Medals at ISAF Youth Worlds
Racing at the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Tavira, Portugal came to a thrilling conclusion as the medals across the eight events were decided.
For the first time in their history the Spanish team have won the ISAF Youth Worlds Nations Trophy after a controlling display. Across the eight fleets Spanish sailors picked up three gold medals and a silver. Three of the teams finished in the top ten ensuring they were the most consistent nation out of the 67 competing in Tavira. France and Israel follow the Spanish team in the on the leader board.
A beautiful westerly breeze came through early in the afternoon allowing three RS:X Boys and Girls races, two 29er races with a single race in the remaining fleets.
Racing commenced at 12:00 local time in a breeze that slowly built to 10-13 knots as the day progressed.
Japan's Ibuki Koizumi and Kotaro Matsuo and Singapore's Yia Jia Loh and Jonathan Yeo were tied on 38 points apiece heading into the single 420 Boys race.
The Singaporeans were relaxed on the race course and took matters into their own hands as they had a great start which they were able to transition into a good lead. As they crossed the finish line in first it was Singaporean gold, their third throughout the history of the ISAF Youth Worlds.
"I am the happiest person in the world right now,” beamed Yeo. "We had tears of joy and I am just speechless. I will be feeling on top of the world at the closing ceremony. I am just really grateful for everyone who has helped me and my partner. My coach has phoned my parents and everyone back home, I think when I speak to them I will be speechless again.”
The Japanese pair finished 12th in the final race to drop to bronze medal position as a third from Malaysia's Mohammad Faizal Norizan and Ahmad Syukri Abdul Aziz promoted them up to silver.
Gold and silver were decided on the penultimate day with Spain's Silvia Mas and Marta Davila holding an unassailable lead atop of the pack with Israel's Yahel Wallach and Stav Brokman unable to be dislodged in second.
Anything was possible in the fleet with places third to seventh capable of winning gold. In the end Poland's Ewa Romaniuk and Katarzyna Goralska took the bull by the horns and took the final race victory and with it, a bronze medal.
