Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

2019 ILCA Laser Radial World Championship at Miho Bay, Japan - Day 3

by Ravi Subramanian 21 Jul 2019 14:17 PDT 17-24 July 2019

The typhoon that was headed north towards the Sea of Japan veered west, over the Korean Peninsula, and is no longer a threat to Radial Worlds in Sakaiminato City. But it's likely influencing weather patterns in the region, so it's at least an indirect threat. Similar to yesterday, Day 3 at Radial Worlds started with optimism, but at times racing looked questionable. An initial course was set for 15 knot winds at a heading of 185 under moderately rainy skies.

The skies were clearing by start time, and the wind softening, but conditions were raceable and the Men's fleet started their Race 5 cleanly. RC held off starting the Women's Yellow fleet, to give the Men some separation and to adjust the first mark to a 5 deg shift to the left. But after one General Recall, Yellow started their Race 3 without penalties under a building breeze. The Women's Blue fleet needed three starts (six sailors received BFD penalties in the second) but by early afternoon all three fleets were on the course or finished.

The wind was gusty, mostly in the mid- to high-teens, and there were clear differences across the course. But it did seem that the leaders on the inner trapezoid (Women's Yellow & Blue) often came into the weather mark from the left side of the course.

Paige Riley (USA), who finished second twice today, confirmed this. She thought that coming in from the left near the top mark worked for most of the day, whether it was geographic or just how the oscillations lined up lined up with the Yellow fleet. Mostly, she thought it was a matter of staying in pressure as you worked your way up, and down, the course.

A second round of races were started early afternoon, first Red (Men's), then Yellow (Women's). But before Blue got off a clean start, things got weird. The wind shifted right ten degrees, then another ten, and then kept going. By the time Yellow was halfway down to the bottom mark they were reaching, and RC had no choice but to abandon the race. Everyone drifted and waited while the wind died, built, and died again, shifting throughout.

It took 90 minutes for the breeze to settle back in at the original southerly direction, but ultimately Red (Men's) and Yellow & Blue (Women's) got in another race before the 1800h off-the-water deadline. It required shortening the final race at the second weather mark for Blue, but the day concluded with Race 6 for the Men and Race 5 for the two Women's fleets and the end of their Qualifying Series.

Men's results after day 3 (no discard):

1. Zac West AUS 13 (20) pts
2. Simon de Gendt BEL 28 (61) pts
3. Guilherme Perez BRA 29 (48) pts
4. Mark Louis AUS 30 (54) pts
5. Erwan Lamoureux SUI 39 (72) pts

Women's results after day 3 (no discard):

1. Josefin Olsson AUS 13 (20) pts
2. Paige Railey USA 14 (36) pts
3. Marit Bouwmeester NED 22 (37) pts
4. Marie Bolou FRA 24 (48) pts
5. Tuula Tenkanen FIN 24 (41) pts
6. Charlotte Rose USA 25 (47) pts
7. Line Flem Høst NOR 26 (49) pts
8. Ecem Güzel TUR 28 (40) pts
9. Alison Young GBR 33 (63) pts
10. Anne-Marie Rindom DEN 34 (91) pts

The day concluded with the Midweek Party - a wonderfully hosted buffet of local food with live music. Thanks to all of the volunteers who made this (and the regatta!) happen! The Finals Series begins tomorrow.

Event Website - 2019worlds.laserjapan.org/radial
Results - 2019worlds.laserjapan.org/radial/results
Photo Galleries - www.facebook.com/2019-Laser-Worlds-JAPAN-284629198769700

Two Irish make Gold fleet by ISA

Both Aisling Keller (Nenagh, Co. Tipperary) and Aoife Hopkins (Howth, Co. Dublin) qualified for the Gold fleet final round at the Laser Radial World Championship at Sakaiminato, Japan earlier today (Sunday 21st July 2019).

The event is a qualification regatta for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the women's single-handed event sailed in the Laser Radial dinghy.

After two days of light winds that put the championship behind schedule, the fleet had a protracted third day afloat for eight hours as the organisers staged three races to catch-up on most of the event schedule.

Both Keller and Hopkins had two good results apiece with an eighth and an eleventh respectively that leaves them 29th and 37th overall at the end of the qualification series for the 111-boat event.

A six-race Gold fleet series begins on Monday with two races scheduled daily before concluding the world championship on Wednesday.

A total of ten nation places are available from the world championship for Tokyo with 14 countries in the Gold fleet all seeking one of the quota. Both Keller and Hopkins are currently inside the qualification standings.

"It was a challenging day to be consistent with winds ranging from fresh to moderate to light but flukey at all times," commented Rory Fitzpatrick, Irish Sailing's Head Coach. "The plan continues to be to sail one race at a time as a very tough Gold fleet final round lies ahead."

Related Articles

Enter now for the 2025 ILCA U21 Europeans
Last week to apply for the record-breaking event The 2025 ILCA Under 21 European Championships & Open European Trophy will be held in Split, Croatia, from 18-25 October 2025, and it's shaping up to be a record-breaking event, with 240 entries already received. Posted today at 9:23 am
2025 Dutch Water Week day 3
Britain's Micky Beckett continues to lead the ILCA 7 fleet Day Three of the Dutch Water Week, the last stop of the Sailing Grand Slam 2025, brought sunshine and light winds to Almere. Posted today at 8:53 am
Formia to Host 450+ Sailors for ILCA Master Worlds
Sailors from 31 nations have arrived in Italy The 2025 ILCA Master World Championships officially kicked off today in Formia, Italy. This year's event has drawn over 450 sailors from 31 nations, making it one of the largest gatherings of the ILCA Master community worldwide. Posted on 19 Sep
2025 Dutch Water Week day 2
Some fleets are testing new race formats and scoring systems Day two of Dutch Water Week once again delivered classic Dutch autumn conditions: strong gusty winds, grey skies and occasional rain showers. Posted on 19 Sep
2025 Dutch Water Week day 1
The format with ten participants and new race formats is being tested and evaluated From Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 September, Almere is hosting the fourth edition of Dutch Water Week. This edition serves as a pilot for the Sailing Grand Slam Final (SGS). Posted on 18 Sep
Welsh Youth and Junior Championships
More than 80 young sailors competing from across the country at Plas Heli Big breeze and waves for the 2025 Welsh Youth & Junior Championships saw more than 80 young sailors demonstrating their skills and resilience at Plas Heli, Pwllheli. Posted on 18 Sep
Introducing the Youth Sailing Worlds GBR Team
The countdown to Portugal begins as this year's talented squad is announced Sixteen of the nation's top young sailors have been selected to represent Great Britain at the prestigious Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, taking place 12-20 December 2025. Posted on 18 Sep
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup HUN
A record-breaking 177 competitors from 16 countries The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup HUN in Balatonfüred featured a record-breaking 177 competitors from 16 countries, including Olympians and top sailors. Posted on 16 Sep
ILCA Women's Coaching day at Parkstone
It's really rewarding to coach groups with so much energy and enjoyment of the sport George Povall brought the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme to Parkstone on Saturday where 14 ladies attended from Poole YC, East Dorset SC, Chew Valley SC as well as the home club. Posted on 10 Sep
Derwent Reservoir Lakeland & Borders ILCA Open
A longer walk to launch, but plenty of water for the 21 entrants Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club welcomed 21 entrants to their annual ILCA open on Saturday 6th September, forming part of the 2025 ILCA Lakeland & Borders series. Posted on 8 Sep
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design