Nacra 17 Worlds 2024: Tita & Banti…
-All imsges Didier Hillaire / La Grande Motte YC
Argies Mateo Majdalani & Eugenia Bosco won the Medal race and were left out of the podium by two pts behind Ugolini & Giubilei. Tita & Banti won yet another World Title and the consistent British Team, Gimson & Burnett also grabbed podium in this regatta.
The most intense fight though was the Swede fight to represent their flag in Paris 2024. The slot fro Sweden was obtained by Emil Jarudd & Hanna Jonsson, but a their teammates Ida Svensson & Marcus Dackhammar were brilliant in this regatta. In fact they were well ahead until last races where Jarudd & Jonsson went for the hunt and even managed to finish in front. What a performance for the 2023 F18 World Champ helm and Hanna.
For us there is no doubt they should represent Sweden at Paris.
Read Official final report sent by the event media written by Andy Rice. Results below report, complete list here
Nacra 17 2024 World Champions defined
Italian foiling stars Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have won their fourth Nacra 17 world title in La Grande Motte, France. It was also a great day for first-time winners of a major championship for teams from Uruguay and Belgium in the 49er and 49erFX European Championships.
After winning their first world title in Denmark back in 2018, the reigning Olympic Champions have won three back to back Nacra 17 world titles: Canada 2022, the Netherlands 2023 and now France 2024. It bodes well for the Italians’ defence of the Olympic title in Marseille just over two months from now.
“Finally we reach Billy’s number,” smiled Tita holding four fingers aloft, referring to the four Nacra 17 world titles achieved by French team Billy Besson and Marie Riou almost a decade ago. “Winning here is an important step to make sure we are prepared for the Games. We are pretty happy because we worked out a few things in the light stuff. We didn’t think we were going to have any light wind this week, but surprisingly, we had three days of the light and we performed pretty good.”
In the first two days of windy weather, Tita and Banti displayed their extra gear of speed in full-foiling conditions. That has always been their strong suit, but it will concern their opponents that now the Italians appear to have better wheels in the light too. There are no chinks in the armour. The developments and improvements just keep on coming. “Things are always moving in the Nacra, you never stop,” said Tita. “That’s what makes the Nacra fun, in my opinion.”
Winning the Worlds is a major milestone in what could prove to be an extraordinary year for the determined Italian who hopes to win another Olympic gold and a few weeks later help Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli bring the America’s Cup to Italy for the first time in its 172-year history. “It’s going to be super important, this double duty. I’m pretty sure on one side we have a good chance to win a medal. And on the other we have a very good chance to win the Cup with Luna Rossa.
“We have a fantastic boat, the design team did a super good job with our AC75. Now the boat is in our hands and it’s up to us, the sailors, to make the difference. I really think we have a very good chance this time.”
The crew from Argentina, Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco, won the Nacra 17 medal race in light winds on Sunday afternoon, very nearly getting on to the podium. But the silver went to John Gimson and Anna Burnet of Great Britain, and Italy’s other fast team Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei just held on for the bronze.
This was also the end of the Olympic selection trials for Sweden, although the two crews – Emil Jarudd/ Hanna Jonsson and Ida Svensson/ Marcus Dackhammar – will have to wait another 48 hours to find out who gets the ticket to Paris 2024.
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