Laser Youth Worlds - Mikkola in Laser Radial early World Champion

by SVG Verlag on 16 Aug 2016 2016 Laser Radial and Standard U-21 World Championships - Two more races were sailed at the Laser Youth World Championships (U-21) in Kiel on Monday, in the Laser Standard (men) as well as the Laser Radial (women) - and in the women's fleet, the World Champion is already set: Monika Mikkola is the untouchable leader after two top results. In the men's fleet, Jonatan Vadnai (Hungary) was able to defend his lead, but it is tight.

While there were mainly strong winds until now, where the lightweight sailors (especially the women) were struggling to handle their boat, they now could benefit from the wind on Monday with six to nine knots (two to three beaufort) from North West. In the gold fleet of the men, the British sailor Jack Aitken, who had just become World Champion of the Laser Radial Youth Worlds (U-19) in Ireland, has been sailing a fantastic race. He started on the far left and was soon at the top of the fleet on the upwind.

When approaching the windward mark, he was already leading by 100 metres and could increase his lead in undisturbed winds even more. In the end it was almost 200 meters, when he crossed the finish line. Ignacio Rodriguez from Uruguay finished one race in second position, which he had gained on the first leeward run. With an excellent second upwind course, Kirill Evfimyevskiy (Russia) did move up into the top of the fleet and could cross the finish line as the third boat. Matteo Celon from Italy became fourth, followed by Joel Rodriguez (Spain), the previous second overall. From the other sailors in the top ten, only Nicolo' Villa (Italy, place eight) did finish in a one-digit position.

After the start of the second race, which was successful in the first attempt already, the 72 starters of the gold fleet were spread evenly across the whole width of the race course. The two sailors, who had chosen to go for one side and were faster than the competitors, did reach the windward mark at the same time: Frontrunner Jonatan Vadnai (Hungary) and Gianmarco Planchestainer (Italy). At the finish, Vadnai was first in front of Planchestainer. Joel Rodriguez was close to Vadnai from the beginning and did finish in third position. 'It has been a good day for me', Joel Rodriguez was satisfied in the afternoon about his two races. 'I try to do the best in every wind.'

The 18-year old from Gran Canaria did start into the Worlds with 80 kilogram of bodyweight. 'Now I am weighing less', he laughed. The strong wind conditions did make him suffer. 'Let's see, how many races we are going to sail tomorrow. The forecast is not too promising', said the second overall.

Jonatan Vadnai is starting into the last day with a lead of three points. 'No, I cannot look for him. I have to sail my own race', said the sailor from the Lake Balaton. In contrast to Rodriguez, he has already two discards. Nik Willim (Germany) did have one early start and finished one race in 12. position, but remains on rank three. 'It is a bit a shame and puts me under pressure for tomorrow. I think, I will get back to my conservative strategy', said Willim.

Maud Jayet did start into the second last race day being the second-ranked in the Laser Radial. 'The starts are my bad points', said the 20-year old law student before getting onto the race course. 'I will try to make it better today - and then the race will be easier. We still have four races to go, much can change.' This was only true to a certain extent. Jayet dropped back in the ranking onto rank five, having finished on positions 17 and 13. Today's first race of the women was won by Maité Carlier from Belgium. In the second race she was also doing well until she made a mistake when tacking in the hustle: 'I did not get hold of my toe strap and fell overboard.' Place 16 is now her second discard - and she remains on rank two.

The Greek sailor Vasileia Karachaliou can get rid of her early start from Sunday with her second discard (her second disqualification for an early start was cancelled just as for the Italian sailor Valentina Balbi). Karachaliou is now on rank two, having finished fourth in both races. At the top of the fleet, Monika Mikkola from Helsinki (Finland) has only 16 points, after a second and first place. Her worst results have been a fifth and a sixth place. Thus she is the untouchable leader and can watch the final race day from ashore.

The last two races in all groups (Standard gold and silver as well as Radial women) are scheduled for Tuesday, 11am. The prize giving ceremony will be in the afternoon.

The races of the gold fleet of the men can be watched live on the event website (TV and tracking).

U-21 World Championship in the Laser Standard (Men)

Interim ranking after 10 races (2 discards)

1. Jonatan Vadnei (Hungary), 16 points
2. Joel Rodriguez (Spain), 19 p.
3. Nik Aaron Willim (NRV, Germany), 44 p.
4. Santiago Sampaio (Portugal), 52 p.
5. Nicolo’ Villa (Italy), 53 p.
6. Max Gallant (Canada), 70 P.

U-21 World Championship in the Laser Radial (Women)

Interim ranking after 10 races (2 discards)

1. Monika Mikkola (Finland), 16 points
2. Vasileia Karachaliou (Greece), 32 p.
3. Maité Carlier (Belgium), 42 p.
4. Valentina Balbi (Italy), 43 p.
5. Maud Jayet (Switzerland), 43 p.
6. Elli Cumpsty (Great Britain), 55 p.

Laser Standard Men and Laser Radial Women Youth Worlds (U21 - U19):

• Tuesday, 9. August: check-in, measurement
• Wednesday, 10. August: check-in, measurement, 2pm: practice race, 7:30pm: opening ceremony/dinner
• Thursday, 11. August: 11am: qualification round
• Friday, 12. August: 11am: qualification round
• Saturday, 13. August: 11am: qualification round, 7pm midweek party with dinner
• Sunday, 14. August 11am: qualification round
• Monday, 15. August, 11am: final round
• Tuesday, 16. August, 11am: final round, after that prize giving ceremony and final party/dinner