29er Final Series regattas - Four races for the Gold Group

by Antonio Sueri on 24 Jul 2009 On the regatta courses, a strong southerly wind blows with gusts up to 12 – 13 meters-per-second. Now this is gonna be a good boating day. 2009’s 29er World Championship competitors, from all four groups, have a fighting chance to exploit these exceptional sailing conditions.

The Gold Group fleet, hitting the water at noon, is able to run four fabulous races: races which end up confirming the supremacy of the Australian crew Steven Thomas and Blair Tuke (scores 3, 2, 2, 1).

And today’s podium speaks Australian to exclusion: Lauren Jeffries and Nathan Outteridge (AUS 1727) (scores 1, 9, 6, 8) in second position; Haylee Outteridge and Iain Jensen in third (AUS 34) (2, 6, 1, 21). Judge Ryan and Matt Noble (USA 28), whose 62-point eleventh position in today’s rankings is an unfortunate dip from yesterday’s third position in the Qualifying Series, had an OCS in today’s last race.

More Gold Group news: first-place victory in today’s second race for Kevin Fischer and Gleen Gouron (FRA 1634) (12, 1, 21, 7). And Italian sailors Riccardo Camin and Lorenzo Franceschini (F.V. Riva) are fifteenth (6, 23, 24, 4) in the temporary rankings.

Topping the ranks in the Silver Group fleet, following today’s three races, we find Adam Larvin and Ed Chapman (GBR 1322), authors of 1 sixth-place finish, 1 ninth-place finish and 1 third. Today’s other first-place winners: Paris Henken and Chris Rast (USA 1703), Phillip and Thilo Kramer (GER 1599) and Phil Walker and John Mather (GBR 703). Third position in the temporary overall ranks for Augusto Poropat (S.V.Barcola Grignano-Trieste) and Giacomo Grosselli (F.V.Riva) (ITA 1209) (11, 18, 7).

Meanwhile, the Bronze and Emerald Group fleets sailed three races each today as well.

Main Sponsor of the 2009 29er World Championship is Slam. Other sponsors are Seiko, Trentino SpA, Agraria Riva del Garda, San Pellegrino and Riva del Garda Fiere e Congressi.