Team Italy wins 2023 European Team Racing Championship - Defends Title for 5th Time in 7 Years!

The 2023 Optimist European Team Racing Championship hosted by the Royal Loosdrecht Yacht Club (KWVL) from August 25 to the 30^th has concluded after 4 great days of racing in a variety of wind conditions.

All 15 Teams from CRO, DEN, ESP, FRA, GER, GBR, GRE, ISR, ITA, NED, NOR, POL, SWE, SUI, and TUR had great fun battling it out throughout the event.

On the final day of racing, the top 4 teams in the Gold Group (CRO, FRA, ITA & POL) battled it out for places in the Semi-Finals. The rest of the Gold Group Teams TUR, GRE, SWE and ESP faced off against one another in knock-out races for rankings between 5 and 8th. 

The top 4 teams in the Silver Group (NED, ISR, DEN and SUI) faced off in the Petit Final to determine ranking places from 9-12 and the remaining Silver Group Teams (GER, GBR and NOR) faced knock out races to determine the remaining rankings.

In determining who would become the 2023 Optimist European Champion, it came down to what two teams would emerge from the Gold Semi Finals.  The 1^st Gold Group Semi Finals faced off between CRO and POL with POL taking the win.  In the 2^nd Gold Group Semi-Finals between FRA and ITA, it was ITA that took the win.

This set up the Grand Final between Team ITA, the 2022 European Team Racing Champions and Team POL, the silver medalists at the 2022 European Team Racing Championship held in Lago di Ledro, Italy.

In very light and tricky wind conditions creating extremely tight racing, Team ITA took the final, winning 2 races over Team POL to defend their title as the 2023 Optimist European Team Racing Champions for a second year in a row and the 5^th time in the past 7 years.

Team FRA beat Team CRO in a tight 3 race series to take the bronze medal at the championship.  

The 2023 Optimist European Team Racing Rankings are as follows:

1. ITA
2. POL
3. FRA
4. CRO
5. TUR
6. SWE
7. GRE
8. ESP
9. NED
10. ISR
11. SUI
12. DEN
13. NOR
14. GER
15. GBR

We congratulate Team ITA in becoming the 2023 Optimist European Team Racing Champions and all the teams for a great week of racing and hard-fought battles. 

Many thanks to Joost Vooijs, the Regatta Chairman and the many volunteers at the Royal Loosdrecht Yacht Club (KWVL) for organizing and hosting such an incredible championship. Many new friendships were forged with all participants both on and off the water.

For all the detailed results, images, videos, and daily news, go to the Event Microsite, here.