Stakes high at ISAF Sailing World Cup

Weymouth and Portland, GBR (June 10, 2015) – The first day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland sprung a few surprises with an uncommon north eastern breeze testing the fleet. Ranging up to 20 knots, the breeze coupled with glorious British sunshine, resulted in some exceptional racing on the 2012 Olympic waters.

The stakes have been described as high by the competitors competing in Great Britain and rightly so with internal Rio qualification battles, ISAF Sailing World Cup honours, a share of the prize fund and Abu Dhabi Final spots.

Racing commenced at 11:00 local time and wrapped up early evening with the ten Olympic, three Paralympic and Kiteboarding events completing their race schedule.

Men’s and Women’s 470
Americans Stu McNay and David Hughes stayed consistently in the top five with a 4-2 to lead the men’s 37-boat field. Panagiotis Mantis/ Pavlos Kagialis (GRE) won the first race but an 11th in race two has them in second. Germans Ferdinand Gerz/ Oliver Szymanski won the second race but a 22nd in the first race has them in sixth position.

In contrast, the top women were rather steady, with Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) winning both races to lead their 27-boat fleet. Equally consistent were Brits Hannah Mills Saskia Clark with a 2-2 and Tina Mrak/ Veronika Macarol (SLO) with a 4-3 to complete the top three.

Laser
New Zealand’s Andy Maloney came out with intent in the Laser, taking the day one lead with a strong performance as he explained, “We had good breeze between 10 and 15 knots. It was pretty shifty on the course but I had good pace and played the shifts and managed to come away with a first and second which is pretty solid. It was a good day.”

The Road to Rio is a hard one and as well as international threats, Maloney also has to contend with domestic rivals on his journey. With the likes of his compatriots Sam Meech, Mike Bullot and Thomas Saunders all capable of challenging for medals, Maloney feels no internal pressure, “It’s good for us and the Australians to have a good squad and we’re all pushing each other hard.

“It’s exciting more than anything now in the Laser because it’s coming down to the final part of the cycle so it’s crunch time now.”

Yachting New Zealand named six crews for the Olympic Test Event on 18 May – see release here – . And as stated, will consider nominations the Laser following the World Cup Weymouth and Portland. A good performance by Maloney could go a long way for selection with Bullot in 15th, Saunders 20th and Sam Meech 21st after the opening day.

Nick Thompson (GBR) was not far off of Maloney’s pace, finishing behind him in both races to sit in second.

London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides (CYP) was almost as strong in Weymouth and Portland’s conditions as he did so well three years prior. A seventh and a fourth puts him third overall but he’s got his eye on the top, “I’m satisfied with my performance and races today but there’s still a long way to go and I hope to move up. Having 40 top guys with this new ISAF World Cup, the stakes are high.

“You have to push to the end and every race counts. You can win this event without winning any races. Consistency will prove vital in the end.”

The day’s remaining race win went the way of Jesper Stalheim (SWE) who is fourth overall.

Laser Radial
The last time Marit Bouwmeester (NED), Evi Van Acker (BEL) and Annalise Murphy (IRL) competed against each other at Weymouth and Portland they were locked in a battle for Olympic medals.

Fast forward three years and they’re fighting it out again at the ISAF Sailing World Cup.
Marit Bouwmeester (NED) was assertive on the race course, winning both races by a comfortable margin. The Dutch sailor, who won silver at London 2012, sits atop the pile with Evi Van Acker, London 2012 bronze medallist, trailing on five points following a 3-2 scoreline.

Murphy came through in second in the opening race and followed it up with a sixth in Race 2. She is third on eight points.

Great Britain’s Alison Young sits fourth on 13 points.

49er and 49erFX
On the face of the 49er results it would be quick to assume that leaders Lukasz Przybytek and Pawel Kolodzinski (POL) were the stand out performers of the day. However, regattas aren’t won on the first they. It takes a consistent performance across five days of racing to come out on top and the most consistent team of the day were the first placed John Pink and Stu Bithell (GBR).

The pair recorded a 8-3-9 scoreline and were the only team to record three single digit scores. “On the first day of the regatta it’s always nice to start well and we’re thrilled to bits with three top tens. We’re fifth overall which is great and tomorrow brings another challenge because it’s going to be windy and we’ll be pushing on and hopefully get into that top three.

