Semaine Olympique Francaise - Light conditions continue

9:29 PM Mon 26 Apr 2010 GMT

'Womens Match Racing Whitty (AUS) versus MacGregor (GBR) - 2010 SOF Hyeres' Guillaume Durand

Light conditions prevailed again in Hy?res, forcing the sailors to wait ashore for a timid sea breeze. Racing started at 1400 for most classes except the Women Match Racing, which started earlier in order to try and complete their first round robin.

The light conditions favoured some of the younger and lighter sailors. In the Laser, 20-year-old, Philip Buhl (GER) won the day's race. Vice European Youth Laser champion in 2008, Buhl gets to the second place overall, one point behind Evangelos Chimonas (GRE). The Greek, who raced consistently with two seconds, claims first place in a fleet of 150 Lasers.

In the women's division, 22-year-old Ausra Mileviciute (LTU) leads the fleet and out raced teammate and Beijing silver medallist Gintare Scheidt (LTU) in fourth overall. Spanish sailors placed second and third. Susana Romero (20 years old) with a seventh and a first is on equal points with Optimist European champion and Laser 4.7 sailor, who at the age of 18, wins a race today.

In the Finn the young and lighter sailors came through with the light conditions. 2009 Junior European Champion Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) places second behind Beijing Silver medallist Zach Railey. 17-year-old Dimitar Vangelo (BUL) takes the sixth place in his first participation in Hy?res.

Zach Railey (USA) commented on the day's tough conditions: 'Conditions were challenging today, along with the postponement and late start. The wind was very up and down and very shifty so just had to really play what you had around your part of the race course.'

Light wind means hard work in the RS:X, experienced sailors are in the lead with Piotr Myska (POL) taking both races in the men's division while Beijing Bronze medallist Bryony Shaw (GBR) is first overall with a three points score. She is closely followed by French windsurfers Charline Picon and Pauline Perrin. Marina Alabau (ESP) collected a black flag for premature start after winning the first race of the day.

Three classes are claimed by the French team racing on familiar ground. Double Paralympic medallist, Damien Seguin leads the 2.4 on equal points with Helena Lucas. Beijing Bronze Medallist, Nicolas Charbonnier with crew Baptiste Meyer Dieu had a near perfect day in the 470 with a second and a win.

The only race sailed in the women's division, was taken by Gil Cohen and Dana Mamriav (ISR).

One more race was completed today for the Stars, won by Britains John Grimson and Ed Greig. Mate Arapov and Ante Sitic (CRO) on five points take the lead of the small Star fleet.

The Norwegian team of Aleksander Wang-Hansen, SWC winner, have taken the lead in the Sonar.

The 49ers sailing in groups didn't complete the same number of races and overall results are not available.

The dying wind didn't allow the third group to complete racing in the WMR round robin. Renee Groeneveld (NED) was happy with the race committee decision to postpone racing until tomorrow: 'We waited all day to sail, but once we got out there on the water we were only allowed to sail the boat back to dock. All the wind had disappeared. Thank we did not have to race in these conditions.'

Anna Tunnicliffe's team has won selection into the Gold fleet with a perfect 6-0 score. She explains: 'I think we just kept things simple, stayed cool under pressure and had very good team work communication.'

'It was a very long day of waiting, so we tried staying focused throughout the day until we got into the boats to sail. Tomorrow, we will start the gold round robin, so we will have a chance to race the top seeds. We are looking forward to it.'

Further information is available at: www.sof.ffvoile.net

by Agence Effets Mer

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Cruising #Sailing

Semaine Olympique Francaise - Light conditions continue

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds