Silvia Roca Wins EUROSAF Match Racing, Women's European Championship

Spain’s Silvia Roca and her crew of Fatima Reyes and Lucia Reyes won the EUROSAF Match Racing, Women’s European Championship in Santander, Spain on 15 September overcoming Julie Bossard (FRA).

By the time Saturday morning arrived, the semi-finals were already underway, with five of the scheduled races being sailed in excellent conditions on the Friday afternoon. This saw Bossard bring a 2-0 lead over Claire Lusko (GBR) into the day whilst Caroline Sylvan (SWE) led Roca 2-1.

With North Easterly winds of 12 – 14 knots and sunny skies racing got underway at 11:00 local time. Bossard stormed inot the final by defeating Lasko in the first match of the day but in the second semi-final, Roca draw level with Sylvan by winning the fourth race, making a fifth and final race necessary. In what was a thrilling race, Roca just beat Sylvan to win and qualify for the final.

The Petit-Final saw Sylvan sailing with Louise Kruuse af Verchou and Frida Langenius, beat Lasko and her crew of Marianthe Evangelidis and Sophie Pearson 2-0, to take the bronze medal.

Roca and her crew of sisters Fátima and Lucia Reyes, eventually won the final to become European Champions, in a closely fought series against Bossard and her crew of Pauline Chalaux and Pauline Courtois. Each team won alternate races in the first to three points final, making the fifth race the championship decider.

Determined to become European Champion in her home country, Silvia Roca got the better of the start in the fifth and final race and lead throughout all the way to the finish. At no time was Bossard more than a few boats lengths away, so there was no room for error on the part of Roca. In the end she held on to win by a close margin to become the 2012 EUROSAF Match Racing, Women’s European Champion.

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