Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofía Mapfre Day 2 - Great racing!

by Corinne McKenzie on 4 Apr 2012 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre second day provided great racing with all scheduled races completed by mid afternoon. The southerly breeze started at seven knots to build to ten towards the middle of the afternoon, but remaining patchy, the wind made racing tricky.

For some teams, Olympic selection is an extra motivation to do well in Palma.

In the 470 women division, yesterday's leaders Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth keep a narrow advantage from the Polish.

Agnieszka Skrzypulec and Jolanta Ogar are thrilled with their results so far: 'We are very happy with our form here, our objective is to finish in the top ten and we have to maintain this level. This is important for our Olympic selection even if we have yet to select the country in the next World's!'

Emmanuelle Rol and Hélène Defrance (FRA) stay in third after winning the first race and collecting big points in the second. Australian pair Elise Rechichi and Belinda Stowell take the second bullet to place seventh overall.

World number five, David Evans and Edward Powys (GBR) have added two more bullets to their score to take the lead in the 49er class: ' Our objective is to be top three and first British. Racing was tricky today with different pressure over the course so we are happy with our results so far.'

They are on equal points with Danish Jonas Warrer and Soren Hansen.

Early leader Peter Krüger Andersen and Nicolai Thorsell (DEN) suffered from the day's difficult conditions to fall from first to 15th.

For both top teams these results mean a lot as Palma is playing a role in their Olympic selection. The Trofeo Sofia Mapfre is one of a series of observation event for the British but for the Dane, good results could mean a ticket for London.

'This regatta s very important for us!' commented Jonas Warrer and Soren Hansen, 'if we keep sailing like that we have a good chance to select for the Games. Today we had good racing especially in the last two races. Good start and speed. We need to keep sailing like that until the end!'

2011 Trofeo Sofia Mapfre Absolute winner, Ben Ainslie (GBR) has taken the lead of the regatta after a near perfect day with a victory and a second place. Happy about his results, the Olympic champion explained: 'The day couldn't have gone better but it was hard work out there. The weather was tricky with different pressures. This is not the expected Palma conditions'. Daniel Birgmark (SWE) places second overall in front of early leader Jonas Hogh-Christensen (DEN) in third.

The 2.4 were the first class to finish racing. After four races Thierry Schmitter (NED) is the new leader after winning a race and placing third on the second race of the day, won by Bjornar Erikstad (NOR).

'We had very light conditions for the second day in a row. But steady enough to have fair racing in the 2.4mR. After winning the Trofeo three times, the only objective is to win it a fourth time. But in an Olympic year, the competition is at its best, so it will be very hard this year to win it again. Nevertheless after four races I am able to be on top the leader board, so all my chances are still open. Even if I miss the World champion Damien Seguin here in Palma, Helena Lucas (GBR) seems to be in good shape. Competition is on and very intense.' explains Thierry Schmitter.

Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner take the first place in the Star class. After a difficult day on the water, early leaders Rohart/Ponsot (FRA) and the Polish Kusznierewicz/Zycki dropp out of the top ten. Races went to Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR) and Austrians Hans Spitzauer and Gerd Habermüller.

The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre is the first event for Percy and Simpson since the ISAF Worlds where they had to abandon due to Percy's back problems. 'We started the week pretty badly. In our first race yesterday we decided the five minute gun was the ten minute, and the ten minute was five – basically just complete confusion... In the rest of the races we’ve had some ups and downs, but some reasonably solid races. It’s very shifty and difficult wind.'added Percy.

Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos (FRA) are conserving their place at the top of the 470 men classification, but the day belong to Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela (ISR) who had a perfect day with two bullets to climb to fifth place. They are only five points from the leaders. Alvaro Marinho and Miguel Nunes (POR) take the second place, one point ahead of Greeks Panagiotis Kampouridis and Efstathios Papadopoulos.

After narrowly missing out on a medal at the ISAF Worlds in Perth, Simon Grotelueschen (GER) is back in good form taking the lead of the Laser event in Palma. Australian Tom Burton takes second place overall after placing second and winning a race. European Champion Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) makes the most of the day by taking two bullets and climbing to ninth position.

Racing in the Laser radial saw some upsets today. During the first race of the Yellow group, the race was shortened but about 40 sailors went to the wrong mark. As a result, only six sailors complete the race while the rest collected a disqualification. Current World Champion Marit Bouwmeester (NED) is taking the lead after a good day where she placed third and first. Alicia Cebrian (ESP) conserves her second place after racing consistently.

At the Yacht Club de Palma, the Women match racing are continuing racing in order to complete their round robin and are not expected to finish until late in the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapre website

http://www.sailing.org/matchdaytv/play/media/id/11468!Click_here for a video of Day 2's racing at Palma