First day

The Laser Radial Youth Worlds has got underway in Brazil

Portuguese sailor Frederico Melo, and New Zealander, Blair McLay, took advantage of the strong winds that reached up to 18 knots to lead the first day of the Laser Radial Youth Worlds. Brazilian, Daniel Jakobsson, from Rio de Janeiro, was close behind in third place. Between the women, who are competing side by side with the men, the best position was gained by New Zealander, Cushla Hume-Merry. She ended the race in 33rd place.

“I left very well and I won the two races of my fleet. I still have ten more races ahead until the end of the championship. To get the first prize will be a bonus because to sail in Brazil is a dream come true” said Frederico. New Zealander Blair McLay also won the two races of his fleet, getting even with the portuguese. Daniel Jakobsson, that reached second place at the two races, was technically classified as third place at the general classification and hopes to do better on the next days. “The day wasn´t how I wanted it to be, but I was surprised with the results, because I started very badly. The high waves and the stronger wind helped me. I want to do better tomorrow," he said.

New Zealander Cushla Hume-Merry was the best female and reached 33rd postion. Between brazilian athletes, Fernanda Decnop, from Rio de Janeiro, was the best, reaching 70th place. “To compete with men is not easy because they are heavier and stronger,” she commented. My goal is to be at the final between the first five places and to be more prepared to try a vacancy at the Beijing Olympic Games” says Fernanda.

Tomorrow there will be two more races, from 12 p.m. Until wednesday the races will be qualifying the 103 athletes divided in two fleets, red and blue. From Thursday, the athletes will be divided into gold fleet and silver fleet. Golden fleet athletes will compete for the first places. For the silver fleet ones, the battle will be for the following positions. The competition goes on until Saturday, between athletes from 26 countries. The Radial Youth reunites youngsters until the age of 18. They are considered the next generation of laser class.

Results:

Pos	Sail Number	Helm	R1	R2	Tot
1	POR 175722	Frederico Melo, Male	1	1	2,0
1	NZL 178663	Blair McLay, Male	1	1	2,0
3	BRA 174394	Daniel Jakobsson, Male	2	2	4,0
4	GRE 167693	Antonios Tzortzis, Male	3	3	6,0
5	ARG 181758	Buiatti Fagalde Federico, Male	2	7	9,0
6	CRO 181944	Ivan Taritas, Male	6	3	9,0
7	FIN 181661	Pierre Angelo Collura, Male	5	4	9,0
8	USA 177002	Fred Strammer, Male	4	5	9,0
9	RUS 182019	Igor Lisovenko, Male	8	2	10,0
10	ESP 179625	Jorge Jover Garcia, Male	5	5	10,0
11	USA 179144	Blake Warner, Male	3	8	11,0
12	NZL 181880	Max Andrews, Male	4	9	13,0
13	AUS 184263	James Burman, Male	10	4	14,0
14	FRA 183060	Arthur Keller, Male	6	8	14,0
15	FRA 182165	Maxime Cariou, Male	10	6	16,0
16	GBR 183235	Adam Fox, Male	7	9	16,0
17	IRL 173086	Ryan Seaton, Male	11	6	17,0
18	GBR 181671	John Beatty, Male	7	11	18,0
19	IRL 173080	Alexander Mark Dolan, Male	8	10	18,0
20	BRA 158503	André Frota Ribeiro, Male	13	7	20,0
21	BRA 163161	Lucas F. Reis Cachapuz, Male	9	14	23,0
22	USA 180496	Kyle Rogachenko, Male	13	12	25,0
23	FIN 174668	Mattias Lindfors, Male	12	14	26,0
24	FRA 182163	Simon Troel, Male	9	18	27,0
25	ITA 181946	Claudio Arborea, Male	14	13	27,0
26	ITA 181442	Luca Nassini, Male	18	10	28,0
27	EST 180330	Karl Martin Rammo, Male	16	13	29,0
28	CHI 164141	Cristobal Grez Ahrens, Male	11	19	30,0
29	ESP 178053	Bernat Galé Bou, Male	14	16	30,0
30	BRA 158501	Ernesto Molinas, Male	15	17	32,0
31	ESP 178029	Rafael Aguirre Caballero, Male	19	15	34,0
32	POR 172332	João Vidinha, Male	12	23	35,0
33	NZL 173449	Cushla Hume-Merry, Female	15	20	35,0
34	SLO 177574	Luka Domijan, Male	19	16	35,0
35	USA 182070	Cam Cullman, Male	17	18	35,0
36	ITA 179057	Enrico Stazzera, Male	24	12	36,0
37	USA 175591	Tedd Himler, Male	21	15	36,0
38	FRA 180226	Malo Leseigneur, Male	16	22	38,0
39	GBR 183239	David Jessop, Male	17	21	38,0
40	USA 178930	Cameron Friedman, Male	18	23	41,0
41	FRA 183991	Vanessa le Bouteiller, Female	21	22	43,0
42	BRA 163526	Pedro Henrique Trouche de Souz, Male	23	21	44,0
43	ITA 180387	Pietro Cerni, Male	20	25	45,0
44	EST 164854	Lauri Vainsalu, Male	27	20	47,0
45	ESP 181396	Lucia Reyes, Female	22	25	47,0
46	BRA 171824	Rodrigo de M.Lopes Monteiro, Male	20	28	48,0
47	TUR 183173	Necdet Elmasoglu, Male	32	17	49,0
48	USA 179937	Jerry Tullo, Male	26	24	50,0
49	SUI 180180	Stephanie Rosse, Female	32	19	51,0
50	GBR 181572	Sara Williams, Female	25	26	51,0