470 Junior Worlds- Italians continue to dominate

by Christine Hansen on 30 Jan 2012
Italian sailing duo Simon Sivitz and Jas Farneti continue to dominate at the 2012 470 Junior Worlds, hosted by Takapuna Boating Club, Auckland City, New Zealand.

Sailed on the inner Hauraki Gulf, off picturesque Takapuna Beach and Rangitoto Island, a varied set of summer, and not so-summer conditions prevailed. The day began a little overcast, the cool south westerly which has dominated race days so far died out, so the race committee delayed racing until 1300hrs when the expected north easterly sea breeze was to have filled in.

Sailors launched their boats in readiness for racing but proceedings were further delayed when the postponement flag was re-hoisted during the starting sequence as the wind changed direction markedly. A light six knot breeze finally settled from due north, with flat water and with lots of sunshine.

Men/Mixed
Race 5 got under way at 1400hrs but a general recall (too many boats over the start line) caused the race committee to bring out the black flag and two boats including Netherlands Dirk Bennen and Rogier Weijers who had been in third place at the end of racing yesterday, had to withdraw from the race for being over the line within one minute of the start.
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Sivitz/Farneti (ITA) have been impressive in the moderate to heavy conditions, having the speed to get the best shifts and handling their boat well, and now they showed us that they are equally impressive in the light breeze, leading throughout the race and winning with a comfortable margin. In Race 6 they came from behind and placed first once again. They are now a clear 15 points ahead of their next competitor.

During Race 5 Sacha Pelisson and Nicholas Rossi of France challenged the Italians at times and made inroads into their lead on the final downwind leg by cutting in across the course, they looked very comfortable in the conditions and placed second in this race, with Magnus Masilge and Moritz Klingenberger of Germany not far behind.

Overnight in second place were New Zealand's top crew, James Turner and Finn Drummond, an 18th placing in the fifth race became their drop, but they made a comeback in Race 6, after leading for the first half of the race, finishing with a fourth and retain their second position overall. Australia's Matthew and Robert Crawford have worked their way up the leader board into third, with a 10th and third placing today.

Women
During Race 6 the breeze gradually built 10 - 15 knots, swing from the north to a more easterly direction. With the waves quickly building and most sailors found themselves in the wrong settings after the earlier lighter race, by the time we reached the beach it was even stronger reported Annika Bochman.

Looking at the separated women's results, Afrodite Kyranakou and Jeske Kisters maintained their lead with second and first placings today - results which were also in the top ten of the mixed fleet. A good day for the British crew Anna Burnet and Flora Stewart, a first and second has seen them swap positions with German crew Annika Bochman and Elisabeth Panuschka just one point behind.

Another two races are programmed for tomorrow, a lighetr sea breeze is forecast.