August 15, 2020 - Montenegrin sailor Nikola Golubović, a member of the Tivat YC Delfin, will be at the starting line of the first regatta of the European Sailing Championship Laser 4.7 class tomorrow at noon in the Portuguese city of Vilamoura.
Nikola and his coach Ilko Klakor arrived safely in Portugal the day before yesterday on a flight from Dubrovnik, after gathering all the documentation necessary for travel to EU countries. Stefan Andjelic and Danilo Joncic will compete at the Croatian Championship for the Laser Radial class in Split, supported by Ilija Markovic, an older club friend.
The championship in Split, organized by JK Mornar, is taking place until Sunday, August 16. Sunday is the starting day of the European competition in Vilamoura, which lasts until August 21.
More than 200 sailors will sail two regattas a day for the next seven days. Golubović's goal is to enter the golden group after the qualifications, in which the best sailors compete for medal positions. Golubović has traveled to the European Championships through the EurILCA Solidarity program. His participation fee was paid and he was able to work with the Portuguese coach Goncalo Carvalho, who won a bronze medal at the Olympics, a world champion title, and four European vice-champion titles.
Until the last moment, travel planning was full of uncertainties, considering that the conditions of movement for citizens of Montenegro has changed on a daily basis concerning both its own and Europe's epidemiological situation. Great help in safe participation and entry into Portugal was provided by the umbrella European laser federation, EurILCA, and organizer Vilamoura Sailing and Nuno Reis, CEO of the championship and the Portuguese Embassy in Belgrade, which informed JK Delfin about travel opportunities and conditions. In the absence of financial resources, crucial support was provided by the passionate sailor Michael Neundlinger, an Austrian with currently staying in Tivat, who was determined to help Nikola on this occasion by providing a plane ticket.
Golubovic is the Balkans' current champion in the Laser 4.7 class, also the undefeated national champion. He crowned the previous season with the absolute championship title at the EuropaCup competition organized by EurILCA and gold at the Grand Prix of the Sailors in Split.
