Three Balearic sailors compete against the top 300 for the Optimist European crown

Marina di Carrara, Italy, opens the curtain on an intense week of international youth competitions with the Optimist European Championship, in which seven Spanish sailors will compete, including Lucas Montoya from Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Beatriz Quintana from Club Nàutic Cala Gamba, and Laia S. Mattos from Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa.

The participation rises to 285 athletes from nearly fifty countries, with Spain represented by three girls and four boys: the Balearics Beatriz Quintana, Laia S. Mattos, and Lucas Montoya; the Valencian Community's Marta Ferrando, current world champion; the Catalans Joan Lleonart and Oriol Costabella; and the Canary Islands' Gustavo del Castillo, all members of the National Class Team.

With registrations open to sailors of any nationality, the final classification will reveal the new European Champions in both female and male categories, also awarding the top three overall in the female and male categories, as well as the top three teams in the European Ranking.

The competition began on Monday, July 1, with a race program extending until Friday, July 5. A Qualifying Series will be held from Monday to Wednesday, in which a minimum of five races must be completed to advance to the Final Series, which will conclude on Friday, July 5.