Stage set for nail biting final at 420 World Championships

by 420 Sailing on 23 Jul 2016 420 World Championships - Patience earlier in the week turned to raw energy out on the race track on Championship Day 5 in Sanremo as the breeze kicked in. A forerunner to what looks likely to be epic 'big breeze' conditions tomorrow.

The breeze has tested the patience of the 524 sailors from 24 nations over the preceding four days of racing at the 2016 420 Worlds. Light conditions put a focus on winning the starts to get clean air and stay ahead, but today the race strategy and game plans changed as the breeze hit 12-15 knots, and boat speed came to the fore.

Three races for each of the 420 Ladies and U17 fleets, and two for the 420 Open delivered some leaderboard shuffles. But no podium places are certain. With just one day left to settle the scoreboard, Saturday looks set to be an epic finale.

Who will sail the race track of a Champion? The wind is stepping up, and the final two races for the 420 Open and Ladies and three races for the U17 fleet will be a battle of physical and mental resilience to decide the podium order.

As well as the medals and Championship trophies – also up for grabs is the overall nation trophy, the Francis Mouvet Trophy. Japan are current holders of the Trophy, from their dominant performance at the 2015 Worlds, with the new leading nation to be confirmed tomorrow. Spain holds the advantage right now, with Italy and France chasing close.

420 Open

Despite their worst day of racing, a 12,52 scorecard for series leaders Theo Carayon/Erwan Lucas (FRA), this team stay on top. They discarded their 52nd place finish in race 10, and earlier consistency holds them with a 10 point advantage at the top.

Portugal’s Diogo Costa/Pedro Costa leap to second overall, with Spain’s Marc Lladó/Antoni Massanet in third, on equal points with fourth placed Fausto Cruz Peralta/Martin Arroyo Verdi (ARG).

Teams representing eight nations in the top 10 heading into the final day of racing, and just 31 points separating them, is testament to the quality of this worldwide fleet.

Unable to match the pace set by their rivals today, Jim Vincent/Victor Mas, series leaders earlier in the Championship have plummeted to ninth overall, from a disaster of a day, scoring 42,33 finishes. Their points deficit is certainly not impossible to reverse, but whether they can revitalize their performance is the question.

420 Open - Top 10 after 10 Races

1. Theo Carayon/Erwan Lucas (FRA 54834) - 71 pts
2. Diogo Costa/Pedro Costa (POR 55289) - 81 pts
3. Marc Lladó/Antoni Massanet (ESP 55249) - 89 pts
4. Fausto Cruz Peralta/Martin Arroyo Verdi (ARG 54842) - 89 pts
5. Luis Hernández/Luis Bugallo (ESP 56103) - 92 pts
6. Wiley Rogers/Jack Parkin (USA 55162) - 98 pts
7. Vasilios Gourgiotis/Orestis Batsis (GRE 54484) - 98 pts
8. Andrea Abbruzzese/Fabio Boldrini (ITA 56080) - 98 pts
9. Jim Vincent/Victor Mas (FRA 55096) - 101 pts
10. Kotaro Matsuo/Takumi Miura (JPN 55824) - 102 pts

420 Ladies

The battle for victory is set to go right down to the wire in Saturday’s two races. María Bover Guerrero/Clara Llabrés (ESP) hold a nine point advantage over Italy’s Francesca Russo Cirillo/Alice Linussi, with third placed Maria Vittoria Marchesini/Cecilia Fedel (ITA) another nine points behind – but anything can still happen.

Great Britain’s Isabel Davies/Gemma Keers claimed their first win of the series, in race one, helping them to shift up to 11th overall.

420 Ladies - Top 10 after 10 Races

1. María Bover Guerrero/Clara Llabrés (ESP 54697) - 27 pts
2. Francesca Russo Cirillo/Alice Linussi (ITA 55476) - 36 pts
3. Maria Vittoria Marchesini/Cecilia Fedel (ITA 55641) - 45 pts
4. Maria Caba/Pilar Caba (ESP 55687) - 48 pts
5. Julia Szmit/Hanna Dzik (POL 56008) - 61 pts
6. Souzana Bakatsia/Nikoletta Papageorgiou (GRE 55002) - 72 pts
7. Sofie Schöne/Line Johanna Thielemann (GER 56064) - 77 pts
8. Lala Akrich/Catalina Homar (ESP 53848) - 78 pts
9. Sofia Giondi/Giulia Gatta (ITA 55914) - 94 pts
10. Hatty Morsley/Pippa Cropley (GBR 56009) - 101 pts

420 U17

With 15 points separating series leaders Telis Athanasopoulos Yogo/Dimitris Tassios (GRE) and Spain’s Eduard Ferrer/Carlos De Maqua, there is still plenty of room to manoeuvre, with nothing yet decided.

France’s Violette Dorange/Camille Orion remain the top placed girls team in fourth overall, but will have their work cut-out to convert their 32 point deficit to third placed Enzo Balanger/Gaultier Tallieu (FRA).

A jump in form from Thomas Andre/Justin Baradat (FRA), claiming a win in race eight, promotes them to 11th overall.

Three races on Saturday guarantee this World title is still wide open.

420 U17 - Top 10 after 9 Races

1. Telis Athanasopoulos Yogo/Dimitris Tassios (GRE 56071) - 24 pts
2. Eduard Ferrer/Carlos De Maqua (ESP 55980) - 39 pts
3. Enzo Balanger/Gaultier Tallieu (FRA 56030) - 42 pts
4. Violette Dorange/Camille Orion (FRA 55959) - 74 pts
5. Nick Zeltner/Till Seger (SUI 55553) - 81 pts
6. Luis Doreste/Julio Alonso (ESP 55539) - 94 pts
7. Tommaso Cilli/Bruno Mantero (ITA 56076) - 107 pts
8. Lucas Parés/Teo Parés (ESP 53559) - 114 pts
9. Giorgos Drosos/Nikolaos Giotopoulos (GRE 53456) - 116 pts
10. Iris Arvaniti/Maria Eleni Andreou (GRE 53168) - 122 pts