Vallarta, Mexico – The final two races were completed today at the 2022 ILCA 7 Masters World Championship in Riviera Nayarit, Nueveo Vallarta, Mexico. The competitors left shore under overcast skies and light winds. The clouds kept the thermal sea breeze from fully developing, and both races were held in 6–8 knots of wind. There were no recalls for any fleets today, and only two sailors were caught over early under the “U Flag.” In the first race, the wind shifted to the left to about 230 degrees, and in the second race, the race committee reset the course to 245 degrees to accommodate a shift back to the right.
In the Apprentice fleet, Argentinian Andres Heredia took home gold, Charles Baillie Strong LUX of Luxembourg claimed silver, and Adil Khalid of the United Arab Emirates took bronze. In the Masters fleet, Greece’s Adonis Bourgiouris GRE locked in first place after leading the fleet all week, ahead of American Ernesto Rodriguez in second overall, and Great Britain’s Orlando Gledhill GBR in third.
In the Grand Masters fleet, Australian Brett Beyer secured gold ahead of Great Britain’s Mark Lyttle GBR, and with a strong performance on the last day, Canada’s Andrew Roy slid into third to claim bronze ahead of former Olympic gold medallist Jose Maria Van Der Ploeg ESP.
In the Great Grand Masters fleet, Great Britain’s Tim Law GBR had enough of a lead that he did not need to sail the final race to win gold. German Wolfgang Gerz GER secured the silver medal and American Peter Vessella won bronze.
After a successful event and all 12 races sailed, the awards presentation is taking place this evening at the Paradise Village Resort. The excitement has already started for next year’s ILCA Masters Worlds to be held in Pattaya, Thailand.
