Lobert and Pedersen though to final at Finn Europeans

by Robert Deaves on 13 May 2017 France’s Jonathan Lobert, the 2012 London bronze medalist, has taken the lead at the top of the Finn European Championship in Marseille, France after a near perfect performance on the fifth day. Anders Pedersen of Norway, remains in second despite his worst day on the water so far, while Hungary’s Zsombor Berecz moves up to third.

Both Lobert and Pedersen have already qualified for the Final on Saturday – the top three from the Opening Series progress straight to the Final. One more place in the Final will be decided in Saturday’s final Opening Series race, while two more will come from the Semi-Final, which will be a race off between the next seven boats in the Opening Series.

Both the Semi-Final and Final are first across the line formats, with all the points across the previous six days wiped out for the final two short races.

Friday was another very tough day in the would-be Olympic venue with four races again sailed in easterly winds varying from 10 to 20 knots, though like Wednesday, only three races were valid, after the third race was abandoned in the closing stages due to a drifting mark.

Deniss Karpak, of Estonia, was the fastest to the top mark in race seven, leading up the middle but he just let Alican Kaynar slip inside him at the top mark. Max Salminen of Sweden rounded third. There was no change at the gate but several changes at the second top mark. Lobert was up to third at second top mark after a strong left hand side came in, and together with Nicholas Heiner, from the Netherlands, sailed a fast run to pass ahead and they rounded the final mark overlapped. But Lobert had the inside track and won his first race from Henier and Karpak.

Race eight started in much the same conditions with the wind rapidly building up the course and Oscar was raised at the top for free pumping. Milan Vujanisovic, from Croatia, led round from Krzysztof Stromski of Poland and Oisin Mcclelland or Ireland. Vujanisovic led through the gate but Facundo Olezza of Argentina, was close behind and took the lead on the second upwind. There was a big wind gradient again on the run with much less wind at the bottom of the course, but on the final downwind Berecz came through at the last mark to take the win from Olezza and Max Kohlhoff of Germany.

The final race of the day, race nine in the Opening Series, was sailed in two parts in a still increasing wind. The first attempt was led by Lobert and Ed Wright of Great Britain but despite a great race, the Race Committee abandoned it on the final leg because the spreader mark at the top had drifted out of position and they were getting incorrect information fed down the course. The sailors were not happy at all, but the race was restarted soon after and again Lobert was in front, to lead at every mark and take his second (or third) win of the day. Thursday’s star performer, Piotr Kula of Poland crossed second after a great race, with Pedersen third.

Many sailors suffered through the race abandonment, including Wright, Heiner and Peter McCoy of Great Britain who had sailed a great race in third place, only to see it evaporate within sight of the finish line. There were five requests for redress against the Race Committee for the abandoned race, all of which were later dismissed.

Last year’s bronze medalist, Vujasinovic is up to fifth. He said, “We had four races again out of three scheduled so it’s a bit frustrating I suppose for most of the fleet. The wind was again very crazy and from all sides and you had to be very patient and just keep your focus to the end, and that’s what I did.”

“In two races I had a solid result in the top 10 and in the third I think I finished about 20, which was OK considering I was one of the last ones in the first upwind.”

The silver medalist last year was Berecz, now up to third.

“It was another exhausting day. The wind was shifty and it was strong. It was supposed to drop in the afternoon but it went up again, and the last race was the strongest wind we had, so it was exhausting.”

“The first one I finished ninth and the second one I managed to win. I was sailing good lines, but I was lucky as the wind was super shifty.”

Lobert said, “Today was a nice day on the water, nice racing and super shifty, up and down. I am very happy with my day because I managed to win the first race. I had an OK second race and then I was winning the third race and they had to cancel it just before the end. I was very disappointed, because I don’t think there was anything wrong with the mark moving away. But it’s like it is and I was trying to reset and get back in the game for the last race and I was really pushing and was winning it again.”

“My goal was to try to be in the top three before the final day. I think today I was very happy it was breeze on, because I am usually a good sailor in the breeze but now I am able to be fast in every condition. For sure I like those winds when it’s tricky and windy. I like to use the shifts and try to play as much as I can with the wind and today I was in a good mode.”

