Optimist World Championship 2012 first day of racing got underway in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday 17th July. The 230 young sailors competing prepared their boats early in the morning and took the last advice from their coaches before they hit the water.
The beautiful waters in Boca Chica, where the organizing Yacht Club is, offer the best scenery for the Worlds. The winds were light in the morning and the combination of big swell and shifty weather, made it even more difficult.
The first race for the four groups was sailed in tricky conditions and just before the second one was about to begin, the wind shifted a lot and the racecourse was resettled. In those difficult weather conditions, the Singaporeans managed to prevail and have two athletes at the top. Yokoyamaelisa Yukie scored a bullet and a second and is leading, in front of its compatriot Neo Samuel Jiun Jie, which scored a bullet and a third. Lambriex Bart from Netherland seemed more determined than the last Worlds in New Zealand and after two second places is now in third position, very close to the two Singaporeans
The local girl, Pacheco Maria Justina, was leading in her group on the first race but after being charged with a penalty by the jury she dropped to fourth place. Same thing happened in the second race and that meant her disqualification (DSQ) of that race.
Same conditions are expected for tomorrow and the Championship has still a long way to go. Stay tuned!
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