Day 2 at the 2024 Optimist World Championship

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2024 Optimist World Championship

Mar del Plata, Argentina

Following the passage of a southern cold front, Sunday, December 8th dawned with clear skies  and a breeze from the S.E. that would calm down and move towards the N.E.

The Race Committee wisely delayed the start for a couple of hours, allowing the easterly wind to strengthen before sending the 255 competitors out on the water.

The afternoon brought a strengthening easterly breeze, ranging from 5 to 10 knots, with a persistent leftward shift, a downdraft current, and residual swell from the previous day.

The shifting conditions brought new contenders to the forefront. Spain, the USA, Greece, and Brazil emerged as top performers in the lighter winds. However, it was Brazil's Artur Back who truly shone, securing two top finishes (1st and 2nd) in the blue fleet and accumulating just 6 points.

Chasing Back are two Spaniards, Mateo Carbonell (7th and 1st in today races) and Joan Domingo (3rd and 1st) , both with 12 points. Brazil's Eduardo Essinger Backheuser (4th and 1st)  sits in fourth with 13 points, one ahead of the USA's Pablo Muñoz Montes.

Monday, December 9th will mark the final day of the qualifying stage, determining the Gold, Silver, and Bronze fleets for this World Championship, hosted by the Club Náutico  Mar del Plata and the International Optimist Dinghy Association. A stronger northeast thermal wind is forecast.  Before the final stage, the team race  championship will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in the port's inland waters.

To check complete results:  https://2024worlds.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall

Access to photos for editorial use credit Matias Capizzano: https://bit.ly/2024OptiworldsPRESS