ensure their results rarely dip outside of the top ten.
Consistency has been less of a problem for the Danish team of Ida Marie Baad Nielson and Marie Thusgaard Olsen. After qualifying their country in Aarhus, placing 7th, they have placed 5th or better in three of the past four regattas.
Continuing the trend in strength from Northern Europe are Klara Wester and Rebecca Netzler (SWE). The young duo have emerged on the schene in 2019 as one of the most consistent high performers with 7, 11, 6, 7 at Miami, Vilamoura, Palma, and Genoa respectively. If you haven’t seen how hard this team trained in their first year, and how quickly they learned, then make sure you do, and don’t be surprised if they work their way all the way to the top.
The U.S. Sailing Team members Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea should be expected to make the top ten at the 2019 Volvo Europeans, and with a bronze medal at the recent Hempel World Cup Series in Genoa, they will be eyeing the podium once again.
While the 2019 Volvo Europeans is not an Olympic qualification event, most teams will be using this regatta as a major turning point in their selection process towards the Tokyo 2020 Games. Many MNA’s are using this event as selection for the Test Event in Tokyo, and/or as part of their Olympic selection, so you can be sure all teams will be aiming to put their best foot forward.
© Sailing Energy / World Sailing
Olympic Qualification Update
The Olympic Qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 games began at the 2018 World Sailing Championships. Nine countries secured their nation a place at the Games; Australia, Austria, Brazil, Denmark Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Norway alongside the automatically qualified host nation of Japan.
A further six spots will be up for grabs at the 2019 World Championships in Auckland, with the remaining six spots being allocated at Continental Championships.
For a more in-depth look into the Olympic Qualification process for the 49er class, CLICK HERE.
Upcoming Qualification Events
2019 Pan Am Games – Lima, PER
2019 World Championships – Auckland, NZL
2020 World Championships – Geelong, AUS
2020 Asian Championships – Abu Dhabi, UAE
2020 Sailing World Cup – Genoa, ITA
How To Follow
Schedule:
Wednesday 8 May 1700 Beach Clean
Friday 10 May 0900 – 1800 Registration/Inspection
Saturday 11 May 0900 – 1800 Registration/Inspection
1000 – 1600 Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre open day
1900 49er Open Class Forum
Sunday 12 May 0900 – 1100 Registration/Inspection
1255 Practice Races
1730 Competitors Briefing
1800 Opening Ceremony
Monday 13 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Tuesday 14 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Wednesday 15 May 1055 Qualifying Races
Thursday 16 May 1055 Qualifying or Fleet Races
Friday 17 May 1055 Fleet Races
Saturday 18 May 1055 Fleet Races
Sunday 19 May 0955 Fleet Races
1500 Medal Races
TBC Prize giving
Live Broadcast:
- From May 16-19 a live show including coverage of the racing will be broadcast via the 49er class Youtube channel and the Nacra 17 class Youtube channel. The presenters are Genny Tulloch, Andy Rice, Stevie Morrison, and Hannah Mills.
1. 49er Sailing – Gold Fleet Day 1 – 2019 Volvo European Championship
URL https://youtu.be/b3fsnwNGyqQ
<iframe width=”480″ height=”290″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3fsnwNGyqQ” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
2. 49er Sailing – Gold Fleet Day 2 – 2019 Volvo European Championship
URL https://youtu.be/7pxYk7L_Q54
<iframe width=”480″ height=”290″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/7pxYk7L_Q54” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
3. 49er Sailing – Gold Fleet Day 3 – 2019 Volvo European Championship
URL https://youtu.be/OGd_TQC3qEY
<iframe width=”480″ height=”290″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/OGd_TQC3qEY” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
4. 49er Sailing – Gold Fleet Day 4 – 2019 Volvo European Championship
URL https://youtu.be/rxrV_BLsZ_k
<iframe width=”480″ height=”290″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/rxrV_BLsZ_k” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
5. 49er Sailing – Medal Races – 2019 Volvo European Championship
URL https://youtu.be/XBxlZofvxPc
<iframe width=”480″ height=”290″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBxlZofvxPc” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Highlights, Interviews & VNR:
- Between May 16 and 19, Icarus
Sports will be producing:
- A daily two-minute highlights video
- VNR and interviews for news
- Footage can be downloaded from the Icarus portal – https://portal.icarus-sports.com/
- Please contact Will Carson to request interviews
Results:
Results will be posted race by race, as they happen
- 49er https://49er.org/event/2019-european-championship/#49erresults
- 49erFX https://49er.org/event/2019-european-championship/#49erfxresults
- Nacra 17 https://nacra17.org/events/2019-european-championship-2/#results
Social media:
- Please follow the @49ersailing and @Nacra17sailing class social media channels on twitter, Instagram, and facebook for the latest info from the regatta. On youtube the channels are youtube.com/49ersailing and youtube.com/nacra17sailing
