GOODISON Off To Fast Start

Defending European Champion and World number one Paul GOODISON (GBR) was quick to stamp his authority on the ISAF Grade C1 Laser European Championship, opening up his title defence in Gdynia, Poland with a near perfect 1,2 start.

Coming straight off the back of an impressive repeat win at the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week in Germany, GOODISON has found his top form in recent weeks and was quick out of the blocks whilst many of the other pre-regatta favourites struggled.

Finland’s Roope SUOMALAINEN also opening up the series with and bullet and followed it with a third in the next race to lie second overall, whilst a 6,3 start sees Poland’s Patryk KUCZYS-LUTOMSKI in third, just ahead of Milan VUJASINOVIĆ (CRO) and 2004 ISAF Youth World Champion in Gdynia Nick THOMPSON (GBR). 2003 World Champion Gustavo LIMA (POR) was also off to a solid start, whilst home star Maciej GRABOWSKI (POL) opened up with a 13,4 scoreline, putting him tenth overall.

Favourites Struggle

GRABOWSKI was by no means alone in posting an early double figures score, with Athens Olympic medallists Andreas GERITZER (AUT) and Vasilij ZBOGAR (SLO) both off to slow starts and lying 15 and 20 respectively.

Meanwhile last year’s runner up to GOODISON, Mate ARAPOV (CRO) and World number three Andrew MURDOCH (NZL) both suffered from early black flags, whilst a horror 25,OCS start also sees ISAF World Sailing Games Champion Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) languishing way down the leaderboard.

The Laser European Championships comprises a twelve race series, with two races scheduled per day from Friday 7 July through until the Medal Race on Wednesday 12 July.

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