Australia's Nathan WILMOT and Malcolm PAGE and Sylvia VOGL and Carolina FLATSCHER of Austria won out after thrilling finale at the ISAF Grade C1 470 Europeans on Lake Garda.
After a week-long series across a very diverse range of conditions, the final Medal Races at this year's Europeans brought big breeze to Lake Garda, with 30 knots winds testing the top ten crews in both men's and women's events.
Amongst the men, the world #1 crew of
Nathan WILMOT and
Malcolm PAGE (AUS) secured overall victory to add to their recent win at the ISAF Grade 1 Delta Lloyd Regatta. The Aussies were closely followed by World Champions
Nic ASHER and
Elliot WILLIS (GBR), who as the best-placed European team are crowned 2008 470 European Champions. Dutch brothers
Sven COSTER and
Kalle COSTER completed the podium.
Israel's
Gideon KLIGER and
Udi GAL and the Argentinean crew of
Javier CONTE and
Juan DE LA FUENTE rounded out the top five.
Nick ROGERS and
Joe GLANFIELD (GBR), who beat off the challenge of ASHER and WILLIS for selection to the 2008 British Olympic team, finished sixth overall.
In the women's fleet, the consistent scoring of
Sylvia VOGL and
Carolina FLATSCHER (AUT) proved to be decisive. Their third-place finish in the Medal Race was enough to secure them the 2008 European title by ten points. The Swiss team of
Emmanuelle ROL and
Anne-Sophie THILO put in a career-best performance to take second place overall, just ahead of the Australians
Elise RECHICHI and
Tessa PARKINSON.