The Algarve's Daniela Miranda was the best Portuguese in the 2014 European Optimist Championship. The sailor from the Associação Naval do Guadiana, who in April was crowned National Youth Champion, completed the European Championship in the 18th position of the women's Gold Fleet, being the 14th best European.
The championship took place in Dublin Bay, Republic of Ireland, between the 13th and 19th of July, and Portugal was represented by 7 sailors, including two more from the Algarve: Manuel Fortunato (Clube de Vela de Lagos), 48th best European and Beatriz Gago (Clube Naval de Portimão), 51st best European.
The European Optimist Championship brought together more than 250 young sailors from 44 nations (32 European and 12 non-European), who performed 9 races in adverse weather conditions, with rain and fog.
Conditions were so difficult that they prevented any start on the last day of competition, Saturday 19th of July.
Daniela Miranda achieved her best result (5th place) in the last race of the championship, held on Friday, July 18th. The athlete from Algarve was part of the Golden Fleet, which gathered the 51 best competitors (European and non-European) after the qualifying series.
The athlete from Vila Real de Santo António concluded the championship on equal points with the 17th ranked French (European), but this had a 2nd place in a regatta.
Beatriz Gago, from Portimão, joined the Silver Fleet and was the 10th best in the fleet, a position equivalent to the 51st best European in the championship.
At just 12 years old, made three months ago, the young sailor from Clube Naval de Portimão also achieved her best result on the last day of effective competition, having been 4th in the last race.
Remember that the young 'Bia' was National Children's Champion in 2012 and 2013 and ranked 3rd in the Portugal Youth Championship this year, her debut season as a youth. Beatriz Gago's trip to the European Championship in Ireland was made possible thanks to a solidarity campaign driven by the family and the club, which involved the entire Portimonian community.
Manuel Fortunato, from Clube de Vela de Lagos, competed in the men's Silver Fleet. The young Algarvian was the 7th best in his fleet, finishing the Championship as the 48th best European.
Results of the Portuguese at the European Optimist Championship 2014
Female Gold Fleet
Daniela Miranda (ANGuadiana) – 18th in the Fleet | 14th best European
Inês Mateus – 27th in the Fleet | 22nd best European
Women's Silver Fleet
Beatriz Gago (CNPortimão) – 10th in the Fleet | 51st best European
Men's Gold Fleet
Francisco Mourão – 30th in the Fleet | 26th best European
Francisco Fráguas – 47th in the Fleet | 41st best European
Men's Silver Fleet
Manuel Fortunato (CVLagos) – 7th in the Fleet | 48th best European
Male Bronze Fleet
Alex Baptista – 22nd in the Fleet | 96th best European
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