“It’s a great fleet, the top boats in the world are here and no one is really missing. It’s great that everyone is competing in the ISAF Sailing World Cup.”

Bithell won silver in the Men’s 470 at London 2012 and on his home waters he knows what the venue is all about, “You could argue that I know Weymouth fairly well,” he said with a smile. “I’ve lived here for some years now, did the Olympic Games here and is there a home advantage,” he pondered, “yes there probably is but incidentally we don’t always get the wind direction we had today.”

The Polish crew lead on seven points with Pink and Bithell four points off the leaders. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) and Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign (GBR) are tied on 8 points in second and third.

Maiken Foght Schutt and Anne-Julie Schutt (DEN) lead the way in the 49erFX on three points following scores of 6-2-1. Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL) follow in second place on six points.

Sarah Steyaert and Aude Compan (FRA), Tamara Echegoyen and Berta Betanzos (ESP) and Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) are tied on seven points from third to fifth.

Men’s and Women’s RS:X
It’s a British 1-2 in the Men’s RS:X and Women’s RS:X. Nick Dempsey and Tom Squires are locked on three points apiece in the men’s whilst Isobel Hamilton leads Bryony Shaw by a single point in the women’s.

From three races Dempsey and Squires took a race victory each with the third place Mattia Camboni (ITA) taking the other.

“We had nice racing, very close,” exclaimed Dempsey. “Tom and I are quicker than the fleet. Our training’s gone really well and we’re starting to sail well. It’s nice and quite good fun racing.”

The pair train together on a daily basis which has helped them in the build-up to the regatta as Dempsey explained, “It’s nice having a competitive training partner. When we train we know we’re training against one of the fastest people in the world.

“You never have to compensate. If you’re beating Tom then you know you’re going fast. That is what we’ve always missed having with our training partners so it’s brilliant news.”

“It’s nice and quite good fun racing Tom.”

In the Women’s RS:X, Hamilton enjoyed a solid day on the water, staying at the front of the pack notching up a 6-2-2 scoreline. “It was definitely my best first day at a World Cup so far,” said the smiling Hamilton, “I would love to be able to hold on to first for the whole week.

“It was really good racing and it’s really nice to be racing at home. Weymouth is a fantastic venue and it’s really great to be back here.”

Shaw is a point off of Hamitlon after her 4-1-4 with London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Tuuli Petaja-Siren third overall. The day’s race wins went to Joanna Sterling (AUS), Shaw and Ingrid Puusta (EST).

Finn
Andrew Murdoch (NZL) opened his Weymouth and Portland account with a strong display in the Finn, notching up a 3-2 to lead the 24-boat fleet.

Murdoch, a 2012 OIympian in the Laser, used his experience to full effect at the front of the fleet. He has opened up a four point lead over Jonathan Lobert (FRA).

Giles Scott (GBR) took the opening race victory of the day and followed it up with a 12th. He is third overall. The remaining race victory went the way of Josh Junior (NZL) who is sixth overall but just three points off the third placed Scott.

Paralympic Events

London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas (GBR) began her World Cup campaign with intent. Double bullets give her a two point lead over Antonio Squizzato (ITA) who finished directly behind the Briton in both of the days races.

Malaysia’s Al Mustakim Matrin sits in third overall.

In the SKUD18, Marco Gualandris and Marta Zanetti (ITA) and Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) are level on three points.

The Italian and British teams shared the top two places on the day, taking a bullet and a second apiece.

Will Street and Megan Pascoe (GBR) are third overall.

It is tight at the top in the Sonar with four crews locked on five points.

Norway’s Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per Eugen Kristiansen took the opening bullet of the day and followed it up by a fourth.

John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas (GBR) took the second bullet of the day but like the Norwegians also count a fourth.

Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden (AUS) and John Twomey, Austrin O’Carroll and Ian Costelloe (IRL) notched up a second and a third each and are also tied with the Norwegian and Irish crews.

Racing resumes at 11:00 local tomorrow and continues to June 14.

Report by ISAF media.

Weymouth and Portland event details – Results – How to Follow – ISAF Sailing World Cup

Background: ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland (June 10-14) is the fourth qualification regatta for the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final scheduled for October 29 – November 1 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Miami gold medallists in each Olympic event will qualify for the World Cup Final. After Great Britain the fleet continues on to China. The ISAF Sailing World Cup is open to the sailing classes (equipment) chosen for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions.