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7:05 PM Fri 24 Apr 2009 GMT
The wind finally came in Hy?res for the Medal race providing great racing for the top ten sailors in each class. The French and British sailors revelled in the windier conditions, both taking five medals on the final day of the ISAF Sailing World Cup 4th event, the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise.
The Easterly was up early this morning, increasing to reach 20 knots by 10 AM when the first medal races started. The two racing areas positioned along the pier provided a great show!
The French showed their skill in the breeze, winning five Medal Races. These victories gave Gold to Rohart and Ponsot in the Star and Silver to Julien Bontemps in the RS:X.
The Sibello brothers were the first to confirm their early victory in the 49ers with a second place taken in the Medal Race. This is the second event won back to back by the Italians since their return to international competition.
'We didn't expect to be winning our first two events like that! We see now the result of all the training we did leading to the Olympic Games.' About the windy Medal race they add: 'When you race with such wind you have to give everything and be careful at the same time to avoid breakage or injuries. We haven't raced in strong wind for a long time and this was a good test.'
A fourth place in the 49er Medal race gives silver to the Austrian Delle Karth/Resch who take the lead in the ISAF World Cup standings on equal points with Paul Campbell James and Mark Asquith (GBR). Manu Dyen and St?phane Christidis (FRA) climb to 4th after claiming their first Medal race. 'We are very happy with our win, this is our best result in Hy?res.'
Young Danish 470 team of Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer have confirmed their earlier lead in the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise after placing 4th in the Medal race. They win their second ISAF Sailing World Cup event this year and extend their lead on the SWC standings over the Austrians Vogl/Flatscher. The Dutch team of Margriet Fokkema and Marieke Jongens (NED) was the only threat for the Danish going into the Medal race.
'It is too dangerous to match-race in this wind and waves! We had decided to only do it if we had the opportunity. We were not with the Dutch at the start so we sailed our own race. We were third at the top mark and they were ninth so we raced normally, just keeping a loose cover.' About their first place in the Sailing World Cup the Danish explains: 'We would like to keep it like that, unfortunately we both have engineering exams and will miss the Delta Lloyd regatta.'
Laser Olympic Champion Paul Goodison (GBR) is starting his new Olympic campaign in top form. Leading from day two, the Skandia Team GBR sailor has increased his margin after a third place in the Medal Race to win his first event this year.
'It's nice to be back sailing again. I've not sailed much in the light wind so it was quite reassuring to be performing in those conditions. In the final series the results didn't really show how well I sailed. I thought I sailed pretty well, but unfortunately just seemed to be on the wrong side for the first five minutes of each race but apart from that I did pretty well.'
With three sailors disqualified for premature start and Javier Hernandez not racing, six sailors completed the Medal Race won by Tobias Schadewaldt. Among the 'OCS' Tonci Stupanovic drops from second to seventh. Russian Maxim Semerkhanov takes Silver and Matias Del Solar Bronze. Nick Thompson (GBR), 6th overall, leads the Sailing World Cup.
In the RS:X Men's division, Shahar Zubari from Israel saved the day by a small point after crossing the line in 7th place to take Gold. This victory gives Zubari the third place in the ISAF Sailing World Cup.
'I saw that Julien was coming to win the medal race. I had a bad start and rounded the top mark in 7th. The others were further back so I knew that was enough to win. I took it easy and tried to maintain my seventh place without taking too many risks. This is my first victory in an international event. I have to work more in the planning conditions as I am a better sailor in light wind.'
Beijing RS:X Silver medallist, Julien Bontemps (FRA) won his first medal race to take second overall. 'I took a good start, I was in front and then I increased my advance. I wanted to check my level in the breeze, it was a short test but very productive.' About the French teams winning five medal races Bontemps adds: 'I knew the French had won four medal races and did motivate me to add another victory!'
Peina Chen kept a narrow lead in the women's RS:X after scoring a 6th place in the Medal Race. 'I especially wanted to learn about racing in the breeze, I didn't have any objective of winning the event but only to sail the medal race as a normal regatta, learn and do well.'
Peina Chen's biggest goal this year is to finish in the top three in the Chinese national Championship next May which will give the young windsurfer the right to represent China in the International circuit.
Chen enters the Sailing World Cup in 16th position, while Medal race winner Blanca Manchon (ESP) increases her lead in the SWC standings and takes bronze behind Bryony Shaw (GBR) in Silver.
In the Finn, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) won this week his first major international event by scoring a consistent series of top 10 races. Reflecting on the Medal race, Gaspic says:
'I had decided to stick to Gasper Vincec either in front or behind. On the first beat I covered him and we passed the top mark in 8th and 9th position. Gasper capsized and I could sail away.' Gaspic who is getting married in two weeks added: 'If I had known getting married would stimulate my results, I would have planned it last year after the Olympics!'
