Laser Radial Worlds - Winther off to a handy start in light airs

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 15 Apr 2016 Sara Winther has got away to a handy start to the 2016 Laser Radial Worlds, being sailed in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

She is best placed of the three New Zealand competitors in the regatta, lying in 22nd overall after two races were sailing the Qualifying Round. Susannah Pyatt is tied on 29th overall and Olivia Christie 56th in the 72 entry fleet.

Winther spoke to Sail-World after racing had concluded for the day, and was pleased that racing had finally got underway.

Racing was delayed as officials waited to a breeze to fill in on the course.

Winds were light throughout the day, with a substantial shift occurring midway through the second race of the day.

'Race 1 we had a very soft 5-7 knots. The wind was shifting but but nothing major to see to guide a race plan.

'The pin was favoured at 3min, but started changing throughout the sequence. I was going to start at pin, but bailed up the line to the middle. Had a nice clean start and just sailed what I thought were the shifts. A line of pressure then came from the right, so I got to it the second half of upwind. I chipped away from then and sequinned a 10th. I was super nervous which is made worse in lights winds.'

2014 World champion and 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Marit Bouwmeester (NED), was seven places behind Winther in 17th place.

:

'Going into Race 2 the wind was oscillating and had built a bit. Pin went very favoured and really good pressure out left. So I decided to start pin and sail out to pressure and tack. So I did this, and there was more little lefties with pressure coming in. BUT a new pressure line and 15 degrees shifts was coming from the right. So I got pretty wasted by this, as I was pretty left, but it was the start of the sea breeze filling in proper. '

'I chipped away and sent it on the downwind, chipping away on the second beat and got 15th. Little bit annoyed as I didn’t see the right hand pressure, and got teased by the little lefties at the start of the beat. But was good to at least get back a few boats as I was about 10 from last at the top of the course.'

'So I'glad day one is over, hopefully now can settle in a bit and know a bit more about the venue after today. '

'I think the key learning today is that until the sea breeze gets to about 9/ 10 knots, is pretty unstable and you just have to be on your game looking for the breeze to increase and potentially a shift with it. Velocity changes in good indication that stuff is happening. Especially until about 12 knots. Also before the sea breeze set in, the wind suddenly was dropping down onto the course.

'In Race 1 it was very hard to see pressure. Race 2 easy to see as it was building. Also the wind got ‘flick’ (if thats a word) as the breeze was building.'

For full results click here