ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship- Three crews in medal contention

by Craig Heydon on 20 Jul 2012 On the final day of the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in Dublin, Ireland Australian sailors will compete for medals in three classes.

Three Australian Youth Sailing Team crews are in medal contention with Carrie Smith and Ella Clark currently second in the 420 girls, Mark Spearman second in the Laser Radial boys and Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland third in the multihull.

With just one race remaining at the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship there is plenty still to play out on the water with the final position of all three crews still to be determined.

Smith and Clark head into the final race one point behind the leading Italian crew and 10 clear of the third placed British pair. The Australian duo took a three point lead into Thursday’s two races but their Italian competition had a more consistent day, moving into first overall. Smith and Clark were sixth in race one and third in race two and with just one point separating themselves and the leaders there is set to be plenty of action in Friday’s race.

In the Laser Radial boys class Mark Spearman continued his march up the leader board with the West Australian finishing the penultimate day second overall. Spearman had his best day of the regatta with a seventh and a ninth moving him up from his overnight third to head into the final race 13 points behind the leading American sailor. Spearman is competing at his first ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship and his 17 point buffer over third position and 18 over fourth means he’ll finish it on the podium.

Paul Darmanin and Lucy Copeland head into the final SL16 race third overall and with the gold medal already wrapped up by the British crew the race is on for silver and bronze. Darmanin and Copeland are just two points behind the second placed Brazilian crew but with the fourth placed Belgians only one point behind there is plenty still to happen on Friday.

The Australians had their first finishes outside the top six on Thursday, with a pair of 11ths, but will be keen to get back on the water again on Friday for the final hit out.

Queensland pair Tom Siganto and Joel Turner are sixth in the 29er fleet following a third and a 13th from the day’s two races.

Louise Evans is 13th in the Laser Radial girls class, dropping slightly from her overnight 11th following a mixed day with an 18th in race one and a 34th in race two.

Australia’s 420 boys crew of Tom Klemens and James Olivier continued to work their way up the ladder with the Victorian pair now 14th overall. The pair has hit form over the last two days with a sixth and a race win on Thursday making it their best day of the event.

In the RS:X girls class Annalise Gilbert is in 17th position, crossing the line 21st in race one on Thursday and 17th in race two.

Fellow windsurfer Sam Treharne is 20th overall in the RS:X boys fleet after 23rd and 22nd place finishes.

In the Nations Trophy Australia is currently sixth.

Full results at ISAF Youth Worlds website