Prescott and Townsend breeze to European Championships success

A defiant display from Anna Prescott and Eve Townsend was rewarded with a silver medal in the EUROSAF Youth European Championships.
Anna Prescott and Eve TownsendAnna Prescott and Eve Townsend
Anna Prescott and Eve Townsend

The Hayling Island Sailing Club duo had a tough final day in the 29er pairings.

But, overall, it was a great competition for them as their good work earlier in the competition was rewarded with second place.

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And they were in good company at the event, hosted in Brest, France.

British team-mates Mimi El-Khazindar and Emma Loveridge also got on the podium, picking up the bronze.

The windy medal race made for a dramatic finish to the competition.

But, fortunately, Prescott and Townsend had done enough work earlier in the week for their silver.

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Prescott said: ‘The medal race was so windy, a bit too windy for us, it was different to all the others which were lighter and shiftier which we prefer.

‘It’s amazing to win silver and we are really pleased.

‘In the end it was really close and we had a scary last race.’

Townsend felt the overall standard of competition was high and was delighted to mix it with Europe’s best.

She said: ‘We are very happy, very relieved.

‘This is probably the best racing we have done all year, really good close racing with the top people.

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‘We improved as the week went on, getting two firsts on day four.’

El-Khazindar and Loverdige’s final medal race domination, winning by over a minute, was enough to put them on the podium for bronze.

Polish duo Aleksandra Melzacka and Maja Micinska took the 29er girls’ overall win.

The British team picked up five medals overall.

Tim Hall, RYA pathway manager and EUROSAF team leader said: ‘The sailors were challenged with some very difficult conditions, light winds at the start of the week building to over 25 knots for the medal races.

‘It was a great learning experience for any of our sailors hoping to compete in future Olympic events.’