ISAF Rankings October released

by ISAF on 6 Oct 2006 Rankings Released 4 October 2006.

After an outstanding display at the Olympic Test Event in Qingdao, Great Britain confirm their current status as top nation in the Olympic Classes with an equally emphatic performance in the latest release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings. After a rush of World Championships there are five new leaders across the eleven Olympic events.

After finishing the last two Olympic Sailing Competitions top of the medal table, Great Britain spelled out their intentions for 2008 at the recent Olympic Test Event in Qingdao. The Brits left China with eight medals, including four gold, and the latest Ranking release indicates that this was not a one off performance. Paul GOODISON (GBR) and Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR) hold on to the top spots in the Laser and Women’s 470 Rankings respectively, and whilst Chris DRAPER and Simon HISCOCKS (GBR) drop back in the 49er, Nick DEMPSEY (GBR) takes the world number one spot in the Men’s RS:X Rankings to ensure Britain maintains three top spots.

Three other second places and a third give the Brits seven top three positions across the eleven Olympic events, over twice as many as the next best nations France and the USA.

After a disappointing regatta in Qingdao, 2005 ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ (ESP) finally lose the top spot in the Tornado Rankings. After over a year at the top of the Laser Radial Rankings, Paige RAILEY (USA) also loses the number one spot to Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA). As a result of these two changes the Rankings lose the last of its long time leaders, with that mantle now falling to GOODISON, BASSADONE and CLARK and Men’s 470 leaders Gabrio ZANDONÀ and Andrea TRANI (ITA).

To knock RAILEY off the top spot was always going to take something special, and TUNNICLIFFE does so with the biggest Ranking points total across all eleven events.

With World Championships in the 470, Laser Radial, Laser and RS:X classes during the latest Ranking period there has been plenty to talk about in Olympic Class circles. There were plenty of surprises to be had too, with the young British team of Nic ASHER and Elliot WILLIS (GBR) winning the 470 Worlds, Michael BLACKBURN (AUS) and Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) flying in the face of talk of an Aussie demise by taking a one-two at the Laser Worlds and Alessandra SENSINI (ITA) winning the RS:X Worlds in her first ever ISAF Graded regatta in the class.

If there had ever been any suggestion that the favourites would sweep all before them in 2008, events of the past couple of months have washed it away.

August and September also announced the arrival of the Chinese team on the Olympic sailing scene. First Lijia XU (CHN) won China’s first ever Olympic Class World title with a consummate performance at the Laser Radial Worlds in California, and then China went on to win five medals in Qingdao, including gold for 17 year old windsurfer Zhennan FANG (CHN).

For now Great Britain are the undoubted leaders of the pack, but as the 2007 ISAF Worlds approach and the Olympic cycle accelerates towards Qingdao, the die is far from cast.

The ISAF World Sailing Rankings rate skippers based on their performances over the last two years. Skippers score points by competing in ISAF Graded events. The top finishers at all ISAF Graded events score Rankings points, with the highest points awarded to the event winner and then decreasing down relative to position. The most points are up for grabs at World Championship events, followed by ISAF Grade C1 events, Grade 1, Grade 2 etc.

The next Rankings release will be on 13 December, following the ISAF Grade W World Championships in the Star and Tornado.

Men's Windsurfer - RS:X

Nick DEMPSEY (GBR) takes over the top spot in the Men’s RS:X Rankings after a terrific first year on the new Olympic windsurfing equipment. Whilst DEMPSEY could not add the crowning glory of a world title to his name, wins at the Europeans and two other ISAF Grade 1 regattas put him into the top spot, just ahead of Maxim OBEREMKO (UKR).

Moving up to third place is new ISAF Grade W RS:X World Champion Casper BOUMAN (NED), who got the better of a week long battle on Lake Garda with Tom ASHLEY (NZL) in the crucial Medal Race. BOUMAN has proven himself a formidable opponent in the strong winds and the conditions on Lake Garda seemed to suit the tall Dutchman right down to the ground. ASHLEY produced a terrific performance to push BOUMAN literally all the way to the final finishing line, but in the end it was the Dutch who were celebrating in Torbole.

It has also been a great couple of months for Przemek MIARCZYNSKI (POL). After scoring victory on his home waters at the ISAF Grade 3 Gdynia Sailing Days, he went on to win the Medal Race to wrap up third at the Worlds. He now lies just outside the world top ten in eleventh place.

Unlike the Worlds, the ISAF Grade 2 Olympic Test Event in Qingdao turned into an Asian affair, with sailors from China and Hong Kong taking the top four places. Zhennan FANG (CHN) delighted the thousands of spectators gathered on the Qingdao boardwalk with overall victory ahead of team mate Feng HE (CHN). The Asian challenge was more muted in Torbole, with just Aichen WANG (CHN) making the gold fleet.

Women's Windsurfer - RS:X

Olga MASLIVETS (UKR) holds on to the top spot in the Women’s RS:X Rankings, although her massive lead from August has been slashed to under 150 points. Behind MASLIVETS in second place is young Spanish star Marina ALABAU (ESP), who came within inches of winning the title at the first ever ISAF Grade W RS:X Worlds in Torbole, Italy.

She went in the Medal Race two points behind Alessandra SENSINI (ITA), but was leading the Italian and the race as the two approached the finish line. Buoyed by massive support from the home crowd, SENSINI fought back, pumping over ALABAU just metres from the line to a chorus of cheers from the watching spectators.

What made SENSINI’s victory all the more remarkable was the fact it was the Italian’s first ever regatta in the RS:X. Even with a track record that includes two bronze and one Olympic gold medal, many doubted whether SENSINI would even attempt a fifth Olympic campaign. With a very talented new generation of Italian windsurfers also emerging, including recent Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion Laura LINARES (ITA), SENSINI is guaranteed of a major battle to earn her spot in Qingdao. But her performance on Lake Garda was an emphatic response to the doubters, and SENSINI jumps straight into the Rankings at 47.

Another triple Olympic medallist to impress in Torbole was Barbara KENDALL (NZL), who finished the regatta strongly to claim fifth place. Whilst the top of the Rankings are still dominated by a lot of younger windsurfers, KENDALL and SENSINI proved in Italy that the older generation is not finished yet.

Faustine MERRET (FRA) completed the podium in Torbole, and also won the ISAF Grade 2 Olympic Test Event in Qingdao to move up to 17 in the Rankings. MERRET was in imperious form in Qingdao, fighting off a very strong Chinese challenge to take the title. Of the windsurfers who competed in both events she scored by far the best performance across the two regattas. Only Antonia FREY (GRE) was also able to post top ten finishes in both Italy and China, and consequently the Greek star moves up to third in the Rankings.

The past couple of months have also demonstrated the massive strength in depth of Chinese windsurfing. Three home sailors took second, third and fifth place at the test events, whilst a different three went on to record 11th, 15th and 17th at the Worlds.

Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser

Paul GOODISON (GBR) remains top of the Laser Rankings, but behind him two young guns of the class shoot up to second and third place after impressive displays at the recent ISAF Grade W Laser Worlds in Korea.