Jon Paul Tobin reports on the RS-X Worlds and 2006

by JP Tobin on 12 Oct 2006 I have recently returned from Lake Garda, Italy following the 2006 World Championships, which for me concluded with a less than ideal result.

The Lake Garda World Championships were the first worlds for the new RS: X Olympic class and attracted the largest fleet in 20 years for both men’s and woman’s Olympic disciplines (164 Men, 80 Women).

Four fleets of 41 men raced the qualification series of 6 races over the first 3 days of competition however an oversight in the championships rules meant the finals racing was split into 2 fleets 1- 82 position into gold and 83 - 164 position into silver (normal gold fleet size = 40).

Getting out of the blocks in decent shape was a mission with 80+ athletes all working for the same outcome resulting in chaos on the start line
Casper Bouman of the Netherlands topped the podium with Thomas Ashley (NZL) showing that time preparing with Brazilian # 1 Ricardo Santos (Bimba) was well spent with both Tom and Bimba showing serious form both in training prior to the regatta and on the race course with Tom 2nd and Bimba 9th, Przemek Miarczynski (try saying that 3 times fast) of Poland rounded off the podium in 3rd position.

With a string of consistent performances in the qualification races I was in decent shape heading into the finals but a combination of 4 races outside the top 20 in the finals put end to a top 10 finish.

Finishing 18th overall was seriously frustrating but I was in good company with 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Gal Fridman finishing in 19th position overall and 2006 Euro¬pean Championship bronze medalist Nicolas Huguet 25th along with other top 10 probables also leaving their A game at home.

2006 seems to be a year of contrasts for me performing at the start of the year, gain¬ing the #1 world ranking only to battle with reaching top form in competitions towards the end of the year, however the positive point from taking a beating is that once you drag yourself back off the mat and refocus the motivation to get back into training is huge.

The World Championships concludes the competition year for me allowing some im¬portant recovery time as well as sitting down with coaches to plan out 2007; immedi¬ate plans are to complete two more papers towards my business degree with training for 2007 competitions kicking off on November 17, 2006.

World Championships 2008
New Zealand, North Shore City and Takapuna Boating Club www.takapunaboating.org.nz have won the rights to host the 2008 RS: X World Championships this is a great result with 160 + competitors likely to make the trip down under and experience New Zealand along with the pleasure associated with traveling on a plane for 24 hours.

Welcome on board to the following sponsors and technical partners. Line 7 www.line7.com Emirates www.emirates.co.nz 2XU www.2xu.com

World Ranking Current World Ranking: 8th

Results RS: X World Championships 2006
www.rsxclass.com/results.htm

Men’s Top Five Final Results

1 Casper Bouman, NED - 23 points 2 Tom Ashley, NZL – 23 points 3 Przemek Miarczynski, POL – 24 points 4 Joeri Van Dijk, NED – 48 points 5 Nick Dempsey, GBR – 51 points

New Zealand Men’s Final Results

2 Tom Ashley, NZL 18 JP Tobin, NZL 5/5/5/6/5/6/22/30/28/39/7: 119 Total 106 Michael Lichtwark, NZL 107 Nick Lichtwark, NZL 128 Antonio Cozzolino, NZL

Women’s Top Five Final Results

1 Alessandra Sensini ITA – 28 points 2 Marina Alabau Neira ESP – 32 points 3 Faustine Merret, FRA – 56 points 4 Zofia Klepacka POL – 64 points 5 Barbara Kendall NZL – 85 points

New Zealand Women’s Final Results

5 Barbara Kendall NZL 40 Steffanie Williams NZL 41 Hayley Thom NZL 53 Kate Ellingham NZL 61 Justina Sellers NZL