Slow start for Enoshima Olympic Week

Fujisawa, Japan (October 27, 2017) – After the Typhoon No 21 hit the region earlier in the week, it was all hands on deck to ready the venue for the start today of Enoshima Olympic Week 2017. The conditions delivered a light easterly wind for the 9 of the 10 Olympic sailing events on hand to begin learning about the venue to be used for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Lasers are the biggest entry with 55 boats, with the Laser Radial slightly different as there are some youth boys who enjoyed sailing against top Women’s sailors. It is also nice to see Manami Doi (JPN) coming back from the absence at Gamagori. She is 3rd after 3 races behind leader Erika Reineke (USA) who is her rival from the Youth Worlds.

470 Men and Women are normally strong fleet in Japan, however, the University League National Championship is going to be held soon, so the entry is not as large as expected.

Tetsuya Isozaki / Akira Takayanagi (JPN) sailed consistently with 2-4-1 under the difficult condition. 470s were outside area, and the current was fast with light wind. With 28 boats, 8 countries share the top 10 places.

470 Women is much smaller fleet of 16 entries. Benedetta and Alessandra (ITA), who enjoyed the 470 Junior Worlds last August, is back again and leading. Afrodite and Anneloes (NED) is also back after the 470 Nationals and some training days at Enoshima. Ai Kondo Yoshida is now back with her baby son. She and Miho Yoshioka, her crew, start the new era towards Tokyo 2020.

There are 8 entries to Finn. EOW decided to include Finn when the SWC had to cancel the FINN as there was not enough entries. Finn shared the area with 470s today. Small group, but very high standard of racing.

RS:X is sharing the area with 49er/FX, and today RSX started first. After the Worlds last September, the fleet is small with mainly Asian sailors. China shows their strength again, but this time, some JPN and KOR sailors are challenging. Women’s fleet is led by two JPN sailors. The wind was one stage nearly 10kt, but it did not stay long enough.

49er is good size with 18 boats. Only 2 races were sailed. Light wind with flat water was good for the skiff. Their area is further out than the medal race area towards Hayama. 49er Fleet seems to be good fun with Lange brothers and GBR teams, and many more. Last year, Dylan and Stu sailed first time together after RIO, and since, they have won the World title, and more regattas. FX is 12 boat fleet, and 2 races were sailed under 7kt condition around the same course 7min behind 49ers. Both fleets are small, so it seemed to be OK today. Tanja Frank and Lorena Abicht (AUT) sailed very consistent with 1-2.

Typhoon No. 22 is now approaching to Japan and is expected to close by October 30. It should be okay at Enoshima this time, however, everyone is a little worried. Racing on Oct 28 starts at 10:25. 49er/FX starts first.

Enoshima Olympic Week 2017 has 234 entrants from nine of the ten Olympic sailing events.

Racing is scheduled for October 27 to 29.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

North American contingent:
• USA: Erik Bowers (Laser), Chris Barnard (Laser), Erika Reineke (Laser Radial), Haddon Hughes (Laser Radial), Judge Ryan/ Hans Henken (49er), Kate Shaner/ Helena Scutt (49erFX), Stephanie Roble/ Maggie Shea (49erFX), Stu McNay/ David Hughes (470M), Lucas Calabrese/ Ian MacDiarmid

• Canada: Robert Davis (Laser).