2016 Sailing World Cup - Hyeres - More light and tricky conditions

by Megan McKay on 30 Apr 2016 Sailing World Cup Hyeres has served sailors another tricky day with a light four - seven knot southerly filling in during the afternoon.

After sailing was delayed in the morning waiting for the breeze to come in, racing eventually got underway in all classes; however, the 470s, 49ers and RSX fleets were unable to complete all planned races for the day. Light conditions are expected again tomorrow before the breeze builds in the late afternoon.

After the third day of racing, Australia’s Finn sailors, Oliver Tweddell and Jake Lilley are on equal points at the top of the table. Tweddell had a strong start to the day, finishing the first race in fourth position, and then crossing the line in 11th position in the second. Lilley had a tougher day, recording 13 and 19 in today’s two races, however, his consistency earlier in the regatta keeps him at the top of the table. The pair are only two points clear of the third-placed Croatian, so will be looking for strong results tomorrow.

“Today was quite a light wind day,” said Tweddell at the end of racing. “In first race we got around seven or eight knots and it was really tricky. The race was pretty stable until the last downwind, where the leading group got stuck in a hole, which made for a nerve wracking finish, but I managed to come away with a fourth place. Then the wind dropped before the second race, which proved to be even more difficult than the first! I’m just happy to have survived it with not too much damage on the scoreboard.”

Australia is also leading the fleet in the Laser class, with Tom Burton recording a fourth and a fifth in today’s two races to pull 13 points clear of the second placed Kiwi, Sam Meech. Matthew Wearn lies in third position having recorded thirteen and four in today’s two races.

“It was a good day for me,” said Burton. “This was the most consistent day I’ve had here and it puts me on top. I’m sailing well and I’m getting the shifts nicely.”

Australia’s 470 Men, Matt Belcher and Will Ryan also continue to lead their fleet. With only one race sailed today, the pair recorded a second place and are two points clear of the Croatian pairing of Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic.

At the end of racing, Ryan commented, “It was pretty tricky racing out there today, with multiple shifts coming down each leg. Fortunately we got off the start line okay but the top group was, again, really close. We got the last shift on the final downwind and ended up just a boat length behind the Croatians, who won the race.”

In the Nacra 17, Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin are moving up the table, currently lying second overall after winning the final race of the day. The class completed four races today, and the Aussies found their form, scoring five, two, fifteen and one in the long day of racing.

“We had three good races today, including a win in the last race, which we were stoked with,” said Darmanin. “It was pretty light wind out there and very tricky. It was moving around all over the place, and really hard to see what was going on. We’re happy overall with our day and looking forward to some wind tomorrow.”

In the 49ers, Australia’s team of Will and Sam Phillips held onto second overall, despite receiving a black flag disqualification in today’s second race. With two races sailed today, the Aussies finished the first race in 38th and were determined for a stronger result in the second, but despite good boat speed, leading early and crossing the line fifth, it wasn’t to be.

In the Laser Radial, Ashley Stoddart has moved into the top ten, crossing the line in fifteen and eight in today’s two races. Stoddart is currently ninth overall.

In the 49er FX, Australia’s three female crews remain outside the top ten overall. Tess Lloyd and Caitlin Elks are the leading Aussies in the class, currently lying 16th overall; with Haylee Outteridge and Nina Curtis in 18th; and Olivia Price and Eliza Solly in 22nd.

In the 470 women, Carrie Smith and Jaime Ryan are currently 12th overall; and Sasha Ryan and Ella Clark are in 24rd overall after only one race was sailed today.

In the Women’s RS:X only one race was sailed today and Australia’s Joanna Sterling finished that race in 16th place and is currently 19th overall.

Meanwhile in the Paralympic classes, Australia’s Matt Bugg continues to lead the 2.4mR class, having scored a two, six and seven today.

In the Sonar class, Australia’s Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden are fourth overall, having sailed three races today, scoring seven, three, and four in those races.

Results for the Australian Sailing Team and Squad at the conclusion of day one, Sailing World Cup Hyeres 2016:

Women's Two Person Dinghy – 470W

• Carrie Smith (WAIS) and Jaime Ryan (QAS) – AST: 11, 6, 16, (21), 12 – 12th
• Sasha Ryan (QAS) and Ella Clark (WA) – ASS: 14, 25, 24, 18, 23 – 24th

Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470M

• Mathew Belcher (QAS) and Will Ryan (QAS) – AST: 2, 1, (17), 1, 2 – first
• Patrick and Alexander Conway (NSW) – ASS: 31, 27, (32), 10, 27– 27th
• Tom Klemens (VIS) and Tim Hannah (VIS) – ASS: 21, 29, 36, 29, 30 – 33rd

Mens’ Skiff – 49er

• Will Phillips (VIC) and Sam Phillips (VIC) – ASS: 6, 4, 1, 2, 5, 5, 38, BFD (41) – second
• David Gilmour (WAIS) and Lewis Brake (QAS) – ASS: 17, 32, 12, 16, 31, (40), 31, 33 – 30th
• Joel Turner (QAS) and Tom Siganto (QAS) – ASS: 35, 24, DNF (41), 37, 40, 10, 19, 32 – 37th

Men's One Person Dinghy (Heavyweight) – Finn

• Jake Lilley (QAS) – ASS: 2, (10), 1, 1, 13, (19) – first
• Oliver Tweddell (VIS) – ASS: 7, 3, 2, (18), 4, 11 – second

Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser

• Tom Burton (NSW) – AST: 3, 9, 1, (11), 4, 5 – first
• Matt Wearn (WAIS) – AST: 1, 7, 12, (13), 13, 4 – third
• Mitchell Kennedy (QAS) – ASS: 5, 19, 3, 14, 35, (37) – 15th
• Luke Elliott (WAIS) – ASS: 2, 17, (25), 22, 24, 25 – 23rd
• Jeremy O’Connell (VIS) – ASS: 15, 31, 31, 16, 11, (35) – 28th

Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

• Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) – AST: 10, 13, (15), 6, 2, 5, 2, 15, 1- second

Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial

• Ashley Stoddart (QAS) – ASS: 18, 11, (27), 5, 15, 8 – ninth

Women’s RS: X Windsurfer

• Joanna Sterling (QAS) – ASS: 11, 28, (30), 25, 14, 5, 16 – 19th

Women's Skiff – 49erFX

• Tess Lloyd (VIS) and Caitlin Elks (WAIS) – ASS: 14, (17), 5, 10, 15, (23), 20, 11 – 16th
• Haylee Outteridge (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) – ASS: 19, (23), 18, 12, 19, 5, 12, 8 – 18th
• Olivia Price (NSW) and Eliza Solly (VIS) – ASS: (20), 19, 15, 15, 20, (24), 22, 23 – 22nd

Paralympic Three Person Keelboat – Sonar

• Colin Harrison (WA), Jonathan Harris (NSW) and Russell Boaden (WA) – AST: (8), 5, 1, 7, 3, 4 – fourth

Paralympic Single Person Keelboat – International 2.4mR

• Matt Bugg (TIS) – AST: 1, 3, 2, 2, 6 (7) – first