49th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Day 2: Aussie World and National champions make their move
by David Sygall 3 Apr 2018 23:35 PDT
30 March - 7 April 2018
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan - 49th Trofeo Princesa Sofia - Day 2 © Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofia IBEROSTAR
470 world champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan, 49er national champions David Gilmour and Joel Turner, and ex-youth world champion Finn Alexander were Australia's big movers on day two of the Palma regatta in Spain overnight, while Mitch Kennedy joined the big guns in the massive Laser fleet after a solid day's racing.
Kennedy raced consistently to rocket up to 8th from 67th after day one, Gilmour and Turner scored two bullets and a 5 to go from 24th after day one to 5th and 10 points off the lead in the 49er class and Alexander, who scored a bullet in the only race on the opening day, scored a 5, 1 and discarded 31 to maintain his position at the front of the 183-boat Laser fleet. Belcher and Ryan, who have not raced in a major regatta for six months, shot to the head of the 79-boat 470 fleet with a 3 and a 1.
"It was a bit lighter than we expected. We started the race in about 15 knots and then it died away quickly," Belcher said, adding it felt good to be back in competitive racing.
"We feel quite fresh, if a little bit rusty, and we are here in a big fleet to learn our lessons early on in the season rather than later when it becomes more critical.
"We didn't really know what to expect here, it's our chance to be back racing in the boat. We have done a little training but not much.
"I have been doing some 'real work' at home doing developing some residential buildings which is a bit of a change from this. Will has been racing the M32s. We will do Hyeres and then head back to Australia for a bit. I think we will miss the Europeans but we will see how we go."
Matt Wearn had a good day, grabbing a 2, 6 and discard to move up to 5th in the Laser class. Olympic champion Tom Burton slid back to 21st with a discard, 2 and 22. Finn sailor Jock Calvert scored a 5 in race three to jump into 30th spot.
Australian Standings after Day 2:
470
- Mat Belcher/Will Ryan - 2, (13), 3, 1 - 1st
- Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson - 12, (30), 10, 25 - 46th
470W
- Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries - 17, 8, 11, (19) - 31st
49er
- David Gilmour/Joel Turner - 10, 4, (11), 1, 5, 1 - 5th
- Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson - 2, 15, (17), 8, 7, 10 - 27th
- Kurt Hansen/Harry Morton - 19, 3, 4, (22), 13, 18 - 36th
49erFX
- Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot - (22), 10, 6, 7, 15, 16 - 23rd
- Amelia Stabback/Ella Clark - 18, 14, 11, 20, 25, (UFD) - 42nd
Finn
- Jake Lilley - 15, 25, (42), 19 - 24th
- Oli Tweddell - 26, (39), 31, 7 - 27th
- Jock Calvert - (50), 35, 5, 36 - 30th
- Lewis Brake - (65), 49, 50, 53 - 59th
Laser
- Finn Alexander - 1, 5, 1, (31) - 1st
- Matt Wearn - 5, 2, 6, (24) - 5th
- Mitch Kennedy - 23, 4, 3, 8 - 8th
- Tom Burton - 2, (24), 2, 22 - 21st
- Luke Elliott - 17, 18, (32), 30 - 78th
- Daniel Self - 47, 15, 26, (56) - 106th
Laser Radial
- Paige Caldecoat - 43, (53), 21, 49 - 92nd
Nacra 17
- Tayla Rietman/Lachie White - 19, 21, 22, 22, (23), 22 - 45th
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