Iason Panagopoulos, Champion of the Optiorange Valencia 2024

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Optiorange Valencia 2024

Real Club Náutico Valencia, Spain

Valencia, 3 March 2024 - The Optiorange Valencia 2024 has crowned new champions after a challenging fourth and final day characterized by strong westerly winds, reaching over 25 knots in intensity with gusts exceeding 32 knots. These conditions compelled the race committee to keep the fleet ashore. Following deliberations with the organizing committee, and observing that conditions were unlikely to ameliorate, a decision was made at 12:00 pm to postpone the races indefinitely.

The regatta, organized by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, concludes with 6 races completed out of the planned 12 for the gold and silver groups, 5 for the bronze group, and 4 for the remaining three groups, thus concluding the qualifying rounds.

Based on their performance over the preceding three days, Greeks Iason Panagopoulos and Maria Anna Makri, both representing the Kalamaki Nautical Club, emerged as the new champions of the Optiorange Valencia 2024. Panagopoulos secured the title with 8 points, including three partial victories, and was also awarded the trophy for Absolute Champion of the Optiorange Valencia. Makri, on the other hand, accrued 15 points, with two victories to her credit.

The respective podiums, alongside Panagopoulos and Makri, include Juan Francisco Chumilla (RCN Torrevieja) with 22 points, followed by Iñigo Jauregui (CN Hondarribia) with 27 points. Maurits Melens (WV Arne) secured the fourth position with 30 points, and German sailor Noah Emanuel Schweichler (HYC) attained fifth place with 31 points. In the women's category, Hilda Wallström (Sopraventus HPT/KKKK) claimed the silver medal with 42 points, while the bronze went to Polish sailor Julia Agnieszczak (KS AZS AWFiS Gdansk) with 54 points. The top five was rounded out by Olha Lubianska (Optimist Way/JK Split/Obolon SK) with 57 points and Spanish competitor Marta Mansito (RCN Gran Canaria) with 67 points.

In the SUB13 category for men, the podium was secured by Turkish sailors Cengiz Eren Guvenc (Yalikavak Sailing Club) and Eren Kaan Erendemir (Sopraventus Team/Galatasaray), claiming first and second place respectively, while the bronze medal was awarded to Spanish sailor Pablo Lopez (RCN Valencia). Frenchman Paul Masson (CV Bormes) and Spaniard Santiago Pérez (RCN Tenerife) took the fourth and fifth positions respectively.

In the women's SUB13 category, Ukrainian Ahnieshka Madonich (Optimist Way/ SVOC) emerged victorious, with Margaux Nguyen-Minh (Sopraventus - Aberdeen Boat Club), Lilou Backes (Sopraventus Team / YCPR), Elly Echternach (BSC/NRV), and Alexandra Wang (RCN de Valencia) securing the subsequent positions from second to fifth respectively.

Iker Múgica, Champion of the Optimist Excellence Cup 2024

The Optiorange Valencia served as the concluding event of the Optimist Excellence Cup 2023-2024, following races in Vigo, Palma, El Puerto de Santa María, and Palamós. After five races with two discards, Catalan sailor Iker Múgica (CN Cambrils) claimed the title with 4 points. Second place was secured by another Cambrils sailor, Joan Domingo, with 8 points, while third place went to Joan Lleonart (CN El Balís) with 23 points.

The trophy ceremony, held at the Race Base of the RCN of Valencia, was attended by Marisa Arlandis, President of the RCNV, accompanied by its Sailing Vocal, Chema Escudero, and the Optimist fleet captains RCNV, Jorge Basterra and Sergio Ferrando. Also present were Rafel Chirivella, Vice-President of the Sailing Federation of the Valencian Community, and Joaquín Valero, from AECIO IODA Spain