Wind late starter for Medal Races at SOF, Hyeres

by Corrine McKenzie on 29 Apr 2006 Everything was in place for the medal race in Hyères.

Two racing areas were set close to shore, live speaker, many media boats,...even a full free breakfast to entertain the 'non selected' sailors.

The only 'unknown' parameter was the wind! The weather team had predicted none less than four winds trying to squeeze in the bay of Hyères; three too many!

While the sea breeze was expected, it is the westerly wind that saved the day allowing the Medal races to start with only one hour delay.

The racing committees were once again very reactive and the schedule planed to near perfection by Regatta coordinator Bernard Bonneau and Principal race Officer, Ion Echave allowed racing on eight classes. The women’s division in the RS:X and 470 were the only one to miss out and overall results are based on yesterday’s.

The surprise came from the lack of it! The Medal races confirmed the top two places in each class. In the Tornado, the Australian leaders had to leave early to race tomorrow in the Eurocat regatta in Carnac, Brittany. Most leaders played the game and raced the fleet. In three classes they even won the Medal race.

'It was a successful ending.' declared regatta director, Bernard Bonneau. 'It wasn’t looking very promising this morning, but we are now relieved and satisfied as we have the feeling we have delivered a good event and successful Medal races.'

Final Leading positions:

Laser:
1 AUS 184675 SLINGSBY Tom 28
2 CRO 179403 ARAPOV Mate 42
3 CAN 186629 LEIGH Michael 44

Radial:
1 USA 183275 RAILEY Paige 37
2 FRA 183248 DE TURCKHEIM Sophie 39
3 CHN 182008 XU Lijia 43

Finn:
1  GBR 111 WRIGHT Edward 15
2  CRO 25 MISURA Marin 38
3  DEN  2 HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN Jonas 40

2.4mR:
1  NED 12 SCHMITTER Thierry 11
2  GBR 75 LUCAS Helena 14
3  NOR 102 ERIKSTAD Bjornar 19

RSX Men:
1  NED  7 BOUMAN Casper 36
2  GBR 21 DEMPSEY Nick 39
3  POL 82 MYSZKA Piotr 40

TSX Women:
1  ESP  5 ALABAU Marina 38
2  ESP  1 MANCHON Blanca 43
3  POL  8 KLEPACKA Zofia 46

49er:
1  ESP 99 MARTINEZ DE LIZARDUY Iker  FERNANDEZ Xabier  35
2  GBR  5 MORRISON Stevie  RHODES Ben  39
3  ITA  3 SIBELLO Pietro  SIBELLO Gianfranco  51

Tornado:
1  FRA  1 REVIL Xavier  ESPAGNON Christophe  37.8
2  GER 1094 GAEBLER Roland  STRUCKMANN Gunnar  42
3  GRE  7 PASCHALIDES Iordanis  TRIGONIS Konstantinos  43

Yngling:
1  USA 337 BARKOW Sally  HOWE Carrie CAPOZZI Debbie  25
2  GBR 12 AYTON Sarah  RAWLINSON Emma   WEBB Sarah  40
3  GER 261 SCHUEMANN Ulrike KAPPEL Runa HOEPFNER Ute  45

470 Men:
1  ISR  7 KLIGER Gideon  GAL Udi  18
2  ITA  2 ZANDONA' Gabrio  TRANI Andrea  25
3  FRA 11 BONNAUD Benjamin  BONNAUD Romain  40

470 Women:
1  ISR 13 GILBOA Adi  BOUSKILA Vered  41
2  JPN 4152 YOSHISAKO Yuka  OHKUMA Noriko  43
3  FRA  9 LECOINTRE Camille  LEMAITRE Gwendolyn  53