Blanck in top ten - Laser Radial European Champs

by International Laser Radial Class Association on 16 Jun 2006 Lithuania’s Gintarė VOLUNGEVIČIŪTĖ saw her lead evaporate at the ISAF Grade C1 Laser Radial European Championships yesterday, with an OCS in the day’s second race undoing all the good work of an opening bullet. With one day before the Medal Race in Riccione, Italy, just two points cover the leading trio.

The fleets in Italy had to wait for a thermal wind to build up before they could sail their races six and seven, whilst the youth fleets completed races four and five.

The first race was sailed with winds between eight and ten knots, and during the second race the wind dropped slowly to four to five knots. The men’s race was shortened at the second leeward mark although the women sailed complete races.
Ups And Downs For The Leader

VOLUNGEVIČIŪTĖ started perfectly with a bullet in the first race whilst of her rivals, only Evi VAN ACKER (BEL) in third also posted a low score. However the leaderboard was then turned on its head as VOLUNGEVIČIŪTĖ went OCS in race seven along with Paige RAILEY (USA). Second place Penny CLARK (GBR) capitalized with a fifth place to cut the lead at the top to a single point. She is joined in a tie for second by VAN ACKER, despite the Belgium sailor finishing 19 in race seven. Meanwhile RAILEY added the OCS to an earlier 23 and took a tumble down the leaderboard to eighth, 25 points off the lead. The World Champion, World number one and winner of the Europeans in Croatia last year will have to go some today to give her a chance in the Medal Race.

Behind the top three both Lucía REYES (ESP) and Tina MIHELIĆ (CRO) had good days to move into fourth and fifth place overall.
LE FERVE In Control

Steven LE FEVRE (NED) added another bullet to his near perfect record in the men’s fleet, and holds a near 20 point lead over Timofey ZHBANKOV (RUS) with Rodie VAN MACKELENBERGH (NED) third.

This morning the women senior and the youth men fleets will be split into gold and silver fleets to sail their final races which are planned to start at 1400 local time. Then the Medal Race will decide the 2006 European Champion tomorrow.

Top Ten Pos Nation Name R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Pts 1 LTU Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE 2 16 1 2 1 1 (OCS) 23 2 GBR Penny CLARK 3 3 (18) 1 3 9 5 24 3 BEL Evi VAN ACKER 4 6 1 4 6 3 (19) 24 4 ESP Lucia REYES 12 1 (27) 6 3 8 10 40 5 CRO Tina MIHELIC (30) 3 14 7 8 8 1 41 6 POL Katarzyna SZOTYNSKA 6 (40) 9 5 2 10 15 47 7 CRO Matea PETRONIJEVIC 9 (26) 6 8 2 14 8 47 8 USA Paige RAILEY 1 5 4 9 6 23 (OCS) 48 9 AUS Sarah BLANCK 3 (24) 9 1 7 20 9 49 10 POL Katarzyna PIC 9 4 (22) 10 11 12 4 50