ISAF World Cup Weymouth - Day 2
by Pippa Phillips 11 Jun 2015 19:52 UTC
10-14 June 2015
There were a few morning nerves amongst some of the competitors at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland with the forecasted 30 knots never materialising ensuring a beautiful day of racing.
A north easterly breeze, not shy of a shift or two, came in at 14-17 knots ensuring another day of strong competition with a full complement of racing completed.
At the midway stage of the fleet racing, the leaderboards are starting to shake up and give an early indication as to who will come away with the ISAF Sailing World Cup medals, a share of the prize fund as well as an Abu Dhabi Final qualification spot.
Live Medal Races on Sunday – that will be available to view from 11:00 local time here – will bring the competition to a close.
49erFX and 49er
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) were the stand out performers in the 49erFX, taking a pair of bullets and a second.
The Kiwis move up from second to first overall and have a slender advantage over World #1 pair Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA).
"We had a really good day today. Everything kind of felt easy and we were going quite fast and that always helps," smiled Meech. "It was quite good racing and everyone was going really fast. If you made a mistake you were going to get passed but if you didn't, then you were always going to pass people."
In advance of the docking out a few of the 49erFX sailors had helmets at the ready in anticipation of big breeze but things turned out a little differently as Meech explained, "Most of the weather forecasts today said we were expecting 30 knots. I know for our fleet most of the girls don't handle that stuff so well so we were all nervous heading out. In the end it turned out to be a glamour day with 12 knots and really nice waves. It was perfect."
Maloney and Meech are amongst the leading competitors in the 49erFX and have the potential and know how to medal at each event. Most recently they finished seventh at World Cup Hyeres and have been working hard to get back on the podium, "We've got a few things to work on for the rest of this regatta. Our starts have been a focus for us and things are starting to come together. We'll look to push on from that and try to get a great result from this regatta."
Grael and Kunze, 2014 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year, are snapping at the heels of the Kiwis and trail by three points. They took the day's other race victory and coupled with a second and a third remain firmly in the hunt.
Overnight leaders Maiken Foght Schütt and Anne-Julie Schütt (DEN) slip to third overall following a 6-(8)-4 scoreline.
Six fleet races remain in advance of Sunday's Live Medal Races so anything can and will happen.
Victor Bergstrom and Victor Vasternas (SWE) have amassed three bullets from six races in the 49er and subsequently lead. They took the first two race victories on the second day and discard their 12th to sit on 23 points.
Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski (NZL) claimed the days other race victory and are second overall on 26 points. Their compatriots Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) are third overall on 30 points.
Men's and Women's 470
The Women's 470 also feature a couple of Kiwi girls topping the billing after a steady day of racing. Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) lead the way by a single point over Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) following a second and a fourth, which they discard.
"It was an okay day," explained Aleh. "We weren't really that happy with it as there were a few missed opportunities. The results are okay still but we're still not that happy."
After their opening day double bullets the Kiwis posted a second and fourth. "An okay day" for them, an outstanding day for others. But when you're Olympic gold medallists racing on the same waters as your glory, standards remain high.
Aleh continued, "It's great to be back here. It's been three years since we've been here and it's not changed that much. It's nice to be back and everything's really familiar. We spent so much time here last time that it's like another home.
"I guess Weymouth is a lot like New Zealand. There's the cold breeze and the cold water. It's a lot like Takapuna where we sail at home. We're all quite comfortable here. It's been offshore for the last couple of days and we've always found that Weymouth is like home and we fit into it pretty easily."
London 2012 Olympic silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) sit in second overall following a sixth, which they discard, and a bullet. Tina Mrak and Veronika Macarol (SLO) remain in third overall.
In the Men's 470 Stu McNay and Dave Hughes (USA) and Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) shared first and second in both of the day's races. The Americans took the first bullet followed by the Aussies whilst the roles were reversed for the day's other race.
The Americans lead on five points followed by the Australians on 10 points. Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (NZL) are third on 14 points.
Finn
Giles Scott (GBR) was back on the money in the Finn, doing what he does best, winning sailboat races.
He opened the day with a second and hit back with a bullet to move into first overall. "We've had two very similar days now with 10-15 knots and it's very very physical racing," commented Scott on the competition.
"I think everyone is feeling pretty tired today. But today for me was a bit better than yesterday. I managed to come away with a 1 and a 2, so I can't really grumble."
