Sailing: Bronze medal at the Ocean Racing World Championships

30/09/2021

Two weeks after their silver medal at the European Championships, the Red Dolphins, the Belgian crew composed of Sophie Faguet and Jonas Gerckens, finished a magnificent third at the Ocean Racing World Championships.

Held in three stages, with the requirement that crews compete on similar boats, this year's World Championships were held off the Italian Adriatic coast. The first leg from Brindisi took the boats to Bari, followed by a second leg to Ravenna, before the competitors reached the magical setting of Venice.

During this mixed doubles regatta, the two Italian teams proved to be particularly at ease on their sea and naturally took the first two places. The Belgian duo of Sophie Faguet and Jonas Gerckens were lying in wait and took a wonderful third place. Sophie Faguet was radiant at the finish, "It's a source of pride to be on the podium because we didn't really know what to expect."

Jonas Gerckens already has other ambitions in mind, "There is a good chance that the discipline of ocean racing will be at the 2028 Olympic Games. That's one of the Red Dolphins' goals. In the meantime, there will be more Euros and Ocean Racing World Championships to show that Belgium can stand on a world podium. We are more determined than ever to continue performing year after year."

After Silver at the European, and now Bronze at the World Championships, the Red Dolphins are more on the right track than ever before!