2014 Kieler Woche - Belcher and Ryan ranked second

by Cora Zillich on 25 Jun 2014 After four days of racing at the 2014 Kieler Woche, current World Champions in the 470M class Mat Belcher (QLD) and Will Ryan (QLD) will go into tonight’s medal race ranked second. Current leaders of the regatta are 2013 World Championship bronze medallists from Greece Mantis Panagiotis and Pavlos Kagialis. In tonight’s final medal race with double points Belcher and Ryan will need to put at least one boat between themselves and the Greek crew for a chance to win.

Olympic event finals at the 132nd edition of the Kieler Woche will kick-off tonight at 18:00 AEST (10:00 CET). Results can be followed via the Live Centre here.

Belcher and Ryan had a strong Kieler Woche kick-off posting two bullets on the first day of racing. Racing was cancelled the following day due to strong winds. On day three Belcher and Ryan had to hand over the overall lead to the Greek after a fatal error saw the Australians finish fifth twice.

Well in the lead on the upwind to the finish, Belcher went back on the downwind course and let pass four competitors before realising his mistake and crossing the finish line. We actually sailed really well but misread the sailing instructions. It is the first time in 15 years that something like this happens to me. I thought we had a downwind finish', said Belcher with.

Besides Belcher and Ryan, seven Australian Sailing Team and Squad crews have made the top ten and will be in today’s medal races:

In the women’s 470 fleet ASS crew combinations changed ahead of Kiel with the regatta being the first competition for Carrie Smith (WA) sailing with Jaime Ryan (QLD) and Amelia Catt (TAS) now sailing with Sasha Ryan (QLD). Smith and Ryan will go into tonight’s medal race ranked fourth, while Catt and Ryan are ranked eight. Also in the medal race are Tasmanian State High Performance Program and Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holders Lucy Shepard and Emma Barton (9th).

The 49er FX will kick-off the medal day racing at 10:00 CET (18:00 AEST) and Australian Sailing Team’s Olivia Price (NSW) and Eliza Solly (VIC) go into the final three races with double points ranked overall ninth. AST's Caitlin Elks (WA) and Tess Lloyd (VIC) just missed out on the medal race after finishing 12th overall.

In the 49er three Australian Sailing Squad (ASS) crews will race the three medal races from 11:00 CET (19:00 AEST): David Gilmour (WA) and Rhys Mara (NSW) go into the final racing day ranked sixth, Will Phillips (VIC) and Jasper Warren (WA) seventh as well as Queenslanders Joel Turner and Lewis Brake in tenth.

The 49er/49erFX races will be racing theatre-style on the Kiel TV course and can be watched live on Kieler Woche International TV powered by Audi here.

Time Schedule Medal Races:

Medal Race Course TV		Medal Race Course INDIA		Medal Race Course
				JULIETT
Time	Class	Time	Class	Time	Class
1000	49er FX	1000	Laser Rad	1000	Nacra 17
1100	49er	1045	Finn	1045	470 W
1230		1130	Laser	1130	470 M

 

All results can be accessed via the event website here.