Campione del Garda, October 19, 2024 — Day 3 of the 49erFX Open Series in Campione del Garda saw the FX fleet battle through extreme conditions as strong winds dominated the morning, peaking at 35 knots, forcing sailors to remain ashore. As the day progressed, the wind began to drop, and by the afternoon, with average speeds below 25 knots, the race committee gave the green light for racing. Four races were completed in highly demanding conditions, leading to significant shifts in the overall standings.

Alex Demurtas and Giovanni Santi (ITA 201), representing Fraglia Vela Riva and Società Canottieri Garda Salo, maintained their lead with consistent performances across the day. Their impressive results—finishing 2nd, 2nd, 1st, and 5th in today’s races—bolstered their overall score, keeping them firmly in first place with a net score of 18 points. They proved once again that they can handle the unpredictable winds and remain poised under pressure.

Moving up the rankings, Lukas Kraus and Ondrej Bastar (CZE 40) from YC Cere and YC Lokomotiva Plzen, continue to hold second place. Despite a challenging day, they managed to stay competitive, scoring 5th, 6th, 3rd, and 2nd in the races. They now sit with a net score of 26 points, closing the gap slightly on the leaders.

The standout performance of the day came from Svit Dujmovic Sterpin and Maj Petric (SLO 988). After a slow start to the series, they bounced back with a first-place finish in the last race of the day. Their resilience was notable as they navigated the extreme conditions, ending the day with finishes of 3rd, 1st, UFD (18th), and 1st. This surge moved them up to third overall with a net score of 37 points.

Tommaso Battaglia and Joseph Culicchia (ITA 703) also made gains, finishing 1st, 7th, 2nd, and 3rd across the four races. This solid performance moved them up to fourth place overall with 40 net points, putting them within striking distance of a podium finish.

Among other notable results, Alexis Pariat and Nicolas Comby (SUI 699) faced a setback with a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the final race but managed to secure 9th overall with 40 points, showing early promise with solid mid-fleet finishes throughout the day.

The extreme conditions forced several sailors to face DNFs and UFDs (penalties for early starts), which dramatically affected the overall standings for some teams. Nonetheless, the day’s racing was intense, and the sailors’ ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions showcased their high level of skill and endurance.

Final Day Outlook

With just one day remaining in the 49erFX Open Series, the competition remains fierce, especially among the top three crews. With lighter winds forecasted, the last few races will be crucial for teams like Dujmovic Sterpin/Petric and Kraus/Bastar as they try to chase down the dominant Italian duo of Demurtas and Santi.

Provisional Top 3 Rankings after Day 3:

1. Alex Demurtas / Giovanni Santi (ITA 201) – 18 points

2. Lukas Kraus / Ondrej Bastar (CZE 40) – 26 points

3. Svit Dujmovic Sterpin / Maj Petric (SLO 988) – 37 points

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