The Finn fleet features 24-boats in Weymouth and Portland and with the Rio 2016 Olympic fleet comprising of one less it's the perfect opportunity to race in an Olympic sized pack with an exceptional calibre of competitors, "We have 24 boats, so it surprising how everything seems to be close up and everyone is super punchy on the start line. So you have to watch that a little bit.
"Of course everyone here is quick so it is very easy to find yourself on the back foot and not so many people behind you. But with that said it makes the racing super good. I think in one of the races today the whole fleet was round in 30 seconds. It's tight street fighting really."
Jonathan Lobert (FRA) took the days other race victory and coupled with a third he sits second overall, two points off Scott. Josh Junior (NZL) is pushed from first to third by the British and French racers.
Men's and Women's RS:X
In the Women's RS:X, Great Britain's Isobel Hamilton stays ahead of the field following another consistent day on the water. From the day's three races she notched up three second place finishes.
Maintaining the British 1-2 is Bryony Shaw who is two points behind her compatriot.
But while Shaw had another good day with a 3-3-1, Italy's Flavia Tartaglini moved up to joint second on 12 points with two bullets and a fourth place finish.
London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Tuuli Petaja-Siren drops down to fourth on 16 points.
In the Men's RS:X Tom Squires (GBR) moved a point ahead in the battle of the Brits with a 1-2-4 scoreline. Squires is above fellow Briton Nick Dempsey who was on a 6-5 on the day until a win in the last race improved his fortunes.
Italy's Mattia Camboni stays in third position whilst Brazil's Ricardo Santos had a much better day, taking first place in the second race to go with his 2-3 finishes. The Brazilian sits in fourth.
Nacra 17
Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS) had a strong day in the Nacra 17 posting a 7-1-5 scoreline. They lead on 19 points.
Switzerland's Matias Buhler and Nathalie Brugger are second on 21 points followed by Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank (AUT), who claimed the final race victory of the day.
Darren Bundock and Nina Curtis (AUS) claimed the days other race honours and are fourth overall.
Laser and Laser Radial
It would seem that Marit Bouwmeester (NED) is taking the experience she has gained from the London 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and Portland and applying it to the fullest effect taking both bullets.
Those two wins have kept Bouwmeester's score down to three points with an unbeaten run of four from four races so far this World Cup.
Her nearest challenger is Belgium's Evi Van Acker who finishes the day in second overall on nine points after a 9-4 finish.
Ireland's Annalise Murphy dropped to sixth with an eighth and a discarded 16th. Murphy's third place is now held by Great Britain's Alison Young on ten points following a strong 4-2 day to help move her up the leader board.
In the Laser, New Zealand's Andy Maloney is still in top spot despite a sixth and an 18th. He drops his 18th and remains at the top of the pile with nine points.
Jesper Stalheim of Sweden had a good day moving up from fourth to second with a 2-10, dropping his 14th from the opening day. His 13 points sits him alongside Germany's Philipp Buhl on the same points tally. The German finished with a 7-3 scoreline for the day.
Sitting just behind on 14 points is Charlie Buckingham (USA). The bullets went to New Zealand's Michael Bullot and Australia's Matthew Wearn.
Paralympic Events
In the Sonar, double bullets for Australia's Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden move them to the top of the leaderboard with four points ahead of Norway's Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per Eugen Kristiansen on six.
The Norwegians are just one point in front of Great Britain's John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas who lay in third on seven points following a fourth and second place finish.
In the SKUD18 nothing separates Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA) and Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) who each take a bullet and second, yet again mirroring the opening day results. They both sit on four points with Will Street and Megan Pascoe (GBR) third overall on nine.
London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas (GBR) controlled the 2.4mR again with four wins from four races following her two bullets today.
Sitting behind and taking four consecutive second places is Antonio Squizzato of Italy on six points.
Malaysia's Al Mustakim Matrin remains third overall with a third place finish and a discarded fifth.
Racing resumes at 11:00 local time on Friday 12 June.
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Scott strikes blow in heavyweight title fight by Lindsay Bell, RYA
The second day of World Cup sailing in Weymouth and Portland (Thursday 11 June) was 'street fight-esque' according to World Champion Giles Scott, who dug deep for two strong results to take the overall lead in the Finn after four races.
Scott is one of four British sailors to lead their classes after day two at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic venue, with windsurfers Izzy Hamilton and Tom Squires in pole position in their respective RS:X women's and men's fleets, and Paralympic champion Helena Lucas dominating in the 2.4mR.