“Tomorrow will be a little lighter and a bit shiftier – it’s always shifty in Marseille anyway.”

While Lobert and Pedersen do not have to sail the final Opening Series Race, the forecast for Saturday afternoon is not very promising. If there is no Final in the afternoon, then the results from the Opening Series stands. While Lobert and Pedersen cannot drop in the Opening Series they can change places after Race 10 tomorrow. So the permutations are not as simple as they first look. Of the rest only Berecz had guaranteed his place in the Semi-Final or Final. The rest still have some work to do.

The format being used here is a simplification of the format used in Palma last month and has generated a lot of discussion. After this event a survey will be carried out to seek opinion among the sailors and media.

Henry Wetherell of Great Britain still leads the U23 European Championship, though his lead has narrowed to eight points after a late charge from the 2015 champion, Arkadiy Kistanoc, from Russia. Oskari Muhonen of Finland is now in third.

The schedule for Saturday is:

• 10.00 Final Opening Series Race (Race 10)
• Not before 13.30: Semi-Final Race (places 4-10 in Opening Series)
• Before 17.00 Final (places 1-3 in Opening Series and 1-2 in Semi-Final)

Results after nine races

1 - FRA - 112 Jonathan LOBERT - 38
2 - NOR - 1 Anders PEDERSEN - 47
3 - HUN - 40 Zsombor BERECZ - 63
4 - GBR - 11 Edward WRIGHT - 64
5 - CRO - 69 Milan VUJASINOVIC - 81
6 - CRO - 52 Nenad BUGARIN - 86
7 - GRE - 77 Ioannis MITAKIS - 86
8 - GBR - 91 Ben CORNISH - 91
9 - TUR - 21 Alican KAYNAR - 100
10 - CRO - 1 Josip OLUJIC - 102

Results after 9 races ( Discards : 1 )

