Optimist sailors land gold in Argentina
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Thailand claimed gold in the team event in the Optimist World Championship held in Argentina on Sunday.
After a two-year absence from the prestigious event, the five-strong Thai team defeated Asian Games gold medallist Singapore in the team racing finals, which saw 38 nations competing round-robin for the title on the Rio De La Plata off the coast of Buenos Aires. After a rest day yesterday, the sailors will resume individual fleet racing, with Voravong Rachrattanaruk and Suthon Yampinid, currently 13th and 14th after three days, still within the reach of a top 10 result. Meanwhile, Nopporn Booncherd is 30th out of 270 sailors from 50 countries.
All sailors in the event are under-16, while the youngest on the Thai team, Intira Panpiboon of Pattaya’s Royal Varuna Yacht Club, is only 12.
All other Thai sailors are with the Sattahip-based Junior Sailing Squadron of Thailand and the Yacht Racing Association, including Suthida Poonpat, cousin of former Optimist World Champion Noppakao Poonpat, who led the Thai team to a sweep of all four titles on offer at the event in 2010.
The Thai Optimist team also participated in the 2014 Asian Games, taking a bronze in Incheon, South Korea, earlier this month.