Scott, who'd admitted to a frustrating opening day on Wednesday, today posted a second and a race win from his two races to take a two point lead over the French Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Lobert in the men's heavyweight dinghy.
"It was a tricky day today. The fleet was super close," Scott explained. "I think in the first race the whole fleet rounded in about 30 seconds of the first boat which is probably testament to the quality of the fleet.
"We have 24 boats, so it surprising how everything seems to close up and everyone is super punchy on the start line," continued Scott, who had to pull back through the fleet in the second race after getting 'stuffed' at the start by two competitors later adjudged to have jumped the gun.
"Of course everyone here is quick so it is very easy to find yourself on the back foot and not so many people behind you. But with that said it makes the racing super good.
"It's tight street fighting really."
Scott's training partner Ben Cornish enjoyed a good day at the office, picking up a third and a fourth to sit in overall fifth place after four races, with world bronze medallist Ed Wright in sixth.
A consistent day for Izzy Hamilton, with three second places in her three races, saw her keep the yellow jersey in the RS:X women's windsurfing event for a second day.
"We've had fantastic windsurfing conditions, Weymouth and Portland has done well so far," Hamilton enthused.
"I have had a consistent day so I am happy with that. It's all you can do really. It was quite gusty and shifty today so just getting no big numbers is a good thing."
Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw is poised just two points behind her teammate and is enjoying the tight battle.
"It was a very tricky day, you had to be bob on your laylines and judge them from very far away and the marks being blue made it very hard to see them," said Shaw.
"All of us were making mistakes on that. I don't think anyone sailed the perfect race today but the three of us, me, Izzy Hamilton, Flavia Tartaglini, were the top three on board speed so it was really nice to be playing a nice game between those two.
"I think just stay solid is my aim, try and get as many wins in as I can. If I can win a race each day that would be great, it's just about minimizing the mistakes."
Tom Squires and Nick Dempsey battled it out at the front of the men's RS:X windsurfing course today, with the young Oxford sailor bettering the double Olympic medallist by just one point after six races.
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark edged to within one point of their Kiwi rivals Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie thanks to a sixth and a convincing race win on Thursday.
They had to stage something of a comeback in the first race of the day, as Mills explained:
"We made it really tricky for ourselves in the first race. We didn't have a very good start and we were in the pack a little bit.
"Then had a rules incident at the top and thought it was best to do our 720 [penalty turn] instead of ending up in the protest room on a bit of a 50/50 chance, so did our turn and were really back in the pack. But we came back nicely and I think we finished sixth so it was still a solid race.
"We built on what we learned from the first race and took it into the second race and we won that that race."
The London 2012 silver medallists are enjoying the buzz of their home World Cup event.
"To suddenly have it all ramped up again with all the signage and the flags and the foreigners here is a bit weird as Weymouth and Portland is our home," remarked Clark.
"But at the same time it's really exciting, the event has a bit of an Olympic feel to it and a big event feel vibe, and this is the first one of our World Cups to feel like that."
Sophie Weguelin and Eilidh McIntyre enjoyed a good day on the 470 Women's race course as well, elevating themselves into overall fourth with a fourth and a third from their two races.
Ali Young continued a strong day for the British Sailing Team's women, moving into third place in the Laser Radial fleet, and she admitted to also enjoying the added excitement of a home regatta.
"It's great to have a top regatta here," said Young, who finished fifth at her first Olympic Games on these same waters three years ago. "Weymouth and Portland is a fantastic venue for racing so it's great for everyone to be here to experience the conditions and it's nice for us to be at home!
"Definitely it gives you that added motivation racing at home. I want to put in a good performance here."
"We've got a really good quality fleet here, all the top girls are here pretty much, so it's good, tight racing and some good learning," Young continued.
"Marit [Bouwmeester] is giving everyone a run for their money at the moment, so we'll try and step it up and close that down tomorrow."
In the Paralympic classes, Helena Lucas has yet to lose a race in the one person 2.4mR class, while SKUD duo Alexandra Rickham-Niki Birrell are locked in a close battle with their Italian training partners Marco Gualandris-Marta Zanetti, sharing two race wins and two second places apiece in the series so far. John Robertson-Hannah Stodel-Steve Thomas are third after four races in the Sonar.