Pos	Sail	Competitors	Grp	P Net	P tot	r.1	r.2	r.3	r.4	r.5	r.6	r.7	r.8	r.9	Club/Country
1	FRA  112	LOBERT Jonathan	FIN/FINN	38.00	51.00	4 4.0	4 4.0	8 8.0	2 2.0	10 10.0	13 13.0	1 1.0	8 8.0	1 1.0	S R ROCHELAISES
2	NOR   1	PEDERSEN Anders	FIN/FINN	47.00	61.00	5 5.0	5 5.0	4 4.0	8 8.0	4 4.0	8 8.0	14 14.0	10 10.0	3 3.0	NORVEGE
3	HUN   40	BERECZ Zsombor	FIN/FINN	63.00	81.00	2 2.0	10 10.0	2 2.0	18 18.0	15 15.0	9 9.0	9 9.0	1 1.0	15 15.0	HONGRIE
4	GBR   11	WRIGHT Edward	FIN/FINN	64.00	127.00	1 1.0	1 1.0	BFD 63.0	1 1.0	17 17.0	3 3.0	11 11.0	13 13.0	17 17.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
5	CRO   69	VUJASINOVIC Milan	FIN/FINN	81.00	118.00	11 11.0	6 6.0	37 37.0	24 24.0	7 7.0	1 1.0	8 8.0	4 4.0	20 20.0	CROATIE
6	CRO   52	BUGARIN Nenad	FIN/FINN	86.00	129.00	21 21.0	3 3.0	7 7.0	5 5.0	21 21.0	43 43.0	18 18.0	6 6.0	5 5.0	CROATIE
7	GRE   77	MITAKIS Ioannis	FIN/FINN	86.00	111.00	14 14.0	7 7.0	6 6.0	10 10.0	25 25.0	5 5.0	10 10.0	24 24.0	10 10.0	GRECE
8	GBR   91	CORNISH Ben	FIN/FINN	91.00	143.00	3 3.0	8 8.0	1 1.0	14 14.0	3 3.0	52 52.0	6 6.0	20 20.0	36 36.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
9	TUR   21	KAYNAR Alican	FIN/FINN	100.00	128.00	16 16.0	24 24.0	5 5.0	19 19.0	6 6.0	12 12.0	7 7.0	28 28.0	11 11.0	TURQUIE
10	CRO   1	OLUJIC Josip	FIN/FINN	102.00	165.00	24 24.0	9 9.0	18 18.0	3 3.0	30 30.0	2 2.0	BFD 63.0	9 9.0	7 7.0	CROATIE
11	GBR   71	WETHERELL Henry	FIN/FU23	103.00	141.00	7 7.0	14 14.0	38 38.0	6 6.0	1 1.0	23 23.0	16 16.0	15 15.0	21 21.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
12	NED   89	HEINER Nicholas	FIN/FINN	105.00	144.00	22 22.0	11 11.0	28 28.0	11 11.0	8 8.0	6 6.0	2 2.0	17 17.0	39 39.0	HOLLANDE
13	RUS   6	ARKADIY Kistanov	FIN/FU23	111.00	142.00	17 17.0	31 31.0	31 31.0	7 7.0	5 5.0	16 16.0	21 21.0	5 5.0	9 9.0	RUSSIE
14	AUS  261	TWEDDELL Oliver	FIN/FINN	117.00	153.00	6 6.0	13 13.0	32 32.0	4 4.0	12 12.0	20 20.0	36 36.0	7 7.0	23 23.0	AUSTRALIE
15	EST   2	KARPAK Deniss	FIN/FINN	121.00	161.00	20 20.0	16 16.0	3 3.0	12 12.0	11 11.0	22 22.0	3 3.0	34 34.0	40 40.0	ESTONIE
16	POL   17	KULA Piotr	FIN/FINN	145.00	208.00	26 26.0	18 18.0	25 25.0	21 21.0	9 9.0	28 28.0	BFD 63.0	16 16.0	2 2.0	POLOGNE
17	SWE   33	SALMINEN Max	FIN/FINN	151.00	214.00	9 9.0	2 2.0	BFD 63.0	UFD 63.0	20 20.0	14 14.0	5 5.0	32 32.0	6 6.0	SUEDE
18	FIN   8	MUHONEN Oskari	FIN/FU23	151.00	199.00	18 18.0	28 28.0	11 11.0	28 28.0	24 24.0	10 10.0	13 13.0	48 48.0	19 19.0	FINLANDE
19	POL   16	LAHN Mikolaj	FIN/FINN	159.00	222.00	13 13.0	15 15.0	BFD 63.0	15 15.0	2 2.0	31 31.0	19 19.0	38 38.0	26 26.0	POLOGNE
20	CAN   18	RAMSHAW Tom	FIN/FINN	161.00	198.00	37 37.0	29 29.0	12 12.0	9 9.0	27 27.0	21 21.0	31 31.0	18 18.0	14 14.0	CANADA
21	FRA   17	PIC Fabian	FIN/FINN	162.00	198.00	12 12.0	25 25.0	36 36.0	16 16.0	29 29.0	26 26.0	15 15.0	26 26.0	13 13.0	S R ROCHELAISES
22	CZE   5	TEPLY Ondrej	FIN/FU23	164.00	227.00	30 30.0	20 20.0	BFD 63.0	30 30.0	18 18.0	15 15.0	20 20.0	27 27.0	4 4.0	REPUBLIQUE TCHE
