Portimao hosts European Hansa Championships

Portimão, Portugal hosted more than 140 sailors racing in 98 boats across five classes at the 2019 Hansa European Championships from 5 – 12 October 2019.

Organised by the Portuguese Hansa Class Association / Vela Solidária, racing took place in the Hansa 2.3, One Person Hansa 303, Two Person Hansa 303, Hansa Libery and Hansa Libery Servo.  
 
Poland’s Piotr Cichocki, a two-time Hansa 303 Para World Sailing Championships gold medallist, came out on top in the One Person Hansa 303. The Polish racer won seven races in the series of nine to convincingly beat Chris Symonds of Australia.
 
Symonds defeated Cichocki to gold at the 2018 Para World Sailing Championships but has been trailing him in recent events. Portugal’s João Pinto took the final podium position.
 
In the Two Person Hansa 303, Cichocki claimed a second gold sailing with Olga Gomas-Grudzien. Great Britain’s Natalia Hillman-Bermejo and Alan Hillman and France’s Gilles Guyon and Olivier Ducruix completed the podium.
 
Vera Voorbach of the Netherlands took four race wins in the Hansa Liberty to claim a convincing victory over David Durston (GBR) and Valerie Millward (GBR). Her performance also handed her the Hansa Libery Servo title.
 
Portugal’s Rui Downling sailed consistently across nine Hansa 2.3 races to beat compatriot André Bento by two points. Akko Van der Veen (NED) completed the podium.
 
 Event website and results – https://www.portimaochampionships.com/