Ed Wright consolidates his top Finn position in the Sailing World Cup with a second at the SOF. Wright wins today his third Medal race in a row: 'It's been crazy - we've had ten races in really tricky light winds, which is unheard of in Hyeres I think. But the medal race was exciting and that's what sailing's all about - big waves, great breeze and it was really enjoyable.'
Medal Races changed the leaders in two classes :
A disqualification at the start of the men's 470 Medal race for the Italians Gabrio Zandona and Edoardo Mancinelli, give the Gold medal to new Swiss team of Matias Buhler and Felix Steiger. Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garros place third overall while Palma winners Nicolas Charbonnier and Baptiste Meyer climb to fourth overall after winning the Medal Race.
Olympic Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) adds a third Sailing World Cup event victory to her wins in the Sail Melbourne regatta and Rolex Miami OCR. She is comfortably leading the Laser Radial Sailing World Cup in front of Tina Mihelic from Croatia. 'I think the Sailing World Cup is a great concept, I am very happy to have had a good start this year and hope to continue to lead it until the end.'
French sailors take two Gold medals in keelboat :
Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot (FRA) conserved their lead from the second day in a small but talented Star fleet. Rohart had already won the SOF with Pacal Rambeau in 2001.
'I really enjoy competing in Hy?res, it is a challenging racing area. I am really glad to win again in Hy?res after many years and especially to be able to race in the Star here. I hope we will have more boats next year with the help of the Class. I have added some good points for the Sailing World Cup but I missed Miami so I will have to work harder in the next events to catch up.'
The French team get into third place in the ISAF Sailing World Cup standing. The Americans Andrew McDonald and Brian Faith are increasing their lead in the standings after a 4th place in the SOF.
Double Olympic medallist in the Paralympics' 2.4mR Damien Seguin has successfully defended his title. Olympic champion, Thierry Schmitter won the windy Medal race, placing him from 5th to second overall.
'Racing has been just great today, we were surfing the waves, I love these tough conditions. I am also very happy because my second place is insuring the continuing support of my Olympic Committee. I am pleased that the SOF event organisers have include the 2.4 in the medal race. I hope it will be the same in all the Sailing World Cup events.'
Bernard Bonneau, the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise coordinator :
'I am satisfied with the outcome of this week. I wasn't feeling very comfortable at the start of the week. The cancellation of the Women Match racing, the Sonar and the low number of entries in the Star led me to think this year we would have a 'small' week. In fact I have received many positive feed-back from sailors and coaches and despite the weather conditions the Race Management team did a great job in providing fair racing.'
'We have been surprised to see this year such a high number of media on site and covering the event from home, especially for a post Olympic year. For everybody here, it was clearly visible that our event was part of the Sailing World Cup as we made a special effort to include the SWC logo everywhere (boats, cars, results.).'
'This is important regarding the support we have received this year from the City, Toulon Provence Mediterran?e and all our partners. I believe that if we all do the same efforts we will help ISAF to find a naming right sponsor.'
Final results - 2009 French Olympic Sailing Week:
Laser
1. Paul Goodison, GBR (45pts)
2. Maxim Semerkhano, RUS (64pts)
3. Matias del Solar, CHI (66pts)
Star
1. Xavier Rohart-Pierre Alex Ponsot, FRA (26pts)
2. John Gimson-Ed Greig, GBR (40pts)
3. Aimilios Papathanasi-Apostolos Karnoutsos, GRE (42pts)
RS:X Men
1. Shahar Zubari, ISR (27pts)
2. Julien Bontemps, FRA (28pts)
3. Nick Dempsey, GBR (41pts)
RS:X Women
1. Chen Peina, CHN (39pts)
2. Bryony Shaw, GBR (41pts)
3. Blanca Manchon, ESP (45pts)
Finn
1. Ivan Kljakovic, CRO (31pts)
2. Ed Wright, GBR (44pts)
3. Gasper Vincec, SLO (50pts)
470 Men
1. Matias Buhler-Felix Steiger, SUI (57pts)
2. Gabrio Zandona-Edoardo Macinelli, ITA (63pts)
3. Pierre Leboucher-Vincent Garos (69pts)
2.4mR
1. Damien Seguin, FRA (15pts)
2. Thierry Schmitter, NED (29pts)
3, Andre Rademaker, NED (32pts)
470 Women (after 10 races)
1. Henriette Koch-Lene Sommer, DEN (35pts)
2. Margriet Fokkema-Marieke Jongens, NED (46pts)
3. Sylvia Vogl-Caroline Flatscher, AUT (63pts)
49er
1. Pietro Sibello-Gianfranco Sibello, ITA (41pts)
2. Nico Delle Karth-Nikolaus Resch, AUT (69pts)
3. Federico Alonso-Arturo Alonso, ESP (73pts)
Laser Radial
1. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA (41pts)
2. Veronika Fenclova, CZE (43pts)
3. Evi van Acker, ESP (54pts)
by Corinne Rolland-McKenzie
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Mount Wellington, TAS
