Francisco Mourão/Luis Pinheiro are the new 420 Open Portuguese National Champions. After 11 regatas sailed over 4 days the team from Clube Naval de Sesimbra coached by Sergio Duarte overcame in the Open division the new Portuguese Junior National Champions team of Joao Bolina/Rafael Rodrigues of Clube de Vela do Barreiro, trained by Pedro Bolina, by 1 point.
The nerves were high going into the last day of racing, and the 4 top teams at the beginning of the day end up being disqualified for different reasons, either premature starts, 2nd pumping penalty or either other race incidents. In the end the overall winner was found already on shore and after protests. In this turmoil of emotions the team of Francisco Rodrigues/Tiago Alves sailed a brilliant last day scoring three bullets to climb to 3rd overall.
The female division was won by Under 17 sailors from CiMAV and Clube de Vela de Lagos Bea Gago & Marta Fortunato trained by our beloved Ingrid Braga Fortunato. Don’t get us wrong, surprise is not because of lack of talent, because that they have a lot, but because of their youth and the fact that they embrace the 420 class as a team only a few month ago.
Amazing job done by the coaches Sérgio Duarte, Pedro Bolina and Ingrid Braga Fortunato on their clubs. Between the three of them they have placed seven teams in the top 8 of the open division and grabbed all the title there were to grab. At SailCascais we are happy to see this amazing pool of talent and level of competition on this youth class and we would like to congratulate the winners and the rest of the sailors for the exciting racing.
We were happy to have given a contribute with our coaches Álvaro Marinho and Gonçalo Almeida Ribeiro, even that a small one, to the crews of Mourao/Pinheiro and Gago/Fortunato on their conquers. Also happy to have worked with other 6 teams before the Nationals that did very well. 6 out of 8 end up on the top 10. Only one can be first place, but you are all winners!
Looking forward to the next event the 3rd PAN (National Qualifier) and looking forward for those international events. Let’s go boys & girls, keep working!
See our video with the Club coach, Sérgio Duarte on our YouTube channel.
#SailForReal
