WORLD CUP: Women carry the load for North America

Hyères, France (April 25, 2013) – Competition at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères heated up on the fourth day as the Final Series came to the midway point. The big winds that were forecast never truly came true as a shifty 14-15 knot breeze prevailed across the six race courses that host ten Olympic and two Paralympic events.

Giles Scott (GBR) swooped into the Finn lead after an excellent day on the water that included a bullet and a second. After 12 sailors were black flagged in Race 5, including early front runners Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), Jonathan Lobert (FRA) and Vasilij Zbogar (SLO), Scott benefited largely to open up a five point advantage over compatriot Andrew Mills (GBR).

“A first and a second – I couldn’t really ask for much more than that,” said Scott. “There were a few of the guys who’d been up there all week got a black flag in that second race as well, which is helping us out a little bit but I’d imagine it’s still pretty tight up at the top.”

Scott very rarely lets an advantage slip shown by taking gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma and he remains on course to make it a World Cup double, “The approach is much the same really,” he added, “just trying to be consistently up at the top. There’s still the double Medal Races to go, as well as two more gold fleet races before that, so we’ll see. I’ll just try and take it steady like I did today.”

For the North American contingent, the women continue to do the heavy lifting, with Canadian Isabella Bertold now 5th in the Laser Radial while Americans Annie Haeger/ Briana Provancha and Sydney Bolger/ Sarah Lihan are 3rd and 10th in the 470. Today was also Provancha’s birthday, turning 24 years old.

“Bit of an up and down day for me today,” said Bertold. “Struggled to catch up after getting flagged in the first race resulting in an 11th place finish. The second race was much more routine and saw me finish 4th. Two more races Friday to determine the top 10 for medal racing!”

Boulger/Lihan scored their second bullet of the series, equaled only by the World #1 Brazilian team that is leading the series. Haeger/ Provancha dropped from second to third overall, in part due to a breakdown in the final race of the day.

“We rounded the top mark 6th and we were hoping to use our downwind speed to make gains,” explained Haeger. “When we went for the set, the eye fitting on the pole just ripped off. So we sailed two downwinds and a final reach with no topping lift.” They finished the race in 8th.

Friday 26 April is the penultimate day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères as sailors fight for the top 10 spots to advance to Saturday’s Medal and Stadium Races.

Photo gallery – Event report – USA team report

Background: The ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres (Apr 22-27) is the fourth and final event of the 2012-13 ISAF Sailing World Cup season. The season began in Melbourne, Australia (Dec 2-8) and was in Miami (Jan 28-Feb 2), and then Palma, Spain (Apr 1-6). The ISAF Sailing World Cup is open to the sailing classes (equipment) chosen for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. – http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php