Tonci Stipanovic Holds Narrow Lead at Laser Worlds

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (May 13, 2016) – Tonci Stipanovic from Croatia moved to the top of the leader board after a well-deserved win in the first race of Day 2 of the Laser Standard Men’s World Championship.

In a 12 knot south westerly breeze, Matthew Wearn from Australia led the blue fleet round the first mark ahead of Wannes van Laer (BEL) and Julio Alsogaray (ARG). Stipanovic took the lead ahead of Wearn after a good second windward leg when both pulled clear of Alsogaray and the chasing pack to then lead the fleet home. Germany’s Olympic representative, Philipp Buhl, as a major casualty at the start of the blue fleet race when he had to retire after being given his second flag for kinetics on the start line.

In the yellow fleet, sailing on the outer loop, oversnight leader Nick Thompson (GBR) could only manage a 5th behind Jean-Bapiste Bernaz (FRA) and the first three Marco Gallo (ITA), Kacper Zieminski (POL) and Franccesco Marrai (ITA) who traded places in front of him.

The wind increased for day’s second bringing larger waves and enabling sailors to catch some good downwind rides and, for a few, also the attention of the on-the-water jury. The previously favored right hand side of the course was not so dominant in this race, but as expected, most of the favorites managed to find their way to the top.

In the yellow fleet, Olympic silver medalist, Pavlos Kontides (CYP) won the port end pin position at the start and tacked to cross the fleet early to lead all the way home ahead of Bernaz. Five places back from the pin Thompson got trapped at the port end and had to take a two turn penalty after he inadvertently impeded another boat while trying to clear his wind. Thompson did well to round the first mark in 20th and then recover to 13th, which is currently his discard race.

Australia’s Luke Elliot led from start to finish in the blue fleet with Alsogaray and Brazil’s Robert Scheidt again in single figures after both climbing through the fleet.

In the end, five points now separate the first seven places in the overall results after two days of racing. Qualifying continues for two more races before the competitors are split into gold and silver fleets for the final three days of the championship.

Day Two Results (Top 10 of 112; 4 races, 1 discard)
1.Tonci Stipanovic CRO 6pts
2.Nick Thompson GBR 7 pts
3. Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA 8pts
4. Matthew Wearn AUS 9pts
5. Robert Scheidt BRA 10pts
6. Julio Alsogary ARG 10 pts
7.Francesco Marrai ITA 11pts
8. KacperZieminski POL 14pts
9.Philipp Buhl GER 18pts
10. Marco Gallo ITA 20pts

Racing is scheduled daily May 12-18 on the waters of Banderas Bay.

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Source: Laser class