Ideal conditions for Medal races

by Corinne McKenzie on 28 Apr 2007 The conditions for the Medal race on the last day of the regatta couldn’t have been better: stable wind averaging 15 knots, sun and waves. Racing was set close to the shore bringing the thrill of the last race to the spectators in Hyères.

In these conditions and with a short course, it was important to take a good start today and be fast to the top mark. Generally the event leaders have conserved their position.

In the 470 and RS:X Men events, the podium remains unchanged. It was a French domination on the Medal race with the three French 470 boats sharing the lead. Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garos won the Medal race and the regatta. Nicolas Charbonnier and Olivier Bausset kept the second place overall in front of the Greek pair Panagiotis/Polichronid.

In the Men RS:X, Medal Race winner Ricardo Santos from Brazil, jumps two places to 6th overall. The Medal Race results didn’t bring any change to the regatta leaders. Tom Ashley is the clear winner of the SOF. The 23 years old New Zealander confirms in Hyères his domination of the RS:X fleet after winning the South American Championship in Buzios and the Princess Sofia Regatta last month. Shahar Zubari (ISR) and Julien Bontemps (FRA) take Silver and Bronze.

'I am happy with my speed' declares Bryony Shaw (GBR) after winning in style the race and the regatta in the RS:X women event. Second at the top mark, SHAW took the lead on the downwind leg. 'I am more confident in the breeze now; I have improved a lot especially in surfing conditions'. Bianca Manchon keeps second place overall while Jannicke Staalstrom (NOR) placing second in the Medal race climbs onto the last step of the podium. Yin Jian (CHN) who had dominated the regatta with light wind missed out on the podium after finishing last on the Medal Race. She has proved this week that she will be a main threat in Qingdao with light conditions expected.

The Italian and German 470 boats helmed by Giulia Conti and Stefanie Rothweiler couldn’t lose much today and kept their earlier positions, 1st and 2nd overall. After a disputed race, the Czech Lenka Mikova and Veronika Fenclova won on the last leg. On equal points with the Czech who climb to third overall, the French team of Petitjean/Douroux is relegated to the 4th place.

The Yngling score had reserved some surprises overnight. A disqualification for starboard incident involving 3 boats, sent the team of Shirley Robertson outside the Medal race. Ironically, the British boat of Rawlinson/Rawlinson/Monson that was 11th yesterday squeezed into 10th! Sally Barkow, Carrie Howe and Debbie Cappozzi (USA) led from start to finish hoping to claim their title, but winning the medal race wasn’t enough for the Americans. The Russian finishing 5th conserved enough lead to keep the regatta leadership and the title. Sarah Ayton, Pippa Wilson and Sarah Webb (GBR) are on equal points with the American and third place overall.

Leading the event from the second day, Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle (CAN), had a comfortable advance over the fleet and could easily afford a
ninth place in the Medal race.

'We didn’t really expect to win,' confide the Canadians. 'We are fast on the
light and heavy conditions.' With the perspective of the ISAF Worlds in Cascais and the Olympic in Qingdao, to be able to masters all range of conditions is an obvious advantage. The Italians Francesco Marcolini and Edoardo Bianchi get the second place overall in front of the French Yann Guichard and Alexandre Guyader who gain 2 places in 3rd. Going into the Medal Race on second place but on close points over their opponents, the Greek Pashalides/Trigonis collected high score in the Medal race and loses 6 place to be placed in 8th overall.

It is a remake of the Laser worlds with the Australians dominating the fleet in first and second place. Michael Blackburn and Tom Slingsby couldn’t be more different! The first one likes the light conditions, is one of the most experienced in the fleet and is very quiet. The second likes the strong breeze, is 14 years younger and has a more flamboyant style. On the regatta circuit they are always within a few points of each other…Last year, the title went to Slingsby, this year Blackburn claimed it. They are complementing each other however; they are both after one thing they can’t share: a place at the Olympics. 'I have lost some weight to adapt to the weather conditions in Qingdao' explains Michael Blackburn. As a result I struggle a bit more in the breeze.'

The regatta winner explains his tactic today: 'It all depended on the weather! In the light I knew I had an advantage over my opponents, but in case of a windy race, and it was the case today, I had to mark my direct competitor, the Swedish Johan Wigforss who is more at ease in the breeze. We were slow on the start and I controlled him on the first beat. We were the last 2 boats to round the top mark. I finally passed him on the run and gained more places.' The tactic seemed to have worked. The Swedish collected maximum scores and missed on the podium by two points. It is Andrew Murdoch from New Zealand who takes the third place overall. Tom Slingsby wins the Medal Race to bring to 4 the number of victories in the regatta.

The top 3 in the 49er fleet remained untroubled by their competitors. Despite winning the Medal race and adding a 4th bullet to their score, the British sailors John Pink and Simon Wheeler didn’t make it to the top 3. The Austrian Nico Luca Delle Karth and Nikolaus Resch climbed from 3rd to second, while the German Baur/Baumann lost a place into 3rd. Double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks with skipper Chris Draper conserves the lead to win the title.

The only change of leadership happened in the Finn and Laser radial fleets. Emilios Papathanasiou wins the title for the 3rd time taking the lead on the Medal race from Jonas Hoegh-Christensen. The two class favourites are on equal points. Dan Slater (NZL) conserves his third place. Pieter-Jan Postma wins his third race in a row and places 7th overall.

In the Laser radial, Evi Van Acker has improved steadily through the whole regatta to finally reach the top of the ranking of the Semaine Olympique Française. The placings were open before the Medal race and everything was possible. Jo Aleh conserved her second place while Vice-European Champion and second placed in the Rolex Miami OCR, Gintare Volungevici from Lithuania is taking third after winning the Medal Race.

The paralympic classes didn’t sail the medal race but remained in their original fleet size. In the 2.4M, Thierry Schmitter won the only medal for Netherlands after an impressive score including 5 wins he is conserving his title. Jen Als Andersen from Denmark remains in second place and Helena Lucas in third.

In the Sonar class, it was a close regatta between the top two Paralympics keelboats. The Greeks Christoforo/Paterakis/Kostaris took the Gold with a three point lead in front of the British boat of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas. The Norwegians Jostein Stordahl/Per Eugen Kristiansen and Aleksnder Wang-Hansen are in third position.