Asian Sailboarders shine in Kiel

by ISAF Report on 26 Jun 2005 Finally some more races for the Olympic Classes at Kieler Woche.

On Saturday, thunderstorms, rain and northerly gusts in the 20-30 knot range hit Kiel Fjord around midday, but finally the race committee set up the eight race courses for all Olympic Classes, intending to complete two or three races for each class to make up for the previous two days of no wind.

Chi Ho Ho (HKG) has a safe lead after eight races in the Mens Mistral gold fleet. He has had an exceptional series so far – five bullets, one second place and two third's is going to be hard to beat, should he continue with this form. Second and third places are held by the Poles, Piotry Myszka and Lukas Grodzicki, both scoring 18 points.

In the Womens Mistral fleet, there was a similar story of Polish and Hong Kong sailors dominating the field. Wai Kei Chan (HKG) and Agata Brygola (POL) share the top of the leader board with nine points each, with Wai Man Chan (HKG) in third.

The Finn and Star fleets have now completed five races and it is Gasper Vince (SLO) who leads with eight points. The Slovenian 2004 Olympic representative has had a good year so far, adding third place in Medemblik to sixth in Hyères and second place in the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Winner of the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères and Medemblik runner up, Emilios Papathansiou (GRE), has slipped down to fourth after a disappointing day, whilst Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) swoops up to second overall, as he discards his bad result from race one.

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic(CRO) is hanging in there in third overall, just one point ahead of Papathansiou.

Another trio of top sailors heads the Star Class. Olympic medallist in the Finn, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, with crew Dominik Zycki (POL), leads overall after five consistent races, including two bullets.

Two points back are George Szabo/Eric Monroe (USA) with Benny Andersen/Mogens Just (DEN) in third. America’s Cup legend, Russell Coutts (NZL), is in seventh place at his first Olympic class event for some years.

The Laser fleet has now completed nine races and it is Great Britain’s Paul Goodison who is having the best of it, despite posting his worst result, an eleventh, yesterday. Goodison is now six points clear of Matias Del Solar (CHI) with seven-time world champion, Robert Scheidt (BRA), in third.

The Laser Radial fleet has put 10 races top bed the top two sailors are looking untouchable at the front of this fleet. Paige Railey (USA) maintains her lead, despite a BFD in race ten, which she discards.

A victory here for the young American will be excellent preparation for the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, which gets underway in less than a month in Busan, Korea.

Karin Söderström (SWE) is in second place, but also had a poor race yesterday, finishing 29th in race eight. Gintare Volungeviciute (LIT) is currently third overall.

The Russian teams are dominating the Yngling Class, with the main challenge to them coming from Britain’s Sarah Ayton/Annie Lush/Lisa MacDonald.

Eight races have been completed and Vlada Ilienko (RUS) is in first place, three points ahead of Ekaterina Skudina (RUS), who is three points ahead of Ayton.

There is everything to play for in this fleet and only ten points separate the top five teams.

The 49er's were back in full action and have completed ten races. Italian brothers, Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello, still lead the series with 23 points, but are just one point ahead of Olympic silver medallists, Chris Draper/Simon Hiscocks (GBR).

In third position are Nico Delle Karth/Niko Resch (AUT). The 2004 Olympic gold medallists, Iker Martinez/Xabier Ferandez (ESP), have not been having their best event and are currently in eighth overall, having posted inconsistent results since day one.

Local experts in the Tornado fleet and ISAF World Sailing Rankings number one team, Ronald Gäebler/Gunnar Struckmann, keep their lead after six races by just two points. Andrey Kirilyuk/Valery Ushkow (RUS), finished first in race six and second in race five, to lie second overall.

The Mens and Womens 470 fleets have both completed eight races. The young Australian team of Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson continue to lead the fleet by a comfortable margin.

Twelve points behind them are Sabine Walter/Antje Struckat(GER), with Marcelien de Koning/Lobke Berkout(NED) third.

In the Men’s fleet, Dimitri and Alexander Zibin (RUS) are first overall, with Michael Anderson-Mitterling/David Hughes (USA) hot on their heels in second. The Coster brothers, Sven and Kalle, (NED) are third.

Thierry Schmitter (NED) and Heiko Kroeger (GER) share the lead in the 2.4mR Paralympic keelboat class, both with 12 points, while Helena Lucas (GBR) dropped back to third position after nine races.