Foto copyright Sander_van_der_Borch
Foto copyright Sander_van_der_Borch
Foto copyright Sander_van_der_Borch
Foto copyright Sander_van_der_Borch
Fuente info Scuttlebutt europe
Windy Start to the Delta Lloyd Regatta
Photo by Thom Touw. Click on image to enlarge.
The Delta Lloyd regatta, fifth event on the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit is following the trend of the previous European events, with a windy opening day.
The strong North-Easterly provided for excellent racing and thrill in all classes. The Croatian teams have mastered the gruelling conditions taking top spot in the 470 men, the Laser and the Finn.
Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) opened the score in the 470 races with a victory and a third and take the lead in the 470 fleet. The breeze lovers claimed the day in the Laser. Milan Vujasinovic (CRO) took both bullets in his group and the lead over the 120 Lasers.
World #1, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) and World Champion Ed Wright (GBR) are sharing top places in the Finn fleet. They are on equal points at the front of the rankings, with third place going to 20 years old from Canada, Greg Douglas.
The competition is fierce in the Laser Radial, with most of the top ten racing in the Delta Lloyd Regatta. Defending champion Marit Bouwmeester (NED) is taking the lead after a first and a second places, in front of Annalise Murphy (IRL) and Evi van Acker (BEL), second in Palma.
In the absence of most class favourites, 36 women are participating in the RS:X. From the nine Chinese windsurfers on the starting line, five entered the top ten after the first two races, claimed by Li Ling. Yuki Sunaga (JAP) is in second position overall and Mayaan Davidovich (ISR) third.
The men division is also missing most of the top actors, training in Weymouth before Sail For Gold, however, there are 14 different countries in the top 15. JP Tobin (NZL) and Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) shared the victories in first and second position overall.
In the women 470, Beijing Bronze medallists from Brazil are duelling at the top of the rankings. Isabel Swan now crewing with Martine Grael and the new pair of Fernanda Oliveira and Ana Luiza Barbachan, are first and second in the 27 boats fleet.
Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) are making a great comeback to the competition after winning two out of three races sailed in the 49er.
The Women match racing has completed half of the qualification stages. In Group A, team Echegoyen (ESP) is undefeated with four wins. In the group B, team Skudina (RUS) wins their four matches.
With over 30 knots registered on their racing area, the Star were postponed until 5PM to allow for the wind to settle. It was still around 20 knots when the Star fleet started their first race after 6PM. -- Corinne Mackenzie
www.deltalloydregatta.org
