Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Israel's Zubari- Early Leader In Men's Windsurfer

by ISAF (source: Olympic News Service) on 11 Aug 2008
Qingdao Olympic Regatta 2008. Men’s RS-X start. Guy Nowell http://www.guynowell.com
The RS:X windsurfer made its debut at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Monday and Israeli sailor Shahar ZUBARI won race 1 and got a third in race 2 to take the early series lead in the men's fleet.

Aged just 21, Shahar Zubari (ISR) is one of the rising stars of the RS:X class and beat Athens windsurfing gold medallist Gal Fridman (ISR) to selection for Israel’s team for Beijing. Whilst he’s a relatively new name at the top of the fleet he demonstrated his ability with a bronze medal finish at the Worlds in New Zealand in January this year.

Spectators were able to watch the RS:X boards up close as they sailed on Course A, which is right in front of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center. In light and shifty airs, ZubariI made a strong start and then pulled through the fleet, overtaking China’s Aichen Wang to win race 1. Iahleyace 2 he found himself buried at the start but continued to pick up places through the race, eventually coming in third. King Yin Chan from Hong Kong lies second overall after 5,4 scores with China’s Wang third.

Both Chan and Wang pointed to their starts as key to their success today. Wang beat the experienced Yuanguo Zhou to selection for the Chinese team in Qingdao, and appears to be comfortable in the Olympic arena. 'I followed my coach‘s advice. I also benefited from the Qingdao venue. Since it's my first Olympics, my team leader doesn‘t put any pressure on me, so I feel very relaxed sailing at the Olympics,' he said.

Other strong performances came from reigning World Champion and last year’s Test Event winner Tom Ashley (NZL), Greece’s two-time Olympic medallist Nikolas Kaklamanakis (GRE) and Julien Bontemps of France, who won race 2.

Two races are to be sailed from 13:00 on Tuesday.
Maritimo M50Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul
CYCS SailMV's Vineyard Cup Preview
The regatta will feature stunning classics racing around the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. The second Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) event of the 2025 season gets under way on Friday, July 11 with the Vineyard Cup organized by Sail Martha's Vineyard (SailMV).
Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Jul