470 World Championship at Sdot Yam Sailing Club, Israel - Day 5

Germany wins worlds with a day to spare

Luise Wanser & Philipp Autenrieth (GER) have won the 470 World Championship in Sdot Yam, Israel, with a race to spare. It's the first time in almost 30 years that Germany has won the 470 world title, the previous times being the men's championship in 1991 and the women's championship in 1994. The last time Germany won a medal of any colour at a 470 Worlds was bronze at the 1998 women's World Championship.

Unaufhalfsam

Wanser & Autenrieth made an excellent start to the first to today's two gold fleet races. For the first race the breeze was sub-10 knots, marginal trapezing occasionally building up to full power. The Germans have been fast all week and use that speed advantage to play the percentages in the middle of the race course. Working the shifts and the gusts to their advantage, GER10 had already eked out a significant lead by the first windward mark and sailed away to a winning margin of more than a minute by the finish.

Lecointre & Mion sit in silver medal position on 470 Worlds at Sdot Yam, Israel day 5 - photo © Moshe Menagen / Int. 470 Class

With all their main opposition way back in the 30-boat pack, Wanser & Autenrieth suddenly leapt to a 25 point lead over Camille Lecointre & Jérémie Mion (FRA) who had crossed the line in 14th. The other French threat, Matisse Pacaud & Lucie de Gennes (FRA), fared even worse, crossing in 21st.

Italian consolation

In the next race the wind had built sufficiently for the Oscar flag to fly, permitting the crews to go fully kinetic with their body and sail movements around the race course. Marco Gradoni & Alessandra Dubbini (ITA) took the early lead but by the bottom of the course they had been overtaken by fellow Italians Giacomo Ferrari & Bianca Caruso (ITA) who sailed away for a race win. There was a half-hearted fist bump between the race winners as they crossed the line, reminding themselves that they can be truly world class despite finishing a disappointing 19th overall.

Both these Italian teams tasted success on 470 Worlds at Sdot Yam, Israel day 5 - photo © Amit Shisel / Int. 470 Class

"It was a bittersweet moment," said Caruso. "We have been finishing on the podium almost every event this year, but we had a tough week at a hard venue. It's good to win the last race to show yourself that you can do it and you're still there."

OMG! on 470 Worlds at Sdot Yam, Israel day 5 - photo © Int. 470 Class

Further back, Lecointre & Mion crossed the line in 9th, Wanser & Autenrieth in 12th. The French had reduced the deficit by a little, but the 22-point gap means the Germans are unassailable for the overall title.

Initially the regatta winners refused to believe that they had actually sealed the regatta. And because of the medal race format, they can't fully relax until that formality is over on Saturday. Gradually the smiles grew wider as they stepped ashore on to Sdot Yam beach. "I can't believe this is real," grinned Wanser. "It might take me a couple of days before this really hits me."

A dedicated follower (and leader) of fashion, Wanser wears different clothes to the boat park every day and different lycra leggings each day on the water. "I thought I would put this pair on today because these were the ones I was wearing when I won the Youth Worlds in 2019," laughed Wanser. For Autenrieth this moment has been a long time coming. "I started sailing 470s in 2009 so I have been working hard for this for a long time," he said, allowing himself a smile.

Three-way

The battle for silver and bronze could be interesting. Lecointre & Mion have earned themselves a little breathing space with a 6-point gap back to Pacaud & de Gennes in third. Mion is looking forward to the final battle. "Camille and I have only done a month and a half of training so we're happy to be in the medal race in a good position for a medal. We'll work out a good strategy and see how it goes tomorrow."

Pacaud & de Gennes are on 79 points, with fourth-placed Jordi Xammar & Nora Brugman (ESP) on 80, and fifth-placed Simon Diesch & Anna Markfort (GER) on 81. With the double points system in a medal race, this means these three teams go to the final in a direct who-beats-who scenario.

Young French have a shot at their first medal in a senior worlds on 470 Worlds at Sdot Yam, Israel day 5 - photo © Int. 470 Class

Best performers of today were Gradoni and Dubbini with a 5,2 which has lifted the Italians to sixth overall on 87 points. This gives the Italians a theoretical shot at the podium although a lot of things will have to fall into place for that to happen.

At the end of competition in the silver fleet there was a dead heat between Deniz Cinar & Simay Aslan (TUR) and Henrique Haddad & Isabel Swan (BRA). The tie fell in Turkey's favour, with Brazil the runner-up and Nia Jerwood & Conor Nicholas (AUS) in third.

The medal race is scheduled to start at 1330 hours local time. For live tracking and live broadcast of the racing, go here: https://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=6045&docID=418043

Results after Day 5: (top 3, 11 races)

1. Luise Wanser & Philipp Autenrieth (GER), 51 points
2. Camille Lecointre & Jérémie Mion (FRA), 73 points
3. Jordi Xammar & Nora Brugman (ESP), 80 points

Nations Trophy

Despite the Germans securing individual gold, the battle for the 470 Nations Trophy is still on between Germany and France. Spain sits comfortably in third while fourth place is a battle between Japan, Italy and Great Britain. Tomorrow's 470 medal race is set to be one of the most exciting of recent years.

To get all the news, photos and updates from the racing, go to 2022worlds.470.org

The cranes look on approvingly as 470s cross the finish on 470 Worlds at Sdot Yam, Israel day 5 - photo © Moshe Menagen / Int. 470 Class