Neus Fernández and Martina Gomila Crowned European 420 Champions

Sailors Neus Fernández and Martina Gomila from Club Nàutic S’Arenal were declared winners of the 420 European Championship held in Portorož, Slovenia, on Tuesday, July 9th. Their club teammates, Nicola Sadler and Sofía Cavaco, also made it to the podium, finishing in third place.

A total of 244 crews from 22 countries competed from July 1st to 9th in two racecourses set in Slovenian waters for the 420 Open European Championship in Portorož. After a day of measurements, setups, and preparations, the training days began, followed by six intense days of competition where the sailors completed eleven races.

During the first three days of the championship, six races were held, serving as qualifiers for the final series. The sailors from Club Nàutic S’Arenal managed to dominate from the start among the 60 female crews competing in this European Championship. They performed well both in light winds, with a steady 7-knot thermal breeze in the early days, and in the more unstable conditions on the last day of qualifiers, which saw strong winds of up to 18 knots.

The first day of the final series also posed challenges for the CNA sailors, with winds ranging from 15 to 18 knots. Despite some setbacks, Nicola Sadler and Sofía Cavaco managed to recover over the last two days of competition, sailing well in light wind conditions.

With one race remaining, and after a consistent performance throughout the championship, the crew of Neus Fernández and Martina Gomila had already secured the European title. Their clubmates Nicola Sadler and Sofía Cavaco, who had held the silver position, ultimately finished with the bronze after the last race. Nearly completing an all-Arenal podium, sailors Marisa Vicens (CN Arenal) and Marina Borras (Reial Club Nàutic Port de Pollença) narrowly missed out, finishing in fourth place.

Additionally, 110 male and mixed crews competed in this European Championship, including Hugo Rodríguez and Nico Montoya from Club Nàutic S’Arenal, who finished 38th overall. In the under-17 category, 76 crews competed, with Bernat Cavaco (CN Arenal) and Hugo Valor (CMSAP) finishing 20th overall.

This event extended beyond the sporting aspect, as the participating sailors had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and partake in numerous activities both on sea and land, fostering bonds between the different participating countries.

https://2024europeans.420sailing.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall