Event in Portimão

Portuguese Olympic Classes Championship

VII Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas | Portimão | Day 1 | Laser / Rui Silveira (@paulomarcelino)

The VII Portuguese Olympic Sailing Classes Championship was held in Portimão, from February 5th to 8th, and the Portuguese Sailing Federation announced that the event will be held again in the same city in the Algarve, in 2016. This year’s event had 4 sunny regatta days and a surprise finish in one of the three entered olympic classes. The new champions are Rui Silveira (Laser), João Villas-Boas & Miguel Nunes (470) and João Rodrigues (RS:X, windsurfing).

João Villas-Boas & Miguel Nunes (5 in 8) and João Rodrigues (5 in 7) won almost all the regattas on their own classes. Miguel Nunes is the most experient of the two crew members that have won the 470 Class, having been present in 4 Olympic Games. João Rodrigues competed in 6 Olympic Games and finished 6th in Atenas 2004.

Dupla João Villas-Boas & Miguel Nunes, campeões de Portugal em 470

Dupla João Villas-Boas & Miguel Nunes, campeões de Portugal em 470

Laser (Standard) had a dramatic finish. Eduardo Marques was leading since Day 1 and broke the mast tip of his boat on the first ‘regatta’ of the last day, Sunday, February 8th. He managed to won the second (last) regatta of the day, but nevertheless lost the champion title to Rui Silveira, the sailor who qualified Portugal for the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Rui Silveira, a favourite at the start was always second… but had the luck on his side on the last day.

Six sailors from the Algarve (5 in Laser and 1 in RS:X) have entered the championship. João Rodrigues, young sailor from the ‘Clube de Vela de Lagos’, won the bronze medal in the Laser Class. Miguel Martinho, veteran Formula Windsurfing champion, won the silver medal in RS:X, ridding a type of equipment he did not ride for the last eight years and with a borrowed board and sail he had no time to test before the championship.

João Rodrigues, Campeão de Portugal em RS:X (@paulomarcelino)

João Rodrigues, Campeão de Portugal em RS:X (@paulomarcelino)

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