Slingsby extends lead at Laser European Championship

by Craig Heydon on 10 Jun 2010 The Australian Sailing Team’s Tom Slingsby has extended his lead at the 2010 Laser European Championship in Estonia as the regatta heads into two days of finals racing.

The two-time Laser World Champion now has a nine point lead over Croatia’s Tonci Stipanovic after opening his day with a seventh followed by a victory in the second race, with a great pattern forming as it’s the fourth day in a row he has won that race.

'The first race started very well and I rounded the top mark in second,' said Slingsby. 'Heading down the first run there was a big split and I chose to head to the right and unfortunately picked the wrong side, losing about six or seven boats. I finished up seventh which was ok but a little disappointing after such a promising start.'

'In the second race I was also doing well but lost a few places down the first run,' he said. 'I stayed around fourth or fifth for most of the race until a bit more pressure filled in on the final run and I made a good move and moved into second around the bottom.'

'On the reach I passed the leader and held it to the finish, the top five all finished within about 10 seconds of each other,' he said.

Slingsby will be joined in the Gold fleet by fellow Australian Ryan Palk who had another strong day on the water finishing with a second and an 11th, moving from 34th to 25th overall.

'Tomorrow is pretty much like starting a new regatta,' said Slingsby. 'With events like this qualifying is just like getting your place on the starting grid, the real racing starts tomorrow.'

Racing was again held in a shifty, offshore breeze which was between five and 12 knots for the majority of the day with the Australian sailors guided on the water by Australian Sailing Team Laser coach Michael Blackburn.

'We had a moderate breeze today and most of the good guys had a good day,' said Blackburn. 'Including Tom who put a couple more points on second place. But now the real competition starts with four Gold fleet races in the next two days that will make all the difference.'

James Burman and Ashley Brunning had a tougher day on the water finishing the qualification races in 58th and 61st positions respectively and will sail in the Silver fleet from Thursday.

australiansailingteam.com.au