In the Nacra 17 multihull class, John Gimson-Hannah Diamond are currently the leading British Sailing Team pairing in fifth, with Lucy Macgregor-Dave Evans tenth and Ben Saxton-Nicola Groves, who nursed their boat round with a broken rudder, in 11th place overall after six races.
Luke Patience described the day as 'hard to prioritise' as he and Elliot Willis struggled amid the pack in the 470 Men's fleet today. They're eighth overall after four races, with Nick Thompson ninth in the Laser class.
Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign were the top British 49er crew at the end of the second day in fourth overall, but were seeking redress after a collision resulted in a broken tiller extension and a 26th place in their third race of the day. John Pink and Stuart Bithell are fifth, while Podium Potential pairing Vicky Payne and Steph Orton are 22nd in the 49erFX.
Daily report from Australian Sailing Team by Cora Zillich
It was another eventful day on the second day of ISAF Sailing World Cup racing at the London 2012 venue Weymouth and Portland with Australian Sailing Team's Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) taking over the lead in the Nacra 17. London Olympic gold medallist Mat Belcher (QLD), who has returned to Weymouth and Portland for the first time since 2012, and World Champion crew Will Ryan move into second in the Men's 470.
A northeasterly breeze, not shy of a shift or two, came in at 10-17 knots ensuring another day of strong competition with a full complement of racing completed.
In the first news of the day (Thursday, 11 June), Australian Sailing Team's Jason Waterhouse (NSW) and Lisa Darmanin (NSW) took over the lead in the Nacra 17 after a consistent day of racing and winning the second of three races. Fellow team members Darren Bundock (NSW) and Nina Curtis (NSW) join them in the top five and made it two race wins for Australia by winning the first race of the day.
"We had really big swell and chop and the shifts were just as crazy as yesterday," Jason Waterhouse said. "We changed our game strategy a bit as we were not happy with our 20th yesterday, which we are dropping, and it seems to have paid off. We're happy to come away with some consistent races and are looking forward to more racing tomorrow."
And crew, cousin Lisa Darmanin added: "We're really happy with how we are sailing. Some of our manoeuvres are still a bit rusty as we haven't done as much sailing as we'd have liked since Hyères, but it's all good all around and it's great to see the Aussies winning two races out of three.
World Champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan climbed up the results ladder into overall second after a second place in the first race and winning the second race of the day. Mat Belcher, who is enjoying being back racing on Weymouth's Olympic waters, was happy to gain ground over the leading Americans of Stuart McNay and David Hughes:
"It's nice to be back on Olympic waters. It was pretty tricky out there, but we had a one and a two today, which was the nice. The Americans, who were first after yesterday, had the same score, but we're catching up a little bit. It's nice to not lose any points over them and good to get into second overall, which puts us in a good position and we're looking forward to finishing strongly over the rest of the week."
In the Laser, the Australian battle between Matt Wearn (WA) and of World #1 Tom Burton (NSW) continues with Matt Wearn posting the stronger results and holding on to fifth place after winning one of the two races today.
"It was a tough day all around. The last race was good, the first one not that much," Matt Wearn said about his race day. "But that's just the Laser racing with a very close fleet and every mistake makes it hard to catch up. I was pretty happy I brought the first race back to 14th after I had a shocker on the first beat, rounding the first top mark in 30th."
Tom Burton posted an eleventh and fifth place, which puts him into eighth overall.
"Yesterday was a bit rusty and today a bit better, but I'm still making a few mistakes here and there, which I need to fine-tune. I think day-by-day I will get better and the decision-making will be a bit quicker," Burton was confident to continue to improve. "If you can make the right decision really quick, you'll be on the money, but when you're hesitant then sometimes you get left behind. So yesterday helped today and today will help tomorrow."
After a strong start on day one, Australia's 49er squad, including 2012 Olympic gold medallists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen, did not have the best day with all four teams dropping down the ranks. Outteridge and Jensen dropped from second into 15th after posting a 15th, 22nd and 25th. David Gilmour (WA) and Rhys Mara (VIC) follow in 17th, Will Phillips (VIC) and James Wierzbowski (VIC) in 23rd and Joel Turner and Lewis Brake in 28th.
In the 49erFX Haylee Outteridge (NSW) and Sarah Cook (NSW) hold on to 13th place after six races. The pair is the only remaining Australian 49erFX team after Tess Lloyd (VIC) and Caitlin Elks (WA) had to withdraw from the event following an injury to Tess Lloyd in Wednesday's racing.