23	GER  259	KASUESKE Phillip	FIN/FU23	170.00	203.00	32 32.0	21 21.0	19 19.0	23 23.0	23 23.0	7 7.0	22 22.0	23 23.0	33 33.0	ALLEMAGNE
24	ITA   1	BALDASSARI Filippo	FIN/FINN	176.00	239.00	15 15.0	12 12.0	33 33.0	29 29.0	16 16.0	RET 63.0	17 17.0	30 30.0	24 24.0	ITALIE
25	DEN   24	HOEJEN CHRISTIANSEN Andry	FIN/FINN	177.00	216.00	19 19.0	23 23.0	20 20.0	25 25.0	19 19.0	39 39.0	23 23.0	21 21.0	27 27.0	DANEMARK
26	RUS   4	DEIEV Evgenii	FIN/FU23	179.00	224.00	29 29.0	38 38.0	10 10.0	22 22.0	22 22.0	11 11.0	25 25.0	45 45.0	22 22.0	RUSSIE
27	FIN  218	TAPIO Nirkko	FIN/FINN	182.00	245.00	10 10.0	DNF 63.0	BFD 63.0	27 27.0	34 34.0	4 4.0	4 4.0	22 22.0	18 18.0	FINLANDE
28	ESP   7	MUSCAT Alejandro	FIN/FINN	183.00	246.00	27 27.0	26 26.0	17 17.0	35 35.0	26 26.0	25 25.0	BFD 63.0	11 11.0	16 16.0	ESPAGNE
29	ITA   59	SPADONI Alessio	FIN/FINN	189.00	227.00	35 35.0	17 17.0	14 14.0	26 26.0	38 38.0	24 24.0	29 29.0	12 12.0	32 32.0	ITALIE
30	GER   25	KOHLHOFF Max	FIN/FINN	197.00	260.00	34 34.0	DNF 63.0	13 13.0	31 31.0	28 28.0	44 44.0	32 32.0	3 3.0	12 12.0	ALLEMAGNE
31	GBR   29	MC COY Peter	FIN/FINN	197.00	260.00	DNF 63.0	19 19.0	40 40.0	13 13.0	13 13.0	19 19.0	41 41.0	44 44.0	8 8.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
32	IRL   6	MCCLELLAND Oisin	FIN/FINN	199.00	235.00	28 28.0	32 32.0	24 24.0	36 36.0	33 33.0	17 17.0	26 26.0	14 14.0	25 25.0	IRLANDE
33	UKR   5	GUSENKO Andrii	FIN/FINN	212.00	250.00	25 25.0	27 27.0	15 15.0	34 34.0	35 35.0	38 38.0	12 12.0	33 33.0	31 31.0	UKRAINE
34	ARG   48	OLEZZA Facundo	FIN/FU23	247.00	310.00	31 31.0	35 35.0	22 22.0	17 17.0	14 14.0	RET 63.0	DNF 63.0	2 2.0	DNF 63.0	ARGENTINE
35	SWE   11	PETTERSON Johannes	FIN/FU23	248.00	311.00	38 38.0	39 39.0	34 34.0	20 20.0	31 31.0	27 27.0	BFD 63.0	29 29.0	30 30.0	SUEDE
36	AUS   2	MCMILAN Rob	FIN/FINN	257.00	311.00	8 8.0	22 22.0	50 50.0	37 37.0	40 40.0	36 36.0	35 35.0	54 54.0	29 29.0	AUSTRALIE
37	NZL   64	MC CARTY Brendan	FIN/FINN	259.00	302.00	36 36.0	42 42.0	21 21.0	43 43.0	41 41.0	18 18.0	24 24.0	42 42.0	35 35.0	NOUVELLE ZELAND
38	FIN  225	HYRYLAINEN Mikael	FIN/FINN	261.00	305.00	23 23.0	44 44.0	41 41.0	32 32.0	32 32.0	32 32.0	28 28.0	36 36.0	37 37.0	FINLANDE
39	FIN  118	MOISIO Wltteri	FIN/FU23	286.00	339.00	44 44.0	30 30.0	9 9.0	50 50.0	53 53.0	29 29.0	44 44.0	37 37.0	43 43.0	FINLANDE
40	FRA   2	DEVINEAU Antoine	FIN/FINN	294.00	357.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	16 16.0	39 39.0	43 43.0	30 30.0	30 30.0	31 31.0	42 42.0	S N O NANTES
41	GER  595	GORGELS Simon	FIN/FU23	295.00	343.00	48 48.0	41 41.0	48 48.0	40 40.0	37 37.0	33 33.0	27 27.0	41 41.0	28 28.0	ALLEMAGNE
42	FRA   75	HAY Laurent	FIN/FINN	309.00	358.00	41 41.0	40 40.0	42 42.0	41 41.0	39 39.0	49 49.0	37 37.0	35 35.0	34 34.0	S R ROCHELAISES
43	FRA  297	BOISARD Guillaume	FIN/FU23	316.00	365.00	45 45.0	34 34.0	35 35.0	49 49.0	47 47.0	34 34.0	33 33.0	40 40.0	48 48.0	CN Sainte-Maxime
44	GBR   98	TWEEDLE Cameron	FIN/FU23	320.00	383.00	33 33.0	43 43.0	23 23.0	38 38.0	36 36.0	53 53.0	51 51.0	43 43.0	DNF 63.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
