Fuente info SOF
Difficult conditions bring new opportunities
2011-04-25 - CMK
Monday 25th April 2011
The medium and shifty wind in the second day of racing in Hyères has brought new leaders in five classes.
The French teams of Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos added two victories to climb to the top of the scoreboard in the 470 men. They are closely followed by Nicolas Charbonnier and Jérémie Mion (FRA) in second while Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS) are getting into third place.
“We are confident with our racing, but we need to keep realistic as we are only half way through the regatta. This is our first selection regatta so, to be in competition is a real motivation.”
In the Laser radial, it is Princesa Sofia champion Sara Winther (NZL) who claims the day and the lead with top 3 racing. The French are also present in the top three with Sarah Steyaert (FRA) in second and Sophie de Turckheim in third.
British sailors are leading in the 49er and the Finn.
Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign (GBR) have enjoyed the difficult conditions with two bullets and a second in the 49er fleet. They are six points ahead of Emil and Simon Nielsen (DEN) and Dave Evans and Ed Powys (GBR).
“It was a really good day at the office. It all just seemed to come together, we got good starts, had good boat speed. It was a great day. We tend to like a bit of breeze – we can just throw the boat around and actually have a laugh jumping downwind but today was a bit more tense and you have to try and concentrate on boat speed all the time.”explain the leaders.
Giles Scott, winner of the Rolex Miami OCR has taken a one point lead in the Finn fleet in front of Ben Ainslie now on equal points with Pieter-Jan Postma. Dan Slater (NZL) has won both races in his group in fourth position.
In the RS:X men, World Champion Piotr Myszka (POL) who shared the day’s bullets with Shahar Zubari is in front of the men’s windsurfers. He is only one point from the Beijing Bronze medallist who is playing his Olympic selection in Hyères.
In the other classes early leaders are comforting their top position.
World champion Blanca Manchon is showing her skills in the mixed conditions encountered since the start of the week. She wins today’s both races in the medium breeze. Charline Picon remains in second place in front 2009 SOF winner, Cheina Pen (CHN).
Blanca Manchon explains her day: “I have been very fast and had a good day. I am racing at my best level. I don’t want to push too much because the next event for me, Sail for Gold, is very important as it is part of our Olympic selection. I have well chosen the equipment for this event and everything is working fine. I will try and keep racing at this level tomorrow because it is the last day for qualifications and from Thursday all the best will race together. Feelings on the water can’t be better and the wind so far has been with us.”
Tom Slingsby (AUS) remains in first place in the Laser, with Javier Hernandez (ESP) climbing to second. Andy Maloney takes third. Class favourites, Andreas Geritzer (AUT), Michael Bullot (NZL), Julio Alsogaray (ARG), or British Paul Goodison and Nick Thompson (GBR) have suffered from the day’s conditions and are outside the top 20.
Tara Pacheco and Berta Betanzos (ESP) are continuing on their good form with consistent top four
results. They have gained a eight points lead over Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes (GBR).
The Star class had one of the longest day on the water with three long races. Three places in the top four have given early leaders Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA) a ten points lead over George Szabo and Mark Strube (USA). Diego Negri and Enrico Voltolini (ITA) are third.
In the women Match-racing, the top six teams have qualified for the Gold group. Claire Leroy is the only team to go in the Gold undefeated wit seven victories.
“It was a very nice day. We were strong with tight matches especially against the Finnish who was very fast. We fought hard, and gave penalties to all our opponents. To be in the Gold group means less stress and more time to get prepared for the quarter-finals.” explains Leroy.
She is joined by Skudina (RUS), MacGregor (GBR), Barkow (USA), Groeneveld (NED) and Echegoyen (ESP) who qualifies for the first time in the Gold group. However, Palma Silver medallist Lehtinen (FIN) has narrowly missed the repechage and will continue in the Silver group.
In the three Paralympic classes, yesterday leaders have conserved their position.
Tomorrow will be the last chance for sailors racing in groups to qualify for the final stage and the Gold group.
Resultados parciales click acá
