The Laser Senior European Championship began 4th October 2017 in Barcelona and Croatian sailor Tonči Stipanović has started strong with two wins in the first two races.
Tonči Stipanović is a Split-based sailor who trains with JK Mornar Club and was the first Croatian to win a medal for sailing in the Olympics.
The Laser World Championship recently took place in Split, where Cypriot Pavlos Kontides won first place, while not Croatian, he does train in Split at JK Mornar with Stipanović and Filip Jurišić.
The boys have been battling it out on the water this year, Jurišić won the JK Mornar Grand Prix and finished ahead of Stipanović in the Laser Worlds. However, it seems Stipanović may be back to winning form.
The European Championship was set to begin on 3rd October 2017 in Barcelona, but due to a strike, races were postponed until yesterday. The first races were completed and all 331 Laser Standard and Radial sailors were able to hit the water.
Eur ILCA Facebook Page
The day began around noon with a decent 10-knot breeze but decreased to 6-knots by the second race. A third race was hoped for but winds dropped to below 4-knots so it wasn't possible, two races were completed successfully.
Stipanović came out firing, with two wins in the Blue Fleet (1-1) and leading the Laser Standards with a perfect score. In second came Giovanni Coccoluto (ITA), 3rd was Andrew McKenzie (NZL) – who was hot on Stipanović' heels in the Blue Fleet (2-2).
Tonci Stipanovic Facebook
On Facebook Stipanović posted:
'Barcelona day 6, perfect day on the racing course, I did two bullets!'
While Jurišić said:
'First day of the regatta opened and I came in with not the best places – 21 and 37. It could be worse and I hope this will be the worst of me for this week! Time to focus on the remaining 4 days until the end.'
However, it is far from over yet, with four more days of racing, anything can happen! Good luck to all competitors, we look forward to following the event!
Source info: European ILCA, follow their Facebook here.
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