In other results, Australian Sailing Squad's Women's 470 team of Sasha Ryan (QLD) and Amelia Catt had two solid results with a seventh and ninth place moving up into overall tenth. Australian Sailing Squad's Joanna Sterling (QLD) also moved up into fifth place in the RS:X, while fellow Queenslander and Laser Radial sailor Ashley Stoddart climbed up one spot into overall ninth.
In the Finn class Australian Sailing Squad's Jake Lilley (QLD) sits in tenth after four races, while Oliver Tweddell (VIC) was disqualified after jumping the start in the first race of the day (OCS) and posted a 19th in the second, which sees him stay near the back of the fleet in 22nd.
In the Paralympic Sonar event, Australia's Colin Harrison (WA), Jonathan Harris (NSW) and Russell Boaden (WA) took over the lead after posting two race wins.
Brilliant day for the NZL Sailing Team by Jodie Backewell-White
New Zealand leads in three events with a total of eight NZL Sailing Team crews lying top five at the end of day two in Weymouth, England where the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth Regatta is underway.
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie maintain their day one lead although British rivals Saskia Clarke and Hannah Mills have inched a little closer and now sit just one point behind the kiwi Olympic champions.
"It was an okay day out there for us today. We're a little frustrated as we made a few basic mistakes that cost us a few places," reports Jo Aleh. "We got a 4th and a 2nd, so not too bad in terms is results."
While not able to re-produce their perfect scores from day one, Aleh and Powrie are clearly enjoying being back on the memorable territory of Weymouth and are relishing the blustery, familiar conditions that they often compare to New Zealand's Takapuna.
"There was good breeze and some great waves downwind, although still rather shifty and lots of pressure differences. It made for some interesting racing."
In the Men's 470 Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox take a massive jump up the leader board into 3rd overall, due to the combination of a great day on the race track and their discard coming into play. Sailing two races today they were 4th and 7th and now have 14 points, four adrift of the Aussies in 2nd.
Andy Maloney continues to lead the Laser class after day two of racing in Weymouth. He placed 6th and 18th on the water today and holds a four point lead over Sweden's Jesper Stalheim and Britain's Philipp Buhl who are tied on points in 2nd and 3rd.
Michael Bullot has broken into the top ten after a great performance today with a win and a 6th. The Murray's Bay Sailing Club representative is now in 7th overall.
Sam Meech also improved his overall position today with results including a 5th and a 7th which pushes him up into 12th. Thomas Saunders is in 21st place.
In the Laser Radial Sara Winther is in 18th overall, while Susannah Pyatt is 28th.
Andrew Murdoch's overall lead in the Finn after day one has slipped from his grasp with the on-form hometown favourite Giles Scott taking the top spot in the Finn fleet after day two.
Regardless it was still a good day for both kiwis in the men's heavy weight dinghy class. Josh Junior has improved to 3rd place overall after a 4th and a 2nd in today's racing, while Murdoch is just behind in 4th making for two in the top five for New Zealand.
Points remain close at the top of the board and the 24 boat fleet are now half way through the fleet racing which will determine who sails the top ten medal race on Sunday in Weymouth.
Its New Zealand 2nd and 3rd in the Men's 49er skiff standings with the two kiwi crews the only ones in the class to return three single digit scores on day two.
Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski take a jump from 7th up to 2nd with a 3rd, an 8th and a race win to hold a points-score of 26, three behind Sweden's Victor Bergstrom and Victor Vasternas.
Olympic silver medallists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke came home top five in three races held today in Weymouth and climb up to 3rd overall into more familiar territory on the leader board.
However of all the NZL Sailing Team it was Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech who performed the best today with an outstanding 1-2-1 from their three races which sees them jump into the overall lead in the Women's 49er FX.
"We had a really good day today. Everything kind of felt easy and we were going quite fast and that always helps," smiled Meech. "It was quite good racing and everyone was going really fast. If you made a mistake you were going to get passed but if you didn't, then you were always going to pass people."
Maloney and Meech are amongst the leading competitors in the 49erFX and have the potential and know how to medal at each event. Most recently they finished seventh at World Cup Hyeres and have been working hard to get back on the podium, "We've got a few things to work on for the rest of this regatta. Our starts have been a focus for us and things are starting to come together. We'll look to push on from that and try to get a great result from this regatta."
Olivia Mackay and Micah Wilkinson did not compete in the Nacra 17 racing today. They suffered a broken rig on day one of the regatta.