Three Gold medals for Australia at Delta LLoyd

by Diana Bogaards on 26 May 2008 On Sunday May 25 2008, the remaining top ten sailors at the Delta Lloyd Regatta met windy and wet conditions in the Medal Races. The strong breeze and choppy IJsselmeer were challenging.

The competitors showed spectacular battles with lots of capsizes around the course. The leaders tried to stay out of troubles and others had to take extra risks. Some gained and some lost. According to many Olympians, this year’s Delta Lloyd Regatta has been a good training for Beijing with an interesting end.

Finn – Trujillo works his way up
This morning, the Finn class kicked off with their Medal Race in rough conditions, very much liked by Dutchman Pieter-Jan Postma. Gasper Vincec (SLO) had to defend his one point lead on Edward Wright (GBR) and two points on Rafael Trujillo (ESP). Postma was second at the top mark and leading at the gate. Going into the last downwind, he sailed on a bronze course, but he touched the buoy and had to take a penalty. Postma: 'I lost four boats and caught up on them in the run. I really had to work hard for it, but it was awesome.' He was going to beat Gasper Vincec in the overall ranking, until Edward Wright capsized not far from the finish. Trujillo: 'I had a bad start and had to work my way up from behind. Edward was leading in the last beat, but he capsized on the final downwind. When I saw that happening, I slowed down.' Trujillo won the regatta, followed by Vincec and Wright. Vincec afterwards: 'Well, that’s life. I did very well in the light conditions and China will be light, so this I ok.'

470 Women – Italians decide the battle
The Italians Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol withstood the head and extended their lead on their Brazilian sparring partners Oliveira/Swan. Conti: 'We had a bad start and where third last at the top mark. We gained a lot on the downwind and climbed to a fourth position and stayed there. The conditions were tough and the down wind was scary. We tried hard to control the boat. If it is windy in China, it is similar to here, so it was again a good training. We are very happy.' And so were Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout (NED), who took de double scoring bullet and therefore the bronze medal.

Tornado – No troubles for Aussies
'We just had to finish', said Darren Bundock (AUS) after the Medal Race, in which they finished sixth. Their lead was big enough to take it easy. Bundock: 'We were cruising around, staying out of trouble.' The British McMillan and Howden did not stay out of trouble, as they capsized after a nose dive just before the finish. They scored a DNF instead of a third. The Canadians Johansson/Stittle were first over the line, followed by Booth and Nieuwenhuis (NED). The Dutchmen climbed from a fourth to a second position overall. Booth: 'On such a short course, it is all about getting the first tacks right. If you are not in the top two or three at the upwind mark, you are gone. We were second.' The Frenchmen Revil/Espagnon won bronze.

RS:X – ‘Interesting finish’
'Today was a different competition', said overall winner Julien Bontemps (FRA). 'It is interesting to finish the series like this. I had a good start with Dorian. Of course I was covering him, but my upwind speed was bad and he was in front of me.' The two Dutchmen Dorian van Rijsselberge and Casper Bouman, both coached by McIntosh (NZL), like the heavy weather conditions and were flying. Going into the Medal Race, Bouman was in ninth position. He needed to finish top six in order to qualify for Beijing. He took the bullet, but missed the sixth position by just one point. He has one more chance in Kiel. If he fails, Van Rijsselberge will go. Despite the fact he has a full nomination of NOC*NSF, he lost the national selection to Bouman, who still needs to complete his nomination. Today, Van Rijsselberge sailed in second position as he saw Bouman making a small mistake at the bottom mark: 'I was eager to catch him and wanted to make a smooth gibe, but I accidentally hooked into my harness and made a catapult.' Bontemps passed him and secured his overall victory, followed by Van Rijsselberge and Tom Ashly from New Zealand.
Marina Alabau (ESP) did not take any risks in the women fleet: 'I already had a big lead, so I took it easy. It was heavy going downwind in these choppy conditions. I did not have much control.' But the Spanish European Champion finished third and won the regatta, followed by Barbara Kendall (NZL) and Blanca Manchon (ESP), who took the final bullet.

Laser – Winning tactics
Both leaders in the Laser classes had their own tactics for the final battle in the Medal Race. And they both succeeded. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA): 'I sailed conservatively and kept it simple. I started slow and got better throughout the race. I rounded the top mark in ninth position and worked myself through the fleet to a fourth place. This victory is certainly good for my confidence.' Gintare Volungeviciute (SLO) had an eventful day: 'I was sixth at the upwind buoy, but I touched it and had to take a penalty turn. Directly after this, I got flagged and had to take another penalty, so I was last. The Australians capsized, so we finished ninth.' She still hang on to the silver medal, followed by Larissa Nevierov (ITA).

Tom Slingsby (AUS) had a different strategy in mind: 'I was math racing the Slovenian guy. My plan was to get his mind of the game, but in those conditions you cannot do too much.' But Zbogar did make a few mistakes an finished sixth and second overall, followed by Tonci Stipanovic (CRO).

49er and Star – Risk management
The top ten 49er teams struggled in the windy conditions. Only three out of ten skiffs managed to stay upright. The leaders Stephen Morrison and Ben Rhodes (GBR) did not hoist the spinnaker at all. Morrison: 'There was no need to be brave. Five boats capsized at the first top mark and two more on the run. It was about getting the job down, because we had to finish fifth.' And the British were third over the line. The current Olympic and European Champions Martinez/Fernandez (ESP) took the bullet. Their fellow countrymen Tellechea/Tellechea won silver and the Italian Sibello brothers bronze. Yesterday’s Star podium did not change, so Marazzi and De Maria (SUI) did hang on to their first position. Ian Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR) won the double scoring Medal Race, followed by bronze medallists Loof/Ekstrom from Sweden and silver medallists Kusznierewicz/Zycki from Poland.

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS:

470 Men:
1st - Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page
45th - Mathieu Higgins and Timothy Lynch

470 Women:
9th - Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson

49er:
6th - Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin

Finn:
8th - Anthony Nossiter

Laser:
1st - Tom Slingsby
48th - Joshua Cant

Laser Radial:
4th - Sarah Blanck

RS:X Women:
4th - Jessica Crisp

Star:
5th - Ian Murray and Andrew Palfrey

Tornado:
1st - Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby

Yngling:
16th - Krystal Weir, Karen Gojnich, Angela Farrell


For more information about the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2008, please www.deltalloydregatta.org

Besides from title sponsor Delta Lloyd, the regatta 2008 is also sponsored by Volvo Cars Netherlands, Infotec, Provincie Noord-Holland, AD Sportwereld Pro, Heuvelman Sound & Vision, WeerOnline, Spa mineral water and ARMA Verhuur.