Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen managed to keep the defending world champion British pair behind them and celebrated the World Championship bronze at the end of the medal race.
22:26•Updated 22:29
Finnish sailors Sinem Kurtbay and Central axis have achieved bronze at the Nacra 17 Class Sailing World Championships in Halifax, Canada.
Finland’s previous World Cup medal in sailing was in the laser radial class Tuula Tenkanen World Championship silver from 2013. Tenkanen ended his great career last year.
Third place was secured when Kurtbay/Keskinen finished seventh in the medal race that ended the six-day regatta. Their worst opponents, the defending world champion British pair John Gimson/Anna Burnet came eighth. The fight for the bronze medal was extremely even, as the British were only three points behind the Finns.
Italy dominated the Nacra 17 class by taking a double win. They celebrated the world championship in a superior style Ruggero Tita and Caterina Bantitook the silver in turn Gigi Ugolini/Maria Giubilei.
Kurtbay and Keskinen got into the medal position on Monday in the last track start. There was only one point difference from the British pair, who were in fourth place, so in the medal race the Finns’ main focus was on beating the British.
Kurtbay and Keskinen won EC silver earlier this season. The World Cup medal is the first of their careers for both. The couple, who had been sailing together for just over a year, took part in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Final results:
1. Tita/Banti ITA 26 p
2. Ugolini/Giubilei ITA 86
3. Kurtbay/Intermediate FIN 101
4. Gimson/Burnet GBR 104
5. Waterhouse/Darman’s AUS 136
6. Bissaro/Frascari ITA 142