45	GBR  707	DIXON Callum	FIN/FU23	327.00	377.00	40 40.0	36 36.0	39 39.0	42 42.0	45 45.0	48 48.0	39 39.0	50 50.0	38 38.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
46	BER   9	ROCKAL Evane	FIN/FINN	340.00	391.00	49 49.0	33 33.0	51 51.0	33 33.0	44 44.0	50 50.0	45 45.0	39 39.0	47 47.0	BERMUDES
47	POL   52	STROMSKI Krzysztof	FIN/FU23	342.00	405.00	51 51.0	46 46.0	27 27.0	55 55.0	50 50.0	45 45.0	BFD 63.0	19 19.0	49 49.0	POLOGNE
48	FRA   99	ALLAIN DES BEAUVAIS Marc	FIN/FINN	344.00	399.00	43 43.0	45 45.0	26 26.0	46 46.0	48 48.0	55 55.0	42 42.0	53 53.0	41 41.0	S N O NANTES
49	ITA   83	SAVIO Matteo	FIN/FU23	347.00	410.00	DNC 63.0	DNC 63.0	45 45.0	45 45.0	46 46.0	41 41.0	38 38.0	25 25.0	44 44.0	ITALIE
50	FRA  111	LEBRUN Valerian	FIN/FINN	358.00	421.00	46 46.0	37 37.0	DSQj 63.0	47 47.0	52 52.0	47 47.0	34 34.0	49 49.0	46 46.0	S R ROCHELAISES
51	RUS  777	GRISHNIAKOV Artem	FIN/FU23	360.00	423.00	39 39.0	DNF 63.0	46 46.0	44 44.0	42 42.0	35 35.0	BFD 63.0	46 46.0	45 45.0	RUSSIE
52	HUN  911	HAIDEKKER Elemer	FIN/FU23	361.00	424.00	47 47.0	47 47.0	43 43.0	48 48.0	49 49.0	37 37.0	43 43.0	47 47.0	DNF 63.0	HONGRIE
53	SLO   99	OREL Jan	FIN/FU23	386.00	449.00	50 50.0	48 48.0	44 44.0	UFD 63.0	56 56.0	42 42.0	40 40.0	55 55.0	51 51.0	SLOVENIE
54	GBR   88	TWEEDLE Jonathan	FIN/FINN	396.00	459.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	30 30.0	53 53.0	57 57.0	40 40.0	47 47.0	56 56.0	50 50.0	GRANDE-BRETAGNE
55	GER  231	JESCHULL Denny	FIN/FINN	408.00	471.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	29 29.0	52 52.0	59 59.0	54 54.0	48 48.0	51 51.0	52 52.0	ALLEMAGNE
56	HUN   11	HAIDEKKER Peter Pal	FIN/FI NN	409.00	472.00	52 52.0	49 49.0	47 47.0	56 56.0	51 51.0	46 46.0	49 49.0	59 59.0	DNF 63.0	HONGRIE
57	FRA   28	GRALL Sebastien	FIN/FINN	446.00	509.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	49 49.0	51 51.0	55 55.0	DNF 63.0	50 50.0	52 52.0	DNF 63.0	S N BANDOL
58	FRA  113	DADURE Sylvain	FIN/FINN	450.00	513.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	55 55.0	57 57.0	58 58.0	51 51.0	53 53.0	60 60.0	53 53.0	C.V.C.E.P. SACLAY
59	FRA   66	LOBERT Philippe	FIN/FINN	453.00	516.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	53 53.0	54 54.0	54 54.0	DNF 63.0	46 46.0	57 57.0	DNF 63.0	S N O NANTES
60	FRA  869	BAUMGARTEN Regis	FIN/FINN	472.00	535.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	52 52.0	58 58.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	52 52.0	58 58.0	DNF 63.0	S R V ANNECY
61	ESP   57	GOROSTEGUI Victor	FIN/FINN	483.00	546.00	42 42.0	DNF 63.0	DNC 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	ESPAGNE
62	FRA   27	LALLEMAND Pierre	FIN/FINN	495.00	558.00	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	54 54.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	DNF 63.0	S N BANDOL

Penalties and redress : 64 (11 BFD; 3 DNC; 45 DNF; 1 DSQ; 2 RET; 2 UFD; )