Soooo much fun

Windy conditions bring smiles from competitors at the Volvo ISAF Youth World Championship

Racing today at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship was fast and furious, and ‘so much fun’ according to Australia’s Gabrielle King who won both races in the girls Laser Radial fleet. Twenty knots of southwesterly breeze kicked up white horses on Lake Ontario, and under a hard blue sky, the sailing was spectacular.

The second day of the regatta, which finishes on Friday, saw the pace heat up and in the mixed Hobie Cat fleet, Britain’s Richard and Andrew Glover maintained their lead by the skin of their teeth, keeping Australia’s Jason Waterhouse and Michael McCormick at bay by just three points.

As he helped his brother Andrew rig the boat this morning, last year’s gold medalist, Richard Glover said: “Yesterday was a good start to the event, but there is a long way to go. We would love to win another gold medal and we had a good day yesterday, but the Australians and French are strong.”

True to Glover’s prediction, the Australians put the pressure on the British crew after posting two wins in the second and third races held today and helmsman Jason Waterhouse was upbeat about the conditions on Lake Ontario today: “This is our wind, 15 knots or above. It was a bit light for us yesterday. We like heavy air and we like to think we sail well in these conditions,” he said.

Event first-timers Denmark’s Emil Landry and Jacob Dannefer also liked the conditions on the lake today. “More wind with flatter water suits us better,” explained 17-year old Emil Landry. The Danes are on equal points with the Australians, while Italy’s Stefano Gentili and Delgi Uberti are now in fourth place after finishing a disappointing 11th in the second of today’s three races for this fleet.

The top of the table for the boys 29er class remains unchanged after the two races held today for this exciting two-man dinghy. Denmark’s Henrik Sagaard and Soren Kristensen have extended their lead to 12 points over pre-race favourite New Zealand’s Paul Snow-Hangen and Blair Tuke.

“Yesterday was very shifty so it was hard, but we were up there in all three races. We hope today will be a give us more technical racing as we are a very technical crew and that suits us,” explained Denmark’s helmsman Henrik Sagaard.

South Africa’s Taariq Jacobs and Neil Malan have climbed up from fifth overnight to third place this afternoon, but the safety net between the New Zealand team in second and the South Africans in third is a wide ten points.

The strong winds today proved just too much for the lightweight German sisters. Karin and Tina Marchart who were the overnight leaders in the girl's 29er have dropped to seventh, giving way to new leaders, the very slick American duo, Emily Dellenbaugh and Briana Provancha. The Americans posted a win and a fifth place to put them one point ahead of the British team of Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth. Anniemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters won the second race, beating the British girls, to put them in third place at the end of today, just one point behind.

Pierre le Coq (FRA) was back at the top of the boys windsurfer fleet, leading Dimitris Vlachakis (GRE) who won the first race today, by one point. Canada’s David Hayes had a great day finishing second in the first race and winning the second race, moving him right up the order from 13th to third place overall at this point of the regatta. “I had a really great day,” Hayes said. “I stuck to my game plan. I’m one of the heavier guys in the fleet so the stronger wind helps. I’m going to go out there tomorrow and give it my all. Tomorrow’s a new day,” he added.

Winning both races today in the girls windsurfer fleet, was Australia’s Alisha Kawalla, which was good enough to bring her into the frame from 12th place overnight to third overall after four races. Last year’s gold medalist, Laura Linares (ITA) retained her overnight lead and extended the margin to eight points from second-placed Nina Szyhczyk (POL). Moana Delle (GER) put yesterday’s race one retirement to one side to post a fourth and a second to bring her score equal with Alisha Kawalla.

The boys Laser fleet saw a new leader today in Pavlos Kontides (CYP) in a top three shuffle which left overnight leader Jeemin Ha (KOR) relegated to second and overnight leader Philipp Buhl (GER) back in third. “It was tough, unlike yesterday’s light winds. I am really happy as I did well as my rivals didn’t go so well. I am just trying to be consistent,” explained Kontides.

Strong winds also took their toll on the girls Laser Radial fleet and several athletes were very tired after the second race was completed. Victoria Chan (SIN) is the new leader, relegating overnight leader Anuar Nural Elia (MAS) to 7th with Finland’s Tuula Tenkanen two points behind the new leader in second.

Finishing second in the final girls Laser Radial race today was Austria’s Veronika Haid who had a bad start in the first race when she was among a group of boats caught on the course side of the start line when the starting gun fired. OCS is very expensive 35-point error to make and a further six boats were OCS in the second race of today as the wind increased.

The real star of the day was Gabrielle King from Australia who won both Laser Radial races and moved up from 11th to third place. King was thrilled: “Oh that was sooo much fun,” she said. “Absolutely brilliant. The conditions were fantastic. Getting to the top mark in front was amazing, I just had to hold on and hang in there.”

Results:

Hobie Cat Mixed Fleet

1-Richard & Andrew Glover (GBR) 12pts
2-Jason Waterhouse/Michael McCormick (AUS) 15pts
3-Emil Landry/Jacob Dannefer (DEN) 15pts

29er Boys

1-Henrik Sagaard/Soren Kristensen (DEN) 11pts
2-Paul Snowden-Hangen/Blair Tuke (NZL) 23pts
3-Taariq Jacobs/Neil Malan (RSA) 33pts

29er Girls

1-Emily Dellenbaugh/Briana Provancha (USA) 19pts
2-Sophie Weguelin/Sophie Ainsworth (GBR) 20pts
3-Anniemiek Bekkering/Jeske Kisters (NED) 21pts

Windsurfer Boys

1-Pierre le Coq (FRA) 14pts
2-Dimitris Vlachakis (GRE) 15pts
3-David Hayes (CAN) 25pts

Windsurfer Girls

1-Laura Linares (ITA) 8pts
2-Nina Szyhczyk (POL) 16pts
3-Alisha Kawalla (AUS) 24pts

Laser Boys

1-Pavlos Kontides (CYP) 13pts
2-Jeemin Ha (KOR) 20pts
3-Philipp Buhl (GER) 22pts

Laser Radial Girls

1-Victoria Chan (SIN) 23pts
2-Tuula Tenkanen (FIN) 25pts
3-Gabrielle King (AUS) 30pts