Antonia and Georgia Take 4th Against World’s Best

Apr 17, 2024

Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester took the 4th position in 49erFX at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta which ended on Saturday in Palma, Spain.

In fourth place following the preliminary races, the sisters ended up retaining that position after the Medal Race was cancelled due to lack of wind. Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., took the 4th position in 49erFX at the 2024 Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta which ended on Saturday in Palma, Spain.

In fourth place following the preliminary races, the sisters ended up keeping that position after the Medal Race. That race would have been reserved for the top 10 teams following the preliminary races, was cancelled due to lack of wind, so the sisters might have improved their position. “It would have been nice to compete in the Medal Race today. Unfortunately, it’s actually the second time we’ve qualified for a medal race which has been canceled due to conditions,” referring to the 2023 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships which were held last November and where they took the 10th spot.

Jana Germani and Giorgia Bertuzzi from Italy, the bronze medalists at the 2024 49erFX World Championship, won gold, followed by Helene Næss and Marie Rønningen from Norway and Misaki Tanaka and Sera Nagamatsu from Japan. Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance finished seven points away from a spot on the podium to settle for fourth place.

All the medalists from the 2024 49erFX World Championship and 2023 World Sailing Championships were in action in Palma, except for one team which won a silver and a gold medal at those events. “We’re super happy with the performance that we just put up,” said Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance. “It was a really tricky week of racing. It’s definitely one of our best finishes and a nice time to be finishing like this while making improvements, as we prepare for the Olympics. So definitely, a good feeling and a confidence booster. Any time we have the opportunity to practice that different kind of racing, it’s really good for us. We are disappointed to not have been able to fight for a podium or fight off the people right behind us also.”

Jana Germani and Giorgia Bertuzzi from Italy, the bronze medalists at the 2024 49erFX World Championship, won gold, followed by Helene Næss and Marie Rønningen from Norway and Misaki Tanaka and Sera Nagamatsu from Japan. The Lewin-LaFrance team finished seven points away from a spot on the podium to settle for fourth place. All the medalists from the 2024 49erFX World Championship and 2023 World Sailing Championships were in action in Palma, except for one team which won a silver and a gold medal at those events.

As they noted in their SinC exclusive interview earlier this spring they have already qualified for the Olympics – this was an opportunity to practise against the best.