ISAF World Cup - Favourites in Podium positions

by Event media/GJN on 20 Dec 2008
With just the final day of Medal Races to be contested the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup is drawing to a close. Britain's Paul Campbell-James and Mark Asquith, 49er, take an unassailable lead into tomorrow’s final race, as do the 470 men’s favourites, Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page of Australia.

Other certain winners are Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall (AUS) in the women's 470, and Blanca Manchon (ESP) in the women's RS:X.

It is going to be a nail biting finish for full first round World Cup points in the RS:X men’s class tomorrow. Locked on 16 points a piece is French windsurfer Nicolas Le Gal, who has led the regatta for the most of the week, with fast finishing Kiwi boarder Antonio Cozzolino.

Cozzolino has strung together three wins in a row to head into tomorrow’s final race slightly favoured on his late week form. Sitting in third position is another New Zealander, Joshua Nixon on 26 points.

In the women’s RS:X class, Spanish boarder Blanca Manchon would have to make some dramatic mistakes to be headed by dual Aussie Olympian Jessica Crisp in second place. Manchon, who sits on 15 points, is nine points clear of Crisp, with Kiwi Kate Ellingham just one point further back.

In the Youth RS:X, Leung Ho Tsung of China is in first place with Chang Hao (TPE) second and Alister Masters (GBR) third.

In the small 49er fleet, Britain's Paul Campbell-James and Mark Asquith, have not had worse than a second place finish and will add the Melbourne title to their earlier Sydney Regatta win. Second are Will and Sam Phillips (AUS).

Anna Tunnicliffe of the USA has a six point lead in the Women's Radial event ahead of Gabrielle King (AUS) and Tina Michelic (CRO). Britain's Andrea Brewster is tied in fifth place with Sara Winther (NZL) and only one point off a podium finish. Alison Young (GBR) is in sixth place.

Stacey Omay and Chelsea Hall (AUS) have won all but one race in the women's 470 leading into tomorrow’s final race of the regatta – they lead on 9 points, 14 points ahead of Amy Kivell/Alexandra Ward (AUS), with Laura Baldwin and Michelle Muller (AUS) a further 4 points in arrears.

Meanwhile 470 men’s favourites Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page continue to pile on the pressure. Gold Medallist Page and his new skipper Belcher admitted to struggling a little in the first race of the day however still managed to cross the line in second place. Rectifying what Belcher said were a few annoying elementary mistakes they made initially, the duo felt very comfortable in the second race to record their seventh win from 10 starts.

The big men of the small, yet competitive Finn fleet enjoyed the heavier 12-15 knot conditions on Port Phillip Bay today.

Warwick Hill (AUS) is enjoying a healthy rivalry with his South Australian counterpart James Paterson. Paterson, who won at SIR’s last week looks like he will have to lower his colours this week to Hill. Hill is leading the fleet on 11 points, five clear of Paterson, with Chris Caldecoat (AUS) well out of contention in third place on 28 points.

Outside the ISAF World Cup events, Andrew Brown (NZL) is leading the Moth class, ahead of Rob Gough and Lochlin Byrne both AUS. And the in the 29er, James Sly and Andy Gillies lead Bec Tuma and Emma Daly, also AUS.

ISAF World Cup Melbourne - Leading overall results

After 13 races:

49er Class
Paul Campbell-James/Mark Asquith (GBR) 16
William Phillips/Samuel Phillips (AUS) 33
David McDiarmid/Andrew Archibald (NZL) 41
After 10 races:

470 Class
Mat Belcher/Malcolm Page (AUS) 11
Stuart McNay/Graham Biehl (USA) 20
Sam Kivell/Max Taylor (AUS) 26

470 Women’s Class
Stacey Omay/Chelsea Hall (AUS) 9
Amy Kivell/Alexandra Ward (AUS) 23
Laura Baldwin/Michelle Muller (AUS) 27

Finn Class
Warwick Hill (AUS) 11
James Paterson (AUS) 16
Chris Caldecoat (AUS) 28

Laser Full Rig
Matias Del Solar (CHI) 25
Mike Bullot (NZL) 36
Mike Leigh (CAN) 41

Laser Radial Women
Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) 19
Gabrielle King (AUS) 25
Tina Michelic (CRO) 31

Laser Radial Men
Klade Hauschildt (AUS) 13
Chris Jones (AUS) 29
Tim Coltman (NZL) 37

RS:X Women
Blanca Manchon (ESP) 7
Jessica Crisp (AUS) 24
Kate Ellingham (NZL) 25

RS:X Men
Nicolas Le Gal (FRA) 16
Antonio Cozzolino (NZL) 16
Josh Nixon (NZL) 26

29er Class
James Sly/Andrew Gillies (AUS) 8
Bec Tuma/Emma Louise Daly (AUS) 17
Jack Lloyd/James Lainson (AUS) 24

Laser 4.7 Class
Stephen Collings (AUS) 12
Alison Dale (AUS) 16
Zac Pullen (AUS) 23

2.4m Class
Michael Leydon (AUS) 12
Peter Russell (AUS) 12
Joshua McKenzie-Brown (NZL) 27

Skud
Duncan McGregor/Andrew Cook (AUS) 9
Chris Riordan/Robert Schahinger (AUS) 11
David Staley/Bruce James (AUS) 13