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7:56 PM Mon 20 Apr 2009 GMT
It wasn't easy sailing with clouds creating uneven pressure in the racing area requiring the sailors at the Semaine Olympique Fran?aise to stay focussed. Racing in the second day at Hyeres got back to schedule with extra races sailed in all classes. Despite the rain, the Easterly wind reaching a maximum of 15 knots allowed racing to start on time.
Veronika Fenclova (CZE) increased her lead further with two victories and a fourth place added to her first place on day one. After taking Bronze in the third Sailing World Cup event in Palma, the Czech has mastered the difficult conditions in Hy?res and is in a strong position with 15 points margin over second placed Katarzyna Deberny from Poland.
Deberny, more known as Katarzyna Szotynska before marrying late last year, is starting again after the Olympic Games. Evi Van Acker (BEL) won the last race of the day to increase from 5th to 3rd overall, one point from Olympic Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (USA).
Other team to increase their lead is the Danish pair of Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer.They are racing consistently with two second places added to their low score and lead the 470 women fleet by 22 points. However, Tara Pacheco and Berta Betanzos from Spain have taken two bullets to jump into second overall after a slow start into the regatta.
With a victory and a third place, Piotr Myszka (POL) keeps the lead he shared on Sunday with Liwei Wu (CHN) who collected a 20 place in the RS:X to drop to 15th overall. Beijing Silver medallist, Julien Bontemps (FRA) is conserving his second position in front of Andreas Cariolou from Cyprus. Maayan Davidovich (ISR) conserves the leardership in the women's division while the day's races were taken by Peina Chen (CHN) and Laura Linares (ITA) respectively placed second and third in the overall rankings.
The racing is close in the Laser where the 140 sailors are divided in three groups. Tuesday races will provide the last opportunities to qualify for the Gold fleet. Olympic Gold medallist, Paul Goodison (GBR) is the new leader after winning a race and placing sixth in the next. Luka Radelic and Daniel Mihelic are second and third.
The Semaine Olympique Fran?aise is one of three selective regattas to identify the two sailors who will represent Croatia at the Mediterranean Games.Winner of two ISAF World Cup events, in Miami and Palma, Nick Thompson (GBR) is coming back to the score with two second places, after a slow start into the regatta.
'I struggled yesterday, the conditions were really difficult. Today racing was a lot better, I am used to race in light wind after Miami and Palma. I sail conservatively, by the percentage rather than taking risks. Winning three in a row would be great, however a top three would be nice. With these difficult conditions the scores will be high and the podium open!'
Other Croatian sailors to post good results are Finn sailors Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic and Marin Misura. Gaspic takes the lead after a fourth and a second while Misura takes the bullet in the day's second race to place third overall. Early leader Gasper Vincec from Slovenia dropped to second.
'The wind was light and shifty, changing from minute to minute, I had to stay with the pack and sailed relaxed. Then I passed places downwind!' explains Gaspic.
The 470 Men fleet have new leaders with the American team of Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl placing third and winning a race.They have a small two point margin over the new formed team of Matias Buhler and Felix Steiger (SUI). A dual citizen, Buhler has recently moved from Argentina to Switzerland to join force with Steiger.
'It is hard to campaign at high level from Argentina. My goal is to have an Olympic medal and racing for Switzerland will offer more opportunities.' The Semaine Olympique Fran?aise is the first event for the Swiss team.
'We have sailed no more than ten days together and this year we will concentrate on our team work. These results in Hy?res are far more than we had expected!' explains Matias Buhler.
Three races were sailed in the 2.4m who are back on schedule. Helena Lucas (GBR) takes the lead from Thierry Schmitter (NED) penalised by an OCS and ranked sixth overall.
The Stars, who share the course with the 2.4m, have completed four races. Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot (FRA) have won two races to place first overall on equal points with Americans Andrew McDonald and Brian Fatih who took the other two races.
After winning the Princesa Sofia Mapfre trophy in Palma, the Sibello's are back at the top of the 49er fleet after winning two races and placing third in the last. The Italians had taken a long break after the Olympic Games. They return to international competition in top form.
Young French team of Axel Silvy and Ulysse Hoffmann are in second place overall after sailing consistently into the top 7. 'They have taken really good starts and placed well in the fleet, these small fleets are suitable for them.' explains Nicolas Huguet, who after racing in the RS:X is now in charge of the young French teams for the FF Voile.
Tomorrow will be the last opportunity for series racing in groups to qualify for the finals.
Results on sof.ffvoile.net
by Corinne McKenzie
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Neptune Island, SA
Windsurfing - Sails
Foiling - Wind Wing Foilboards
Kitesurfing - Kites