Santiago Marcatelli (ARG) defends SAMS Title

The 2019 Optimist South American Championship, hosted by the Cofradía Náutica del Pacífico Club, in Algarrobo, Chile concluded today with the Closing Ceremonies.

Unfortunately, there was no racing in the last two days of the championship due to lack of wind.  A hard way to end a regatta for everyone involved.

Despite the long waits for wind, the competitors all had a great time keeping themselves busy and entertained with their new-found friends and teammates.

As a result, the race results after the 4^th Race on the second day of competition stand and it is Santino Marcatelli of Argentina who was on top of the leaderboard at the time, who has defended his title as the 2019 South American Champion.  He is followed by Guilherme Menezes of Brazil in second, who was tied with Rafaela Salvatore of Chile with 15 points each.  Rafaela was awarded third place overall and the top girl at the championship.

Victoria MacKinnon from Argentina, the 2018 European Girls Champion, finished 4^th just two points back and tied with Benjamin Guzman of Chile with 17 points each, to finish in 4^th and 5^th overall respectively. Americans Thomas Sitzman and Samara Walshe followed in 6^th and 7^th overall, and Maximo Videla or Argentina, who was 5^th overall at the 2018 SAMS, finished this year in 8^th place.

In ninth overall was Alex Kuhl of Brazil followed by Tadeo Funes de Rioja of Argentina in 10^th.  Tanner Krygsveld of the US Virgin Islands just missed the top ten by one point to come in 11^th overall.

Awards were presented to the 15 best placed sailors in the championship without gender distinction or residence.  The 3 best placed sailors without gender distinction who is an IODA member from South America also received awards.

The top 5 girls regardless of their continent of residence were given awards.  They are:  Rafael Salvatore (CHI), Victoria MacKinnon (ARG), Samara Walshe (USA), Maria Gracia Vegas (PER), and Francisca Novion (CHI).

The best placed boy regardless of his residence was Santino Marcatelli (ARG), who was also awarded the best placed boy from South America.

The best placed girl from South American was Rafaela Salvatore (CHI).

The 2019 South American Team Racing Championship was awarded to Argentina, followed by Peru in second and Brazil in third.

The 2019 Nations Cup was awarded to the USA in first and second and Bermuda in third.

The championship was closed with the traditional handing over of the IODA Flag to the next host of the South American Championship which will be taking place in Mar del Plata, Argentina next year.

Although the wind was a challenge this year at the 2019 South American Championship, IODA would like to congratulate and thank the organizing committee for the planning and hosting of this very important IODA championship.  We would like to particularly thank Santiago Lorca, the chairman of the Organizing Committee and his team of dedicated volunteers for all their time and effort over that past several months to ensure that the event was a success and for their warm hospitality in welcoming 17 countries to Algarrobo, Chile.  

For news, photo gallery, and tracking go to the event website http://2019southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race

For fleet results go to: http://2019southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall

For team racing results, find the grids at  http://2019southamericans.optiworld.org/en/default/toa/race/docs/Race+Committee+Documents

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