João Pinto, Clube Naval de Portimão athlete, won the bronze medal, in the 303 Singles category, at the Adapted Sailing European Championship that ended this Saturday, October 12th, in Portimão.
In total, there were five days of competition where 113 athletes from 10 countries competed for the title of European Champion in four classes – Hansa 2.3, Hansa 303 Singles and Doubles, and Liberty.
According to the organization, this was “a week of intense competition that put athletes to the test with less favorable conditions in the first days – with little wind and lots of sun – and which ended with strong wind, some rain and fog”.
Rui Dowling, an athlete from the Clube Naval de Horta, was crowned European champion in class 2.3 – a class of smaller boats -, followed by André Bento (National Adapted Sailing School), who won the silver medal in the same class.
In third, the Dutch Akko Van Der Deen won the bronze.
In 303 Singles, João Pinto – Clube Naval de Portimão athlete - took home the bronze in the first international competition after four years out of sailing.
The gold and silver went to Piotr Cichocki (Poland) and Chris Symonds (Australia), respectively.
Polish duo Piotr Cichocki and Olga Gruzdien took the title of European champions in 303 doubles, followed by Natalia Hillman-Bermejo and Allan Hillman (Great Britain) and French duo Gilles Guyon and Olivier Ducruix.
In Liberty, the podium was composed by the Dutch Vera Voorbach (1st), Wilma Van Der Broek (2nd) and Hanneke Deenen (3rd).
Salvador Mendes de Almeida, from the Salvador association, finished the race in 5th-
The Hansa Class is characterized by having vessels with a low center of gravity and a ballasted fin that result in great stability and are almost impossible to turn. Available in 11 colors, it facilitates identification at sea, and with the possibility of adding electric controls (servo) that can assist in the control of the rudder and escort for people with physical disabilities.
The awards ceremony was attended by Bob Sharingher, president of the Hansa International Class, who sailed in the Liberty class this week.
“It was a very good week, with excellent conditions for sailing and an enviable organization. There are few championships that manage to combine a good atmosphere at sea with a rich and lively social program so well,” said Bob Sharingher.
“I think that the most important thing about this event is the ability to sail regardless of the physical condition of each one”, said Maria Nobre de Carvalho, from the organization.
«We have athletes with all kinds of disabilities here – paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, athletes without arms, among others – and they all sail together in the same classes. It's a truly inclusive sport and that's what we intend to bring to earth as well,” he added.
Between regattas, concerts, gin tastings, wine tasting, dinners and seafood, the Marina de Portimão was the stage for five days of great interaction.
Allan Hillman, English athlete who became quadriplegic for more than 20 years said that this «was one of the best championships in which I had the pleasure of participating», having plans «to return to Portugal soon».
The Adapted Sailing World Cup is now taking place in Los Angeles, but the organization – Teia D'Impulsos Association and Portimão Marina Yacht Club – have already stated that they will try to bring the 2021 World Cup to Portugal, in a challenge that seems to have been well accepted by the president of the international class.
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